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, 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", a previous-year instrumental hit by the Champs to which he added lyrics and its trademark Limbo dance. He also introduced other dance styles such as The Fly. In September 2008, "The Twist" topped BillboardTemplate:'s list of the most popular singles to have appeared in the Hot 100 since its debut in 1960, an honor it maintained in an August 2013 update of the list.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In 2014, Checker was inducted into the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame, and he was selected for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2025.<ref name="rr25">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Early life

Checker was born Ernest Evans in Spring Gully, South Carolina.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> He was raised in the projects of South Philadelphia, where he lived with his parents, Raymond and Eartle Evans,<ref>UPI Telephoto (NAP 122601), December 1963.</ref> and two brothers.<ref name= Chubby>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.<ref name= Chubby />

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, Anthony Tambone, 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,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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 him.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Career

1950s–1960s

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.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Titled "The Class", the single became Checker's first release, charting at No. 38 in the spring of 1959.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite magazine</ref>

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<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref> of the song by Checker on The Ed Sullivan Show, seen by over 10 million viewers.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> (Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" had also achieved number one twice on BillboardTemplate:'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."<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> By 1965 alone, "The Twist" had sold over 15 million copies, and was awarded multiple gold discs by the RIAA.<ref name="The Book of Golden Discs">Template:Cite book</ref>

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.<ref name=":0" /> Checker's follow-up "twist" single, "Let's Twist Again", won the 1962 Grammy Award for Best Rock and Roll Recording.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> 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

"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.Template: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.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> It was Checker's last chart appearance until 1982 when he hit No. 91 with "Running".<ref name=":0" />

File:ChubbyCheckerByPhilKonstantin.jpg

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,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> but the studio musicians' names are unknown. The album flopped.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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

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.<ref name=":0" /> Roger Filgate of Wishbone Ash is featured on lead guitar.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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."<ref name= SSA_PSA>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name= SSA_videos>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> "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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2015, Checker joined forces with Howard Perl Entertainment<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> to produce live events, such as "Rock and Roll to The Rescue",<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> a tour designed to raise funds for rescue animals in need nationwide.

In 2025, Checker was selected for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; He had been eligible for induction since the Hall's first class in 1986.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite press release</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Film and musical depictions

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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 1988, Checker appeared as himself performing alongside the Purple People Eater in the film of the same name.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 2001, Checker again guest-starred as himself singing "The Twist" in the fourth season of Ally McBeal.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He also performed the track in the tenth season of Murphy Brown.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Awards

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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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.<ref name="Checker receives Lifetime Achievement Award">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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

Personal life

On December 12, 1963, Checker proposed to Catharina Lodders, a 21-year-old Dutch model and Miss World 1962 from Haarlem.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Checker said he met Lodders in Manila the prior January.<ref>UPI Telephoto (NAP 1404993...New York Bureau).</ref> The song "Loddy Lo" is about her. They were married on April 12, 1964, at Temple Lutheran Church in Pennsauken, New Jersey.<ref>AP Wire Photo 1964.</ref> Their first child, Bianca Johanna Evans, was born in a Philadelphia hospital on December 8, 1966.<ref>AP wire photo (jfu 5-2200-jfu-stass) 1966.</ref> Their other two children are Ilka Evans and musician Shan Egan (Evans), lead singer of Funk Church, a band in the Philadelphia area.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Checker is also the father of WNBA player Mistie Bass.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Discography

Studio albums

Year	Album	Peak chart positions
		US <ref name="Awards"/>	UK <ref name="UK"/>
1960	Twist with Chubby Checker	3	13
	For Twisters Only	8	17
	Bobby Rydell/Chubby Checker (with Bobby Rydell)	7	—
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

Year	Album	US <ref name="Awards"/>
1962	All the Hits (For Your Dancin' Party)	23
1963	Chubby Checker's Biggest Hits	27
1973	Chubby Checker's Greatest Hits	152

Singles

Year	Titles (A-side, B-side) Both sides from same album except where indicated	Chart positions					Album
		US <ref name="Awards">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	US R&B <ref name="Awards"/>	Canada <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation		CitationClass=web }}</ref>	UK <ref name="UK">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	AUS <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
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	2	44	20	Twist with Chubby Checker
	"The Hucklebuck" /	14	15	2	—	—
	"Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On"	42	—	2	—	—	For Twisters Only
1961	"Pony Time" b/w "Oh, Susannah" (Non-album track)	1	1	5	27	8	It's Pony Time
	"Dance the Mess Around" /	24	—	16	—	48	Chubby Checker's Biggest Hits
	"Good, Good Lovin'"	43	—	16	—	—
	"Let's Twist Again" b/w "Everything's Gonna Be All Right" (from Chubby Checker)	8	26	2	2	7	Let's Twist Again
	"The Fly" b/w "That's the Way It Goes" (Non-album track)	7	11	5	—	35	For 'Teen Twisters Only
	"Jingle Bell Rock" b/w "Jingle Bell Rock Imitations" Both sides with Bobby Rydell	21/115	—	—	40	—	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	1	14	3	Twist with Chubby Checker
	"Twistin' U.S.A."	68	—	—	—	41
	"Slow Twistin'" (With Dee Dee Sharp) /	3	3	18	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	1209	—	—	45	—	Bobby Rydell/Chubby Checker
	"Dancin' Party" b/w "Gotta Get Myself Together" (Non-album track)	12	—	19	19	85	Chubby Checker's Biggest Hits
	"Limbo Rock" /	2	3	7	32	8	Limbo Party
	"Popeye the Hitchhiker"	10	13	7	—		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	16	—	11	Let's Limbo Some More
	"Twenty Miles"	15	15	13	—
	"Birdland" /	12	18	14	—	33	Beach Party
	"Black Cloud"	98	—	14	—		Non-album track
	"Twist It Up" /	25	—	21	—	—	Beach Party
	"Surf Party"	55	—	21	—	—
	"What Do Ya Say!" b/w "Something to Shout About" Released in UK only	—	—	—	37	25	Non-album tracks
	"Loddy Lo" /	12	4	5	—	17	Chubby's Folk Album
	"Hooka Tooka"	17	—	13	—
1964	"Hey, Bobba Needle" b/w "Spread Joy" (Non-album track)Template:Refn	23	—	16	—	26
	"Rosie" /	116	—	22	—	50	Non-album track
	"Lazy Elsie Molly"	40	—	17	—		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	—	15	—	—	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	—	63	—	—
	"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	—	86	—	—
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"	104	—	—	—	—
1988	"The Twist" ("Yo, Twist!" version) b/w "The Twist" (Buffapella) Both sides with the Fat Boys	16	40	12	2	—	Non-album tracks
2008	"Knock Down the Walls" #1 US Dance, No. 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.

Bibliography

• Template:Cite book
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External links

• Template:Official website
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• Template:YouTube
• Chubby Checker – King Of The Twist – by Dr. Frank Hoffmann
• 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
• {{#if:|Template:PAGENAMEBASE discography at Discogs|{{#if:Template:Wikidata|Template:Wikidata Template:PAGENAMEBASE discography at DiscogsTemplate:EditAtWikidata|Template:PAGENAMEBASE discography at Discogs}}}}