Rock and Roll Legend Chubby Checker

No dance is more closely identified with its inventor than the Twist, which Chubby Checker invented right here in Philadelphia in 1959.

Ernest Evans was born in South Carolina but grew up in South Philly and attended South Philadelphia High School along with future Philadelphia Rock ‘n’ Roll legends Frankie Avalon and Fabian. He gained a reputation as an entertaining singer and jokester – not only among his classmates, but on the job at a produce market (where he earned the nickname “Chubby”) and a poultry store, whose manager had him perform over the loudspeaker and who later helped arrange a Yuletide novelty recording for Dick Clark of American Bandstand.

Clark loved the recording, and his wife – likening Chubby to the great Fats Domino – renamed him “Chubby Checker” (FATS:CHUBBY // DOMINO:CHECKER – get it?).

Chubby Checker was arguably Rock ‘n’ Roll’s biggest star during the era between Elvis Presley and the Beatles. Consider this:

- The Twist reached #1 on the charts TWICE – once in 1960, and again in 1962. It is the only song ever to reach #1 in two separate runs. The Twist was in the Top 40 for a total of 33 weeks, more than any other song of the entire Rock ‘n’ Roll Era.

- Chubby’s spin-off songs Let’s Twist Again, Slow Twistin’, and Twist It Up were also in the Top 40 for an impressive total of 32 weeks.

- Chubby is the only recording artist ever to have 9 double-sided hits, and the only one ever to have 5 albums in the Top 12 ALL AT ONCE!

- Chubby introduced several other popular dances besides the Twist, including the Pony, the Fly and the Hucklebuck.

Entertaining, likeable and chubby as ever, the artist formerly known as Ernest Evans still tours the “oldies” circuit, singing and twisting his way around and around and around the USA to the delight of his adoring fans. Although Chubby is not affiliated with Chubby’s Steaks, he has, appropriately enough, developed his own line of enticing food products!

Chubby Checker Official Website