In 1960, it had to be tough for a singer to not only create a dance craze but also transcended racial and social divides.
While no one will ever confuse Chubby Checker with, say, civil rights activist Martin Luther King, the simple fact is when he created the song “The Twist,” he got dance floors packed with enthusiastic white, suburban teenagers.
Still going strong in his early 80s, Checker will shake it on stage at the Avalon Theatre in Fallsview Casino Resort for three consecutive 3 pm shows on March 6, 7, and 8.
Born Ernest Evans and raised in South Philadelphia, Checker’s hit song double-topped the Billboard charts following its debut in 1960 and then climbed right back up to #1 again in 1962.
Nicknamed “Chubby” as a teen by his produce manager boss, the full stage name came after he did a private recording for American Bandstand host Dick Clark. When Clark’s wife asked his name, he shyly told her that people just called him Chubby. As he had just completed a Fats Domino impression, she smiled and said, “As in Checker?”
A rock and roll pioneer, Checker was the only artist to have five albums in the top 12 at the same time; the only artist to ever have a song on the charts at #1 on two separate times; and the only artist to ever have nine double-sided hits.
Checker’s success continued for years with the release of “The Fly” and “Let’s Twist Again,” for which he won a Grammy for Best Rock Performance.
To give you a sense of the young singer’s appeal, here’s a look at his October 1961 appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show that drew 10 million viewers.
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