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Chubby Checker

Chubby Checker (born Ernest Evans; October 3, 1941) is an American singer and dancer. He is widely known for popularizing many dance styles, including the Twist dance style, with his 1960 hit cover of Hank Ballard & The Midnighters' R&B song "The Twist", and the pony dance style with the 1961 cover of the song "Pony Time". His biggest UK hit, "Let's Twist Again", was released one year later (in 1962); that year, he also popularized the song "Limbo Rock", originally a previous-year instrumental hit by the Champs to which he added lyrics, and its trademark Limbo dance, as well as other dance styles such as The Fly. In September 2008, "The Twist" topped Billboard's list of the most popular singles to have appeared in the Hot 100 since its debut in 1960, an honor it maintained for an August 2013 update of the list.[1]

Chubby Checker
Chubby Checker in 2005
Background information
Birth nameErnest Evans
Born (1941-10-03) October 3, 1941 (age 82)
Spring Gully, South Carolina, U.S.
OriginPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • dancer
Instrument(s)Vocals
Years active1958–present
Labels
Websitechubbychecker.com

Early life edit

Checker was born Ernest Evans in Spring Gully, South Carolina.[2] He was raised in the projects of South Philadelphia, where he lived with his parents, Raymond and Eartle Evans,[3] and two brothers.[4] By age eleven, Evans formed a street-corner harmony group. By the time he entered high school, Ernest had learned to play the piano a little at Settlement Music School. He entertained his classmates by performing vocal impressions of popular entertainers of the day, such as Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley and Fats Domino.[5] One of his classmates and friends at South Philadelphia High School was Fabian Forte, who would become a popular performer of the late 1950s and early 1960s as Fabian.[4]

After school Evans would entertain customers at his various jobs, including Fresh Farm Poultry in the Italian Market on Ninth Street and at the Produce Market, with songs and jokes. It was his boss at the Produce Market, "Tony A.", who gave Evans the nickname "Chubby". The owner of Fresh Farm Poultry, Henry Colt, was so impressed by the boy's performances for the customers that he, along with his colleague and friend Kal Mann, who worked as a songwriter for Cameo-Parkway Records,[6] arranged for young Chubby to do a private recording for American Bandstand host Dick Clark. After hearing Chubby's Fats Domino impression, Clark's wife Barbara suggested that Chubby be called "Chubby Checker" in homage to Fats Domino.[7][8]

Career edit

1950s–1960s edit

In December 1958, Checker privately recorded a novelty single for Clark in which the singer portrayed a school teacher with an unruly classroom of musical performers. The premise allowed Checker to imitate such acts as Fats Domino, The Coasters, Elvis Presley, Cozy Cole, and The Chipmunks, each singing "Mary Had a Little Lamb". Clark sent the song out as his Christmas greeting, and it received such good response that Cameo-Parkway signed Checker to a recording contract.[9] Titled "The Class", the single became Checker's first release, charting at No. 38 in the spring of 1959.[10]

Checker introduced his version of "The Twist" at the age of 18 in July 1960 in Wildwood, New Jersey at the Rainbow Club. "The Twist" went on to top the Billboard Hot 100 not just once in 1960, but yet again in a separate chart run in late 1961. The first success was attributed to teens, and the unprecedented second number-one Billboard ranking was driven by older audiences following a spirited live performance[11] of the song by Checker on The Ed Sullivan Show, seen by over 10 million viewers.[12] (Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" had also achieved number one twice on Billboard's earlier chart.)

"The Twist" had previously peaked at No. 16 on the Billboard rhythm and blues chart, in the 1959 version recorded by its author, Hank Ballard, whose band The Midnighters first performed the dance on stage. Checker's "Twist", however, was a nationwide smash, aided by his many appearances on Dick Clark's American Bandstand, the top 10 American Bandstand ranking of the song, and the teenagers on the show who enjoyed dancing the Twist. The song was so ubiquitous that Checker felt that his critics thought he could only succeed as a dance demonstrator. Checker later lamented: ""The Twist" really ruined my life. I was on my way to becoming a big nightclub performer, and "The Twist" just wiped it out ... It got so out of proportion. No one ever believes I have talent."[13] By 1965 alone, "The Twist" had sold over 15 million copies, and was awarded multiple gold discs by the RIAA.[14]

Despite Checker's initial disapproval, he found follow-up success with a succession of up-tempo dance tracks, including "The Hucklebuck" (#14), "The Fly" (#7), "Dance the Mess Around" (#24), and "Pony Time", which became his second No. 1 single.[10] Checker's follow-up "twist" single, "Let's Twist Again", won the 1962 Grammy Award for Best Rock and Roll Recording.[15] A 1962 duet with Dee Dee Sharp, "Slow Twistin'", reached No. 3 on the national charts. Other substantial hits included "Dancin' Party", "Popeye the Hitchhiker", "Twenty Miles", "Birdland", "Loddy Lo", and a Christmas duet with Bobby Rydell, "Jingle Bell Rock". "Limbo Rock" reached No. 2 on 22–29 December 1962, becoming Checker's last top ten hit. Checker continued to have top 40 singles until 1965, his last being "Let's Do the Freddie" (#40), a variation on Freddie and the Dreamers' dance tune "Do the Freddie", with new melody and lyrics. Changes in public tastes, owing mostly to the British Invasion and counterculture era, ended his hit-making career. He spent much of the rest of the 1960s touring and recording in Europe.

1970s–1990s edit

"The Twist" was recorded for Cameo-Parkway Records and along with the label's other material, became unavailable after the early 1970s because of the company's internal legal disputes. For decades, almost all compilations of Checker's hits consisted of re-recordings. The 1970s saw a shift and resurgence for his career, including a temporary stint as a disco artist. Checker continued to be a superstar in Europe with television and records.[citation needed] A dance-floor cover version of the Beatles' "Back in the U.S.S.R." released in 1969 on Buddah Records, his first chart entry in three years, reached No. 82.[16] It was Checker's last chart appearance until 1982 when he hit No. 91 with "Running".[10]

 
Chubby Checker during a TV interview in 2008

In 1971, Checker at his own insistence recorded a psychedelic album filled with music he felt was "current" that was initially only released in Europe. Originally named Chequered!, it was renamed over the years in subsequent re-releases as New Revelation, The Other Side Of Chubby Checker, and sometimes as Chubby Checker. The songs were all written by Checker and produced by former Jimi Hendrix producer Ed Chalpin,[17] but the studio musicians' names are unknown. The album flopped.[18] Later in the decade, he recorded an album of ”audiophile re-creations” of his greatest hits, for producer Stan Shulman.

In 1988, Chubby teamed up with hip-hop trio The Fat Boys with their version of The Twist (Yo, Twist): this reached No 2 in the UK.

2000s and beyond edit

Checker had a single at No. 1 on Billboard's dance chart in July 2008 with "Knock Down the Walls". The single also made the top 30 on the Adult Contemporary chart.[10] Roger Filgate of Wishbone Ash is featured on lead guitar.[19]

In 2009, Checker recorded a public service announcement (PSA) for the Social Security Administration to help launch a new campaign to promote recent changes in Medicare law.[20] In the PSA, Checker encourages Americans on Medicare to apply for Extra Help, "A new 'twist' in the law makes it easier than ever to save on your prescription drug plan costs."[21][22]

On February 25, 2013, Checker released a new single, the ballad "Changes," via iTunes; it was posted on YouTube and amassed over 160,000 views.[23] "Changes" was produced by the hill & hifi and reached 43 on the Mediabase Top 100 AC Chart and 41 on the Gospel Chart. Checker performed it on July 5, 2013, on NBC's Today show.[24] In 2015, Checker joined forces with Howard Perl Entertainment[25] and Hard Rock Rocksino to produce "Rock and Roll to The Rescue",[26] a show designed to raise funds and adopt rescue animals in need.

Controversies edit

In 2002, Checker protested outside of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, over the lack of radio airplay of his hit "The Twist" and his perception that the Hall of Fame had snubbed him. Seymour Stein, president of the Rock Hall's New York chapter and member of the nomination committee, claimed "I think that Chubby is someone who will be considered. He has in certain years."[27]

In 2013, Checker sued HP over a WebOS application using his name. The application, before being pulled in September 2012, was used to unscientifically estimate penis size from shoe size.[28][29][30][31] The district court said that Checker's trademark claim survived HP's motion to dismiss, but his other claims were dismissed per Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.[32]

Film and musical depictions edit

Checker performed as well as appeared as a version of himself in Twist Around the Clock (1961) and Don't Knock the Twist (1962). In both films he provided advice and crucial breaks for the protagonist.[33][34]

In 1988, Checker appeared as himself performing alongside the Purple People Eater in the film of the same name.[35]

Checker later appeared as himself in the 1989 Quantum Leap episode entitled "Good Morning, Peoria" where he walks into a radio station in 1959 hoping to have his demo record played on the air. The show's main character, Dr. Sam Beckett (Scott Bakula), persuades the station owner to play the song "The Twist", inadvertently teaching Checker himself how to do The Twist.[36]

In 2001, Checker again guest-starred as himself singing "The Twist" in the fourth season of Ally McBeal.[37] He also performed the track in the tenth season of Murphy Brown.[38]

Awards edit

In 2008, Checker's "The Twist" was named the biggest chart hit of all time by Billboard magazine. Billboard looked at all singles that made the charts between 1958 and 2008. He was also honored by Settlement Music School as part of the school's centennial celebration and named to the Settlement 100, a list of notable people connected to the school.[39]

Checker received the prestigious Sandy Hosey Lifetime Achievement Award on November 9, 2013, from the Artists Music Guild. Checker was the host of the 2013 AMG Heritage Awards and was given the honor during the television broadcast. The award was presented to him by longtime friend and labelmate Dee Dee Sharp.[40]

In 2014, Checker was inducted into the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame.

Personal life edit

On December 12, 1963, Checker proposed to Catharina Lodders, a 21-year-old Dutch model and Miss World 1962 from Haarlem, the Netherlands.[41] Checker said he met Lodders in Manila the prior January.[42] The song "Loddy Lo" is about her. They were married on April 12, 1964, at Temple Lutheran Church in Pennsauken, New Jersey.[43] Their first child, Bianca Johanna Evans, was born in a Philadelphia hospital on December 8, 1966.[44] Their other two children are Ilka Evans and musician Shan Egan (Evans), lead singer of Funk Church, a band in the Philadelphia area.[45] Checker is also the father of WNBA player Mistie Bass.[46]

Discography edit

Studio albums edit

Year Album Peak chart positions
US
[47]
UK
[48]
1960 Twist with Chubby Checker 3 13
For Twisters Only 8 17
1961 Let's Twist Again 11
It's Pony Time 110
For 'Teen Twisters Only 17
1962 Limbo Party 11
Beach Party 90
Twistin' Round the World 54
1963 Let's Limbo Some More 87
Chubby Checker in Person 104
1964 Chubby's Folk Album
1965 At the Discotheque
1971 Chequered!
1982 The Change Has Come 186
1994 The Texas Twisting
2001 Towards The Light
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Compilation albums edit

Year Album US
[47]
1962 All the Hits (For Your Dancin' Party) 23
1963 Chubby Checker's Biggest Hits 27
1973 Chubby Checker's Greatest Hits 152

Singles edit

Year Titles (A-side, B-side)
Both sides from same album except where indicated
Chart positions Album
US
[47]
US R&B
[47]
UK
[48]
AUS
[49]
1959 "The Class"
b/w "Schooldays, Oh, Schooldays" (Non-album track)
38 Greatest Hits – 15 Original Hits
"Whole Lotta Laughin'"
b/w "Samson and Delilah"
Non-album tracks
"Dancing Dinosaur"
b/w "Those Private Eyes"
1960 "The Twist"
b/w "Toot" (from The Chubby Checker Discotheque)
1 2 44 20 Twist with Chubby Checker
"The Hucklebuck" / 14 15 24
"Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" 42 For Twisters Only
1961 "Pony Time"
b/w "Oh, Susannah" (Non-album track)
1 1 27 8 It's Pony Time
"Dance the Mess Around" / 24 48 Chubby Checker's Biggest Hits
"Good, Good Lovin'" 43
"Let's Twist Again"
b/w "Everything's Gonna Be All Right" (from Chubby Checker)
8 26 2 7 Let's Twist Again
"The Fly"
b/w "That's the Way It Goes" (Non-album track)
7 11 35 For 'Teen Twisters Only
"Jingle Bell Rock"
b/w "Jingle Bell Rock Imitations"
Both sides with Bobby Rydell
21 Bobby Rydell/Chubby Checker
1962 "The Twist" /
Chart re-entry; the only song of the rock era to reach No. 1 twice in the US in two different years
1 4 14 3 Twist with Chubby Checker
"Twistin' U.S.A." 68 41
"Slow Twistin'" (With Dee Dee Sharp) / 3 3 23 9 For 'Teen Twisters Only
"La Paloma Twist" 72 Twistin' Round the World
"Teach Me to Twist"
b/w "Swingin' Together"
Both sides with Bobby Rydell
45 Bobby Rydell/Chubby Checker
"Dancin' Party"
b/w "Gotta Get Myself Together" (Non-album track)
12 19 85 Chubby Checker's Biggest Hits
"Limbo Rock" / 2 3 32 8 Limbo Party
"Popeye the Hitchhiker" 10 13 All the Hits (For Your Dancin' Party)
"Jingle Bell Rock"
b/w "Jingle Bell Imitations"
Chart re-entry, both sides with Bobby Rydell
92 40 Bobby Rydell/Chubby Checker
1963 "Let's Limbo Some More" / 20 16 11 Let's Limbo Some More
"Twenty Miles" 15 15
"Birdland" / 12 18 33 Beach Party
"Black Cloud" 98 Non-album track
"Twist It Up" / 25 Beach Party
"Surf Party" 55
"What Do Ya Say!"
b/w "Something to Shout About"
Released in UK only
37 25 Non-album tracks
"Loddy Lo" / 12 4 17 Chubby's Folk Album
"Hooka Tooka" 17
1964 "Hey, Bobba Needle"
b/w "Spread Joy" (Non-album track)
23 26
"Rosie" / 50 Non-album track
"Lazy Elsie Molly" 40 18 Golden Hits
"She Wants T'Swim"
b/w "You Better Believe It Baby" (Non-album track)
50 98 The Chubby Checker Discotheque
"Lovely, Lovely (Loverly, Loverly)
b/w "The Weekend's Here"
70 Non-album tracks
1965 "Let's Do the Freddie"
b/w "(At the) Discotheque" (Non-album track)
40 18 Golden Hits
"Everything's Wrong"
b/w "Cu Ma La Be-Stay"
Non-album tracks
"You Just Don't Know (What You Do To Me)
b/w "Two Hearts Make One Love"
1966 "Hey You! Little Boo-Ga-Loo"
b/w "Pussy Cat"
76
"Looking at Tomorrow"
b/w "You Got the Power"
"Karate Monkey"
b/w "Her Heart"
1969 "Back In The U.S.S.R"
b/w "Windy Cream"
82
1973 "Reggae My Way"
b/w "Gypsy"
64
1974 "She's a Bad Woman"
b/w "Happiness Is a Girl Like You"
1975 "Let's Twist Again" /
"The Twist"
Double A-side chart re-entry in UK
5 A: Let's Twist Again
B: Twist with Chubby Checker
1976 "The Rub"
b/w "Move It"
Non-album tracks
1982 "Running"
b/w "Is Tonight the Night" (Non-album track)
91 The Change Has Come
"Harder Than Diamond"
b/w "Your Love"
1988 "The Twist" ("Yo, Twist!" version)
b/w "The Twist" (Buffapella)
Both sides with the Fat Boys
16 40 2 Non-album tracks
2008 "Knock Down the Walls"
#1 US Dance, #29 US AC
All the Best – Knock Down the Walls
Featuring eight different mixes
2013 "Changes" (Pop version)
c/w "Changes" (Alt version)
CD single
Non-album tracks
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Citations edit

  1. ^ "Hot 100 55th Anniversary: The All-Time Top 100 Songs". Billboard. Retrieved October 26, 2017.
  2. ^ Franklin, Benjamin V (May 30, 2016). An Encyclopedia of South Carolina Jazz and Blues Musicians. Columbia, South Carolina: University of South Carolina Press. p. 147. ISBN 978-1-61117-622-3.
  3. ^ UPI Telephoto (NAP 122601), December 1963.
  4. ^ a b "The Official Site". ChubbyChecker.com. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  5. ^ "Chubby Checker". biography.com. Retrieved June 17, 2019.
  6. ^ "Interview With Chubby Checker". Classicbands.com. February 1, 1961. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  7. ^ "Chubby Checker". Classicbands.com. November 11, 1958. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  8. ^ Benitez-Eves, Tina (February 2, 2023). "The Story Behind How "The Twist" Creator Chubby Checker Got His Name". American Songwriter.
  9. ^ Dawson, Jim (1995). The twist : the story of the song that changed the world. Internet Archive. Boston, Massachusetts: Faber and Faber. pp. 30-31. ISBN 978-0-571-19852-8.
  10. ^ a b c d "Chubby Checker". Billboard. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  11. ^ Chubby Checker "The Twist & Let's Twist Again" on The Ed Sullivan Show. The Ed Sullivan Show via YouTube. October 22, 1961. Retrieved March 13, 2022.
  12. ^ Dawson, Jim (2012). ""The Twist"—Chubby Checker (1960)" (PDF). Library of Congress. (PDF) from the original on October 17, 2020.
  13. ^ Dawson, Jim (1995). The Twist: The Story of the Song and Dance That Changed the World. Boston, Massachusetts: Faber & Faber. pp. 26. ISBN 9780571198528.
  14. ^ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London, England: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. pp. 122–3. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
  15. ^ Unterberger, Andrew (January 26, 2018). "60 Grammys, 60 Moments: The Greatest Moment From Every Grammys Ceremony So Far". Billboard. from the original on January 16, 2022. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  16. ^ "Billboard Hot 100, May 3, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  17. ^ "AllMusic – Ed Chalpin Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  18. ^ Demming, Mark. "AllMusic Overview". AllMusic. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  19. ^ "Guitarist Filgate performs with Chubby Checker in Danbury". NewsTimes. September 17, 2009. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  20. ^ . Social Security Administration. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  21. ^ "Public Service Announcements for Television". SocialSecurity.gov. Social Security Administration. Retrieved January 8, 2010.
  22. ^ "Social Security Videos". Social Security Administration. Retrieved January 8, 2010.
  23. ^ . YouTube. Archived from the original on July 2, 2013. Retrieved July 9, 2017.
  24. ^ ""Today Show" video – July 5, 2013". Retrieved July 9, 2017.
  25. ^ Yarborough, Chuck (January 6, 2015). "Chubby Checker adds twist to fundraiser for Geauga's Rescue Village". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  26. ^ Niesel, Jeff. "Backstage Pass: An Interview with Rock Singer Chubby Checker". Cleveland Scene. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  27. ^ Mumby Moody, Nekesa (March 16, 2004). . Newsday. Archived from the original on February 9, 2008.
  28. ^ Gallagher, Sean (February 14, 2013). "HP sued by Chubby Checker over webOS penis size app". Ars Technica. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  29. ^ . Marketwatch (Press release). Ft. Pierce, Florida. PR Newswire. February 12, 2013. Archived from the original on June 2, 2013. Retrieved November 20, 2016.
  30. ^ Kessler, Derek (February 12, 2013). "'Chubby Checker' lawsuit filed against HP over endowment size estimator". webOS Nation. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  31. ^ Coldewey, Devin (February 14, 2013). "Chubby Checker sues HP over penis size app". NBC News. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  32. ^ "Ernest Evans et al v. Hewlett-Packard Company et al". DigitalCommons.law.scu.edu. Santa Clara University. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  33. ^ "Twist Around the Clock - Synopsis". www.tcm.com. from the original on September 3, 2011. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  34. ^ "Don't Knock the Twist - Synopsis". www.tcm.com. from the original on December 19, 2020. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  35. ^ "Purple People Eater - Credits". www.tcm.com. from the original on January 17, 2021. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  36. ^ Eddy, Cheryl (August 25, 2016). "The 14 Weirdest Quantum Leap Episodes of All Time". Gizmodo. from the original on September 21, 2021. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  37. ^ "Ally McBeal: Season 4, Episode 11". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  38. ^ "Murphy Brown: Season 10, Episode 16". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  39. ^ . Smsmusic.org. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  40. ^ Checker, Chubby. . Artists Music Guild. Archived from the original on December 12, 2013. Retrieved December 9, 2013.
  41. ^ "Chubby Checker To Wed Beauty". Reading Eagle. UPI. December 12, 1963. p. 46. Retrieved August 12, 2010.
  42. ^ UPI Telephoto (NAP 1404993...New York Bureau).
  43. ^ AP Wire Photo 1964.
  44. ^ AP wire photo (jfu 5-2200-jfu-stass) 1966.
  45. ^ . Jumpphilly.com. April 16, 2011. Archived from the original on November 16, 2018. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  46. ^ . Archived from the original on January 9, 2015. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
  47. ^ a b c d . AllMusic. Archived from the original on August 6, 2012. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  48. ^ a b "CHUBBY CHECKER - full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  49. ^ "Australian Chart Book 1940–1969". www.austchartbook.com.au. Retrieved October 13, 2017.

Bibliography edit

External links edit

  • Official website  
  • Chubby Checker at IMDb
  • The Chubby Checker Show 1963 on YouTube
  • "Chubby Checker Showcase". Local Music Scene South Carolina.
  • (Social Security Public Service Announcements)
  • Chubby Checker discography at Discogs  

chubby, checker, this, biography, living, person, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, adding, reliable, sources, contentious, material, about, living, persons, that, unsourced, poorly, sourced, must, removed, immediately, from, article, t. This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification Please help by adding reliable sources Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately from the article and its talk page especially if potentially libelous Find sources Chubby Checker news newspapers books scholar JSTOR July 2023 Learn how and when to remove this template message Chubby Checker born Ernest Evans October 3 1941 is an American singer and dancer He is widely known for popularizing many dance styles including the Twist dance style with his 1960 hit cover of Hank Ballard amp The Midnighters R amp B song The Twist and the pony dance style with the 1961 cover of the song Pony Time His biggest UK hit Let s Twist Again was released one year later in 1962 that year he also popularized the song Limbo Rock originally a previous year instrumental hit by the Champs to which he added lyrics and its trademark Limbo dance as well as other dance styles such as The Fly In September 2008 The Twist topped Billboard s list of the most popular singles to have appeared in the Hot 100 since its debut in 1960 an honor it maintained for an August 2013 update of the list 1 Chubby CheckerChubby Checker in 2005Background informationBirth nameErnest EvansBorn 1941 10 03 October 3 1941 age 82 Spring Gully South Carolina U S OriginPhiladelphia Pennsylvania U S GenresRock and roll rhythm and bluesOccupation s Singer dancerInstrument s VocalsYears active1958 presentLabelsParkway MCAWebsitechubbychecker wbr com Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 2 1 1950s 1960s 2 2 1970s 1990s 2 3 2000s and beyond 3 Controversies 4 Film and musical depictions 5 Awards 6 Personal life 7 Discography 7 1 Studio albums 7 2 Compilation albums 7 3 Singles 8 Citations 9 Bibliography 10 External linksEarly life editChecker was born Ernest Evans in Spring Gully South Carolina 2 He was raised in the projects of South Philadelphia where he lived with his parents Raymond and Eartle Evans 3 and two brothers 4 By age eleven Evans formed a street corner harmony group By the time he entered high school Ernest had learned to play the piano a little at Settlement Music School He entertained his classmates by performing vocal impressions of popular entertainers of the day such as Jerry Lee Lewis Elvis Presley and Fats Domino 5 One of his classmates and friends at South Philadelphia High School was Fabian Forte who would become a popular performer of the late 1950s and early 1960s as Fabian 4 After school Evans would entertain customers at his various jobs including Fresh Farm Poultry in the Italian Market on Ninth Street and at the Produce Market with songs and jokes It was his boss at the Produce Market Tony A who gave Evans the nickname Chubby The owner of Fresh Farm Poultry Henry Colt was so impressed by the boy s performances for the customers that he along with his colleague and friend Kal Mann who worked as a songwriter for Cameo Parkway Records 6 arranged for young Chubby to do a private recording for American Bandstand host Dick Clark After hearing Chubby s Fats Domino impression Clark s wife Barbara suggested that Chubby be called Chubby Checker in homage to Fats Domino 7 8 Career edit1950s 1960s edit In December 1958 Checker privately recorded a novelty single for Clark in which the singer portrayed a school teacher with an unruly classroom of musical performers The premise allowed Checker to imitate such acts as Fats Domino The Coasters Elvis Presley Cozy Cole and The Chipmunks each singing Mary Had a Little Lamb Clark sent the song out as his Christmas greeting and it received such good response that Cameo Parkway signed Checker to a recording contract 9 Titled The Class the single became Checker s first release charting at No 38 in the spring of 1959 10 Checker introduced his version of The Twist at the age of 18 in July 1960 in Wildwood New Jersey at the Rainbow Club The Twist went on to top the Billboard Hot 100 not just once in 1960 but yet again in a separate chart run in late 1961 The first success was attributed to teens and the unprecedented second number one Billboard ranking was driven by older audiences following a spirited live performance 11 of the song by Checker on The Ed Sullivan Show seen by over 10 million viewers 12 Bing Crosby s White Christmas had also achieved number one twice on Billboard s earlier chart The Twist had previously peaked at No 16 on the Billboard rhythm and blues chart in the 1959 version recorded by its author Hank Ballard whose band The Midnighters first performed the dance on stage Checker s Twist however was a nationwide smash aided by his many appearances on Dick Clark s American Bandstand the top 10 American Bandstand ranking of the song and the teenagers on the show who enjoyed dancing the Twist The song was so ubiquitous that Checker felt that his critics thought he could only succeed as a dance demonstrator Checker later lamented The Twist really ruined my life I was on my way to becoming a big nightclub performer and The Twist just wiped it out It got so out of proportion No one ever believes I have talent 13 By 1965 alone The Twist had sold over 15 million copies and was awarded multiple gold discs by the RIAA 14 Despite Checker s initial disapproval he found follow up success with a succession of up tempo dance tracks including The Hucklebuck 14 The Fly 7 Dance the Mess Around 24 and Pony Time which became his second No 1 single 10 Checker s follow up twist single Let s Twist Again won the 1962 Grammy Award for Best Rock and Roll Recording 15 A 1962 duet with Dee Dee Sharp Slow Twistin reached No 3 on the national charts Other substantial hits included Dancin Party Popeye the Hitchhiker Twenty Miles Birdland Loddy Lo and a Christmas duet with Bobby Rydell Jingle Bell Rock Limbo Rock reached No 2 on 22 29 December 1962 becoming Checker s last top ten hit Checker continued to have top 40 singles until 1965 his last being Let s Do the Freddie 40 a variation on Freddie and the Dreamers dance tune Do the Freddie with new melody and lyrics Changes in public tastes owing mostly to the British Invasion and counterculture era ended his hit making career He spent much of the rest of the 1960s touring and recording in Europe 1970s 1990s edit The Twist was recorded for Cameo Parkway Records and along with the label s other material became unavailable after the early 1970s because of the company s internal legal disputes For decades almost all compilations of Checker s hits consisted of re recordings The 1970s saw a shift and resurgence for his career including a temporary stint as a disco artist Checker continued to be a superstar in Europe with television and records citation needed A dance floor cover version of the Beatles Back in the U S S R released in 1969 on Buddah Records his first chart entry in three years reached No 82 16 It was Checker s last chart appearance until 1982 when he hit No 91 with Running 10 nbsp Chubby Checker during a TV interview in 2008In 1971 Checker at his own insistence recorded a psychedelic album filled with music he felt was current that was initially only released in Europe Originally named Chequered it was renamed over the years in subsequent re releases as New Revelation The Other Side Of Chubby Checker and sometimes as Chubby Checker The songs were all written by Checker and produced by former Jimi Hendrix producer Ed Chalpin 17 but the studio musicians names are unknown The album flopped 18 Later in the decade he recorded an album of audiophile re creations of his greatest hits for producer Stan Shulman In 1988 Chubby teamed up with hip hop trio The Fat Boys with their version of The Twist Yo Twist this reached No 2 in the UK 2000s and beyond edit Checker had a single at No 1 on Billboard s dance chart in July 2008 with Knock Down the Walls The single also made the top 30 on the Adult Contemporary chart 10 Roger Filgate of Wishbone Ash is featured on lead guitar 19 In 2009 Checker recorded a public service announcement PSA for the Social Security Administration to help launch a new campaign to promote recent changes in Medicare law 20 In the PSA Checker encourages Americans on Medicare to apply for Extra Help A new twist in the law makes it easier than ever to save on your prescription drug plan costs 21 22 On February 25 2013 Checker released a new single the ballad Changes via iTunes it was posted on YouTube and amassed over 160 000 views 23 Changes was produced by the hill amp hifi and reached 43 on the Mediabase Top 100 AC Chart and 41 on the Gospel Chart Checker performed it on July 5 2013 on NBC s Today show 24 In 2015 Checker joined forces with Howard Perl Entertainment 25 and Hard Rock Rocksino to produce Rock and Roll to The Rescue 26 a show designed to raise funds and adopt rescue animals in need Controversies editIn 2002 Checker protested outside of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony over the lack of radio airplay of his hit The Twist and his perception that the Hall of Fame had snubbed him Seymour Stein president of the Rock Hall s New York chapter and member of the nomination committee claimed I think that Chubby is someone who will be considered He has in certain years 27 In 2013 Checker sued HP over a WebOS application using his name The application before being pulled in September 2012 was used to unscientifically estimate penis size from shoe size 28 29 30 31 The district court said that Checker s trademark claim survived HP s motion to dismiss but his other claims were dismissed per Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act 32 Film and musical depictions editChecker performed as well as appeared as a version of himself in Twist Around the Clock 1961 and Don t Knock the Twist 1962 In both films he provided advice and crucial breaks for the protagonist 33 34 In 1988 Checker appeared as himself performing alongside the Purple People Eater in the film of the same name 35 Checker later appeared as himself in the 1989 Quantum Leap episode entitled Good Morning Peoria where he walks into a radio station in 1959 hoping to have his demo record played on the air The show s main character Dr Sam Beckett Scott Bakula persuades the station owner to play the song The Twist inadvertently teaching Checker himself how to do The Twist 36 In 2001 Checker again guest starred as himself singing The Twist in the fourth season of Ally McBeal 37 He also performed the track in the tenth season of Murphy Brown 38 Awards editIn 2008 Checker s The Twist was named the biggest chart hit of all time by Billboard magazine Billboard looked at all singles that made the charts between 1958 and 2008 He was also honored by Settlement Music School as part of the school s centennial celebration and named to the Settlement 100 a list of notable people connected to the school 39 Checker received the prestigious Sandy Hosey Lifetime Achievement Award on November 9 2013 from the Artists Music Guild Checker was the host of the 2013 AMG Heritage Awards and was given the honor during the television broadcast The award was presented to him by longtime friend and labelmate Dee Dee Sharp 40 In 2014 Checker was inducted into the National Rhythm amp Blues Hall of Fame Personal life editOn December 12 1963 Checker proposed to Catharina Lodders a 21 year old Dutch model and Miss World 1962 from Haarlem the Netherlands 41 Checker said he met Lodders in Manila the prior January 42 The song Loddy Lo is about her They were married on April 12 1964 at Temple Lutheran Church in Pennsauken New Jersey 43 Their first child Bianca Johanna Evans was born in a Philadelphia hospital on December 8 1966 44 Their other two children are Ilka Evans and musician Shan Egan Evans lead singer of Funk Church a band in the Philadelphia area 45 Checker is also the father of WNBA player Mistie Bass 46 Discography editStudio albums edit Year Album Peak chart positionsUS 47 UK 48 1960 Twist with Chubby Checker 3 13For Twisters Only 8 171961 Let s Twist Again 11 It s Pony Time 110 For Teen Twisters Only 17 1962 Limbo Party 11 Beach Party 90 Twistin Round the World 54 1963 Let s Limbo Some More 87 Chubby Checker in Person 104 1964 Chubby s Folk Album 1965 At the Discotheque 1971 Chequered 1982 The Change Has Come 186 1994 The Texas Twisting 2001 Towards The Light denotes releases that did not chart Compilation albums edit Year Album US 47 1962 All the Hits For Your Dancin Party 231963 Chubby Checker s Biggest Hits 271973 Chubby Checker s Greatest Hits 152Singles edit Year Titles A side B side Both sides from same album except where indicated Chart positions AlbumUS 47 US R amp B 47 UK 48 AUS 49 1959 The Class b w Schooldays Oh Schooldays Non album track 38 Greatest Hits 15 Original Hits Whole Lotta Laughin b w Samson and Delilah Non album tracks Dancing Dinosaur b w Those Private Eyes 1960 The Twist b w Toot from The Chubby Checker Discotheque 1 2 44 20 Twist with Chubby Checker The Hucklebuck 14 15 24 Whole Lotta Shakin Goin On 42 For Twisters Only1961 Pony Time b w Oh Susannah Non album track 1 1 27 8 It s Pony Time Dance the Mess Around 24 48 Chubby Checker s Biggest Hits Good Good Lovin 43 Let s Twist Again b w Everything s Gonna Be All Right from Chubby Checker 8 26 2 7 Let s Twist Again The Fly b w That s the Way It Goes Non album track 7 11 35 For Teen Twisters Only Jingle Bell Rock b w Jingle Bell Rock Imitations Both sides with Bobby Rydell 21 Bobby Rydell Chubby Checker1962 The Twist Chart re entry the only song of the rock era to reach No 1 twice in the US in two different years 1 4 14 3 Twist with Chubby Checker Twistin U S A 68 41 Slow Twistin With Dee Dee Sharp 3 3 23 9 For Teen Twisters Only La Paloma Twist 72 Twistin Round the World Teach Me to Twist b w Swingin Together Both sides with Bobby Rydell 45 Bobby Rydell Chubby Checker Dancin Party b w Gotta Get Myself Together Non album track 12 19 85 Chubby Checker s Biggest Hits Limbo Rock 2 3 32 8 Limbo Party Popeye the Hitchhiker 10 13 All the Hits For Your Dancin Party Jingle Bell Rock b w Jingle Bell Imitations Chart re entry both sides with Bobby Rydell 92 40 Bobby Rydell Chubby Checker1963 Let s Limbo Some More 20 16 11 Let s Limbo Some More Twenty Miles 15 15 Birdland 12 18 33 Beach Party Black Cloud 98 Non album track Twist It Up 25 Beach Party Surf Party 55 What Do Ya Say b w Something to Shout About Released in UK only 37 25 Non album tracks Loddy Lo 12 4 17 Chubby s Folk Album Hooka Tooka 17 1964 Hey Bobba Needle b w Spread Joy Non album track 23 26 Rosie 50 Non album track Lazy Elsie Molly 40 18 Golden Hits She Wants T Swim b w You Better Believe It Baby Non album track 50 98 The Chubby Checker Discotheque Lovely Lovely Loverly Loverly b w The Weekend s Here 70 Non album tracks1965 Let s Do the Freddie b w At the Discotheque Non album track 40 18 Golden Hits Everything s Wrong b w Cu Ma La Be Stay Non album tracks You Just Don t Know What You Do To Me b w Two Hearts Make One Love 1966 Hey You Little Boo Ga Loo b w Pussy Cat 76 Looking at Tomorrow b w You Got the Power Karate Monkey b w Her Heart 1969 Back In The U S S R b w Windy Cream 82 1973 Reggae My Way b w Gypsy 641974 She s a Bad Woman b w Happiness Is a Girl Like You 1975 Let s Twist Again The Twist Double A side chart re entry in UK 5 A Let s Twist AgainB Twist with Chubby Checker1976 The Rub b w Move It Non album tracks1982 Running b w Is Tonight the Night Non album track 91 The Change Has Come Harder Than Diamond b w Your Love 1988 The Twist Yo Twist version b w The Twist Buffapella Both sides with the Fat Boys 16 40 2 Non album tracks2008 Knock Down the Walls 1 US Dance 29 US AC All the Best Knock Down the WallsFeaturing eight different mixes2013 Changes Pop version c w Changes Alt version CD single Non album tracks denotes releases that did not chart Citations edit Hot 100 55th Anniversary The All Time Top 100 Songs Billboard Retrieved October 26 2017 Franklin Benjamin V May 30 2016 An Encyclopedia of South Carolina Jazz and Blues Musicians Columbia South Carolina University of South Carolina Press p 147 ISBN 978 1 61117 622 3 UPI Telephoto NAP 122601 December 1963 a b The Official Site ChubbyChecker com Retrieved August 18 2015 Chubby Checker biography com Retrieved June 17 2019 Interview With Chubby Checker Classicbands com February 1 1961 Retrieved August 18 2015 Chubby Checker Classicbands com November 11 1958 Retrieved August 18 2015 Benitez Eves Tina February 2 2023 The Story Behind How The Twist Creator Chubby Checker Got His Name American Songwriter Dawson Jim 1995 The twist the story of the song that changed the world Internet Archive Boston Massachusetts Faber and Faber pp 30 31 ISBN 978 0 571 19852 8 a b c d Chubby Checker Billboard Retrieved January 16 2022 Chubby Checker The Twist amp Let s Twist Again on The Ed Sullivan Show The Ed Sullivan Show via YouTube October 22 1961 Retrieved March 13 2022 Dawson Jim 2012 The Twist Chubby Checker 1960 PDF Library of Congress Archived PDF from the original on October 17 2020 Dawson Jim 1995 The Twist The Story of the Song and Dance That Changed the World Boston Massachusetts Faber amp Faber pp 26 ISBN 9780571198528 Murrells Joseph 1978 The Book of Golden Discs 2nd ed London England Barrie and Jenkins Ltd pp 122 3 ISBN 0 214 20512 6 Unterberger Andrew January 26 2018 60 Grammys 60 Moments The Greatest Moment From Every Grammys Ceremony So Far Billboard Archived from the original on January 16 2022 Retrieved January 16 2022 Billboard Hot 100 May 3 1969 Billboard Retrieved July 8 2017 AllMusic Ed Chalpin Credits AllMusic Retrieved July 8 2017 Demming Mark AllMusic Overview AllMusic Retrieved July 8 2017 Guitarist Filgate performs with Chubby Checker in Danbury NewsTimes September 17 2009 Retrieved January 16 2022 Social Security Public Service Announcement Social Security Administration Archived from the original on September 24 2015 Retrieved August 18 2015 Public Service Announcements for Television SocialSecurity gov Social Security Administration Retrieved January 8 2010 Social Security Videos Social Security Administration Retrieved January 8 2010 You Tube video YouTube Archived from the original on July 2 2013 Retrieved July 9 2017 Today Show video July 5 2013 Retrieved July 9 2017 Yarborough Chuck January 6 2015 Chubby Checker adds twist to fundraiser for Geauga s Rescue Village The Plain Dealer Retrieved January 23 2020 Niesel Jeff Backstage Pass An Interview with Rock Singer Chubby Checker Cleveland Scene Retrieved January 23 2020 Mumby Moody Nekesa March 16 2004 Chubby Checker Stages RockHall Fame Protest Newsday Archived from the original on February 9 2008 Gallagher Sean February 14 2013 HP sued by Chubby Checker over webOS penis size app Ars Technica Retrieved August 18 2015 Famed Attorney Willie Gary Files Half Billion Dollar Lawsuit on behalf of Music Legend Chubby Checker against Hewlett Packard and Palm Inc for Copyright Infringement Marketwatch Press release Ft Pierce Florida PR Newswire February 12 2013 Archived from the original on June 2 2013 Retrieved November 20 2016 Kessler Derek February 12 2013 Chubby Checker lawsuit filed against HP over endowment size estimator webOS Nation Retrieved August 18 2015 Coldewey Devin February 14 2013 Chubby Checker sues HP over penis size app NBC News Retrieved July 3 2022 Ernest Evans et al v Hewlett Packard Company et al DigitalCommons law scu edu Santa Clara University Retrieved August 18 2015 Twist Around the Clock Synopsis www tcm com Archived from the original on September 3 2011 Retrieved January 16 2022 Don t Knock the Twist Synopsis www tcm com Archived from the original on December 19 2020 Retrieved January 16 2022 Purple People Eater Credits www tcm com Archived from the original on January 17 2021 Retrieved January 16 2022 Eddy Cheryl August 25 2016 The 14 Weirdest Quantum Leap Episodes of All Time Gizmodo Archived from the original on September 21 2021 Retrieved January 16 2022 Ally McBeal Season 4 Episode 11 Rotten Tomatoes Retrieved January 16 2022 Murphy Brown Season 10 Episode 16 Rotten Tomatoes Retrieved April 25 2023 Settlement Music School Settlement 100 Smsmusic org Archived from the original on September 24 2015 Retrieved August 18 2015 Checker Chubby Checker receives the 2013 Sandy Hosey Lifetime Achievement Award Artists Music Guild Archived from the original on December 12 2013 Retrieved December 9 2013 Chubby Checker To Wed Beauty Reading Eagle UPI December 12 1963 p 46 Retrieved August 12 2010 UPI Telephoto NAP 1404993 New York Bureau AP Wire Photo 1964 AP wire photo jfu 5 2200 jfu stass 1966 MusicTown Chubby Checker s Son is a Funk Master Jumpphilly com April 16 2011 Archived from the original on November 16 2018 Retrieved May 3 2023 Mistie Bass Archived from the original on January 9 2015 Retrieved August 19 2021 a b c d Chubby Checker Awards AllMusic Archived from the original on August 6 2012 Retrieved January 10 2022 a b CHUBBY CHECKER full Official Chart History Official Charts Company Retrieved January 10 2022 Australian Chart Book 1940 1969 www austchartbook com au Retrieved October 13 2017 Bibliography editJoel Whitburn s Top Pop Singles 1955 1990 P O Box 200 Menomonee Falls WI Record Research Inc 1991 ISBN 0 89820 089 X a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location link Joel Whitburn s Top R amp B Singles 1942 1988 P O Box 200 Menomonee Falls WI Record Research Inc 1988 ISBN 0 89820 069 5 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location link External links editOfficial website nbsp Chubby Checker at IMDb The Chubby Checker Show 1963 on YouTube Chubby Checker King Of The Twist by Dr Frank Hoffmann Chubby Checker Showcase Local Music Scene South Carolina Chubby Checker says There s a New Twist in the Law Social Security Public Service Announcements Interviewed March 22 2010 on WNYC SoundCheck with John Schaefer Discusses this Wikipedia entry and career Chubby Checker discography at Discogs nbsp Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Chubby Checker amp oldid 1195856449, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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