Chubby Checker

Ernest Evans (popularly known as Chubby Checker) (born in Spring Gulley, South Carolina in October 3, 1941, grew up in South Philadelphia.) is a U.S. singer best known for popularizing the dance The Twist with his 1960 song The Twist.

Related Topics:
Spring Gulley, South Carolina - October 3 - 1941 - Philadelphia - U.S. - The Twist

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His pseudonym was given to him by the wife of Dick Clark as a play on the name of Fats Domino.

Related Topics:
Pseudonym - Dick Clark - Fats Domino

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The Twist was so popular that his public often did not allow him to sing any other style of music. He did popularize many dance songs.

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Checker later lamented:

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:...in a way, 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.

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He attended South Philadelphia High School with Frankie Avalon and Fabian. In 1964, he married Catharina Lodders, who had been Miss World in 1962. He is the only artist to have 5 albums in the top 12 all at once. He is the only artist to have a song to be #1 twice - "The Twist". He is the only artist to have 9 Double-Sided Hits. He changed the way we dance to the beat 24/7 since 1959.

Related Topics:
South Philadelphia High School - Frankie Avalon - Fabian - 1964 - Catharina Lodders - Miss World - 1962

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He had a number of hits with dance-themed records into the mid-1960s, but changes in public taste

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ended his hitmaking career in 1965. He spent much of the rest of the 1960s touring and recording

Related Topics:
1965 - 1960s

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in Europe. The 1970s saw him become a staple on the oldies circuit, and having a minor comeback as a disco artist. His last success would be a remake of "The Twist" with rappers, The Fat Boys, in 1986.

Related Topics:
Europe - 1970s - Oldies - Disco - The Fat Boys - 1986

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His material during his 1960s heyday was recorded for Cameo-Parkway Records, and became unavailable

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after the early 1970s. None of it was available on CD until 2005. (Almost all CD compilations of Checker's hits consist of remakes that he recorded later.)

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His hit songs include:

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• Jingle Bell Rock (with Bobby Rydell)
• The Twist
• Slow Twistin' (with Dee Dee Sharp)
• Pony Time
• Chubby Checker First Platiunum Let's Twist Again
• Limbo Rock
• Dancin' Party
 
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