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. |
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| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1958–present |
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Chubby Checker (born Ernest Evans on October 3, 1941) is an American singer and dancer. He is famous for making many dance styles popular. These include the Twist and the pony dance.
His 1960 hit song "The Twist" helped make the dance famous. This song was a cover of an R&B song by Hank Ballard & The Midnighters. In 1961, his cover of "Pony Time" made the pony dance popular.
A year later, in 1962, his song "Let's Twist Again" became a big hit in the UK. That same year, he also made "Limbo Rock" popular. He added lyrics to this song, which was originally an instrumental tune by the Champs. He also helped popularize the Limbo dance and other dances like The Fly.
In 2008, Billboard magazine named "The Twist" the most popular song on the Hot 100 chart since it started in 1960. It kept this honor in 2013.
Contents
Early Life of a Dance Legend
Chubby Checker, whose real name is Ernest Evans, was born in Spring Gully, South Carolina. He grew up in South Philadelphia with his parents and two brothers.
When he was about eleven years old, Ernest started a singing group with his friends on the street corner. As he got older and went to high school, he learned to play the piano a little. He loved to entertain his classmates by singing songs and doing impressions of famous singers like Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, and Fats Domino. One of his high school friends was Fabiano Forte, who later became the popular singer Fabian.
After school, Ernest worked at places like Fresh Farm Poultry and the Produce Market. He would entertain customers with songs and jokes. His boss at the Produce Market, "Tony A.", gave him the nickname "Chubby."
The owner of Fresh Farm Poultry, Henry Colt, was very impressed by Ernest's performances. He and his friend Kal Mann, a songwriter for Cameo-Parkway Records, arranged for Chubby to record a song for American Bandstand host Dick Clark. At this recording session, Clark's wife asked Ernest his name. He said, "My friends call me 'Chubby'." Since he had just done an impression of Fats Domino, she joked, "As in Checker?" This fun play on words stuck, and Ernest Evans became known as Chubby Checker.
Chubby's Amazing Career
The Twist and Beyond (1950s–1960s)
In 1958, Chubby Checker recorded a fun song for Dick Clark. In the song, he pretended to be a teacher with a classroom full of musical students. This allowed him to imitate singers like Fats Domino and Elvis Presley, all singing "Mary Had a Little Lamb". Dick Clark sent this song out as his Christmas greeting. People liked it so much that Cameo-Parkway Records signed Checker to a music contract. This song, called "The Class", was his first release and reached No. 38 on the charts in 1959.
Chubby Checker first performed his version of "The Twist" in July 1960. He was 18 years old at the time. "The Twist" became a huge hit, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart not just once in 1960, but again in 1961! The first time, teens made it popular. The second time, older audiences helped it reach number one after Chubby performed it on The Ed Sullivan Show for over 10 million viewers.
The original "Twist" song was written by Hank Ballard. His band, The Midnighters, first performed the dance on stage. But Chubby Checker's version became a national sensation. His many appearances on Dick Clark's American Bandstand helped a lot. Teenagers on the show loved dancing the Twist.
"The Twist" sold over 15 million copies by 1965. It earned many gold records. Even though the song made him super famous, Chubby Checker sometimes felt that critics thought he could only make dance records. He once said, "The Twist really ruined my life. I was on my way to becoming a big nightclub performer, and The Twist just wiped it out... No one ever believes I have talent."
Despite his feelings, Chubby Checker had many more dance hits. These included "The Hucklebuck", "The Fly", and "Dance the Mess Around". "Pony Time" became his second number one song. His song "Let's Twist Again" won a Grammy Award for Best Rock and Roll Recording in 1962.
He also had hits like "Slow Twistin'" with Dee Dee Sharp, "Dancin' Party", and "Limbo Rock". "Limbo Rock" reached No. 2 in late 1962. Chubby Checker continued to have songs in the Top 40 until 1965. After that, music tastes changed with the British Invasion. He spent much of the rest of the 1960s touring and recording in Europe.
Later Years (1970s–Present)
For many years, it was hard to find Chubby Checker's original recordings of "The Twist" and other songs. This was because of legal problems with his record company. So, many of his greatest hits albums had new recordings of his songs. In the 1970s, he became a popular act on the "oldies" concert circuit. He also had a brief time as a disco artist. He remained a big star in Europe, appearing on TV and releasing records.
In 2008, Chubby Checker had a number one hit on Billboard's dance chart with "Knock Down the Walls". This song also made it into the top 30 on the Adult Contemporary chart.
In 2009, he recorded a public service announcement (PSA) for the Social Security Administration. He encouraged people on Medicare to apply for extra help with prescription drug costs.
On February 25, 2013, Checker released a new song called "Changes." He performed it on NBC's Today show in July 2013. In 2015, he started a show called "Rock and Roll to The Rescue." This show helps raise money and find homes for rescue animals.
Chubby Checker in Movies and TV
Chubby Checker appeared as himself in the movies Twist Around the Clock (1961) and Don't Knock the Twist (1962). In these films, he gave advice and helped the main characters.
In 1988, he appeared in the movie Purple People Eater, performing alongside the Purple People Eater character.
He also appeared as himself in a 1989 episode of the TV show Quantum Leap. In the episode, he walks into a radio station in 1959. The main character, Dr. Sam Beckett, convinces the station owner to play "The Twist." This accidentally teaches Chubby Checker himself how to do the Twist!
In 2001, Checker was a guest star on the TV show Ally McBeal, singing "The Twist." He also performed the song on the TV show Murphy Brown.
Awards and Honors
In 2008, Billboard magazine named Chubby Checker's "The Twist" the biggest chart hit of all time. They looked at all the songs that made the charts between 1958 and 2008.
He was also honored by Settlement Music School. He was named to the Settlement 100, a list of important people connected to the school.
On November 9, 2013, Chubby Checker received the Sandy Hosey Lifetime Achievement Award from the Artists Music Guild. His friend and fellow singer Dee Dee Sharp presented him with the award.
In 2014, Chubby Checker was added to the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame.
Personal Life
On December 12, 1963, Chubby Checker asked Catharina Lodders to marry him. She was a 21-year-old Dutch model and Miss World 1962. They met in Manila in January of that year. His song "Loddy Lo" is about her.
They got married on April 12, 1964, in Pennsauken, New Jersey. Their first child, Bianca Johanna Evans, was born in 1966. They also have two other children, Ilka Evans and musician Shan Egan (Evans). Chubby Checker is also the father of WNBA player Mistie Bass.
Discography
Chubby Checker has released many studio albums and compilation albums throughout his career. His most famous songs include "The Twist," "Pony Time," "Let's Twist Again," and "Limbo Rock." He has had many singles appear on the music charts in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia.
- Twist with Chubby Checker (1960)
- For Twisters Only (1960)
- Let's Twist Again (1961)
- It's Pony Time (1961)
- For 'Teen Twisters Only (1961)
- Limbo Party (1962)
- Beach Party (1962)
- Twistin' Round the World (1962)
- Let's Limbo Some More (1963)
- Chubby Checker in Person (1963)
- Chubby's Folk Album (1964)
- At the Discotheque (1965)
- Chequered! (1971)
- The Change Has Come (1982)
- The Texas Twisting (1994)
- Towards The Light (2001)
Images for kids
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Chubby Checker in 2005
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Chubby Checker during a TV interview in 2008
See also
In Spanish: Chubby Checker para niños
