Chubby Checker facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Chubby Checker
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Chubby Checker in 2005
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Ernest Evans |
| Born | October 3, 1941 Spring Gully, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Origin | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Genres | Rock and roll |
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| Years active | 1960–present |
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Ernest Evans (born October 3, 1941), known by his stage name Chubby Checker, is an American rock 'n' roll singer and dancer. He is famous for making dance styles popular, especially the Twist. His 1960 cover of the song "The Twist" became a massive hit.
He also made the Pony dance popular with his 1961 song "Pony Time." A year later, his song "Let's Twist Again" was a big hit in the United Kingdom. He also had a hit with the song "Limbo Rock" and its famous Limbo dance.
In September 2008, Billboard magazine named "The Twist" the most popular song ever on its Hot 100 chart since 1960. In 2025, Checker was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Contents
Early Life and Getting His Name
Chubby Checker was born Ernest Evans in Spring Gully, South Carolina. He grew up in South Philadelphia with his parents and two brothers. When he was eleven, he started a singing group with friends on the street corner.
In high school, he learned to play the piano. He loved to entertain his classmates by imitating famous singers like Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, and Fats Domino. One of his friends at school was Fabian, who also became a famous singer.
After school, Evans worked at a poultry shop and a produce market. He would sing and tell jokes to the customers. His boss at the market, Anthony Tambone, gave him the nickname "Chubby." The owner of the poultry shop, Henry Colt, was very impressed. He arranged for Chubby to make a recording for Dick Clark, the host of the popular TV show American Bandstand.
Dick Clark's wife, Barbara, heard Chubby's impression of the singer Fats Domino. She cleverly suggested the name "Chubby Checker" as a playful nod to "Fats Domino." The name stuck!
Career
The King of the Twist
In 1959, Checker's first single, "The Class," was released. In the song, he imitated different musicians in a classroom. It was a minor hit, reaching number 38 on the charts.
His big break came in July 1960. At age 18, he performed his version of "The Twist" at a club in Wildwood, New Jersey. The song shot to number one on the Billboard Hot 100. It was so popular that it hit number one again in late 1961. This happened after he performed the dance on The Ed Sullivan Show for millions of viewers.
"The Twist" was a huge success. It was popular with teenagers and adults, which was unusual at the time. The song sold over 15 million copies by 1965 alone.
More Dance Hits
Checker worried that people would only know him for "The Twist." He once said, ""The Twist" really ruined my life... No one ever believes I have talent." However, he continued to release many more hit songs that got people dancing.
His other hits included "The Hucklebuck," "The Fly," and "Dance the Mess Around." His song "Pony Time" became his second number-one single. In 1962, his song "Let's Twist Again" won a Grammy Award.
He also had major hits with "Dancin' Party," "Popeye the Hitchhiker," and "Limbo Rock." His last top 40 hit was in 1965. After that, music tastes changed with the arrival of bands from Britain, and his time on the charts ended. He spent the rest of the 1960s touring in Europe.
Later Career
In the 1970s, Checker's music became popular again. He even recorded some disco music. In 1988, he worked with the hip-hop group The Fat Boys on a new version of "The Twist." The song was a hit in the UK, reaching number 2.
Checker continued to make music. In 2008, his song "Knock Down the Walls" reached number 1 on Billboard's dance chart. He has also appeared on TV shows and worked on projects to help good causes. For example, in 2015, he helped organize a tour called "Rock and Roll to The Rescue" to raise money for animal shelters.
Movies and TV Shows
Chubby Checker's fame led to appearances in movies. He played himself in the films Twist Around the Clock (1961) and Don't Knock the Twist (1962).
He also made guest appearances on TV shows. In a 1989 episode of Quantum Leap, the main character travels back in time and accidentally teaches a young Chubby Checker how to do the Twist. He also sang "The Twist" on episodes of Ally McBeal and Murphy Brown.
Awards and Honors
- In 2008, Billboard magazine named "The Twist" the biggest chart hit of all time from 1958 to 2008.
- In 2014, Checker was inducted into the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame.
- In 2025, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, an honor many fans felt was long overdue.
Personal Life
In 1963, Chubby Checker proposed to Catharina Lodders, a model from the Netherlands who had been crowned Miss World 1962. His song "Loddy Lo" is about her. They married in 1964.
They have three children together: Bianca, Ilka, and Shan. His son, Shan Egan, is the lead singer for a band called Funk Church. Checker is also the father of Mistie Bass, a former player in the WNBA.
See also
In Spanish: Chubby Checker para niños
