Chubby Checker – Biography, Songs, Albums, Discography & Facts

Chubby Checker Biography

Chubby Checker is an American rock and roll singer and dancer from the United States. He is generally credited with popularising various dance styles, including the Twist dance style, which he popularised with his 1960 smash cover of Hank Ballard & The Midnighters’ R&B song “The Twist,” and the Pony dance style, which he popularized with his 1961 cover of the song “Pony Time.” His biggest UK hit, “Let’s Twist Again,” was published a year later (in 1962); that same year, he popularized the song “Limbo Rock,” which was initially an instrumental smash by the Champs to which he added vocals, and its signature Limbo dance, as well as other dance forms such as The Fly. “The Twist” topped Billboard’s list of the most popular singles to have appeared in the Hot 100 since its launch in 1960 in September 2008, a position it held until an August 2013 edition of the list.

Chubby Checker began his career on the streets of Philadelphia before signing with Cameo-Parkway Records and releasing his rendition of Hank Ballard’s “The Twist” in 1959. The song became a No. 1 hit and a dancing craze after appearing on “American Bandstand.” Checker is still active today and was featured in a popular advertisement for Nabisco’s Oreo cookies.

Chubby Checker (as he was afterwards known) was born Ernest Evans on October 3, 1941, in Spring Gulley, South Carolina, the son of a tobacco farmer. Checker’s family relocated to Philadelphia, and as a child, he took odd jobs such as dusting shoes, selling ice, and aiding in a butcher shop. While working as an adolescent at Tony Anastazi’s Produce Store, he earned the moniker Chubby due to his bulky size. He had a natural talent for emulating the styles of his musical heroes Fats Domino, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Elvis Presley. He began playing in churches and on the streets with his singing group, The Quantrells, and quickly drew the notice of Philadelphia music professionals. In 1959, Checker signed with Cameo-Parkway Records. “The Class” and “Dancing Dinosaur,” his first two singles, were small hits.

Cameo pushed him to record his own version of “The Twist,” a song written and performed by Hank Ballard that was already charting well. Checker’s version, however, and his accompanying dance routine, gave the song fresh life. He was dubbed “The Twist King.” In truth, the moniker Checker was suggested by Dick Clark’s wife as a nod to the singer’s resemblance to Fats Domino.

“The Twist” transformed popular culture as a dance routine by allowing partners to separate on the dance floor. In September 1960, a performance on Dick Clark’s American Bandstand sent Checker’s version of “The Twist” to the top of the Billboard charts.

It topped the charts once more in January 1962. With this impressive feat, “The Twist” became the first and only 45 single to reach No. 1 in two different years.

Although Checker recorded many more songs in the years that followed, none of them were as successful as “The Twist.” In the early 1960s, he continued to capitalise on the Twist motif with songs like “Let’s Twist Again,” “Twistin’ U.S.A.” and “Twist It Up.” He also appeared in two Twist-related films, Twist Around the Clock (1961) and Don’t Knock the Twist (1962).

Famous advertisers have also used the “twist” notion. Nabisco, for example, showed Checker twisting the Oreo cookie in the early 1990s, resulting in one of the company’s most popular promotions ever. In 1964, Checker married Catharina Lodders. They have three kids.

Chubby Checker Discography

Chubby Checker in Person
Let’s Limbo Some More SpotifyAppleYouTube
Twistin’ Round the World SpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Beach Party SpotifyAppleYouTube
Limbo Party YouTube
For Teen Twisters Only YouTubeAmazon
It’s Pony Time SpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Let’s Twist Again SpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
For Twisters Only YouTubeAmazon
Twist with Chubby Checker SpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who Is Chubby Checker?

Chubby Checker is one of the most popular and influential rock and roll musicians of all time. He is best known for his hit songs “The Twist” and “Pony Time”, which became immensely popular dance crazes in the early 1960s.

What Nationality Is Chubby Checker?

Chubby Checker (born Ernest Evans; October 3, 1941) is an American rock and roll singer and dancer.

What Was Chubby CheckerS Biggest Hit?

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.

What Was Chubby Checker Hit Song?

“The Twist” was a hit song by Chubby Checker in 1960. The song popularized the dance move known as “the twist” and became a worldwide sensation. It is considered one of the most influential songs of the 20th century.

Most Searched For Chubby Checker Songs

Let’s Twist Again SpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
The Twist SpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
(At The) Discotheque Spotify
Limbo Rock SpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
The Hucklebuck SpotifyAppleYouTube
Dancin’ Party SpotifyApple
Slow Twistin’ SpotifyAppleYouTube
Pony Time SpotifyApple
You Just Don’t Know (What You Do To Me) SpotifyYouTube
The Charleston Spotify