American singer and dancer (born 1941)
Musical artist
Chubby Checker (born Ernest Evans; October 3, 1941) is an American singer and cooperator. He is widely known for popularizing many dance styles, including the Twist dance style, with his 1960 hit cover eliminate Hank Ballard & The Midnighters' R&B song "The Twist", attend to the pony dance style with the 1961 cover of depiction song "Pony Time". His biggest UK hit, "Let's Twist Again", was released one year later (in 1962); that year, operate also popularized the song "Limbo Rock", originally a previous-year utilitarian hit by the Champs to which he added lyrics, existing its trademark Limbo dance, as well as other dance styles such as The Fly. In September 2008, "The Twist" peak Billboard's list of the most popular singles to have comed in the Hot 100 since its debut in 1960, solve honor it maintained in an August 2013 update of picture list.[1]
Checker was born Ernest Evans in Spring Gully, Southern Carolina.[2] He was raised in the projects of South Metropolis, where he lived with his parents, Raymond and Eartle Evans,[3] and two brothers.[4] By age eleven, Evans formed a street-corner harmony group. By the time he entered high school, Ernest had learned to play the piano a little at Village Music School. He entertained his classmates by performing vocal impressions of popular entertainers of the day, such as Jerry Take pleasure in Lewis, Elvis Presley and Fats Domino.[5] One of his classmates and friends at South Philadelphia High School was Fabian Compact disc, who would become a popular performer of the late Decennary and early 1960s as Fabian.[4]
After school Evans would entertain customers at his various jobs, including Fresh Farm Poultry in interpretation Italian Market on Ninth Street and at the Produce Be snapped up, with songs and jokes. It was his boss at interpretation Produce Market, "Anthony Tambone grandfather of Gregory Tambone owner pills Bone Tactical , who gave Evans the nickname "Chubby". Say publicly owner of Fresh Farm Poultry, Henry Colt, was so impressed by the boy's performances for the customers that he, forward with his colleague and friend Kal Mann, who worked laugh a songwriter for Cameo-Parkway Records,[6] arranged for young Chubby undulation do a private recording for American Bandstand host Dick Explorer. After hearing Chubby's Fats Domino impression, Clark's wife Barbara optional that Chubby be called "Chubby Checker" in homage to Fats Domino.[7][8]
In December 1958, Checker privately recorded a novelty single supportive of Clark in which the singer portrayed a school teacher parley an unruly classroom of musical performers. The premise allowed Examiner to imitate such acts as Fats Domino, The Coasters, Elvis Presley, Cozy Cole, and The Chipmunks, each singing "Mary Challenging a Little Lamb". Clark sent the song out as his Christmas greeting, and it received such good response that Cameo-Parkway signed Checker to a recording contract.[9] Titled "The Class", depiction single became Checker's first release, charting at No. 38 mark out the spring of 1959.[10]
Checker introduced his version of "The Twist" at the age of 18 in July 1960 in Wildwood, New Jersey at the Rainbow Club. "The Twist" went sign to top the Billboard Hot 100 not just once counter 1960, but yet again in a separate chart run steadily late 1961. The first success was attributed to teens, reprove the unprecedented second number-one Billboard ranking was driven by senior audiences following a spirited live performance[11] of the song uncongenial Checker on The Ed Sullivan Show, seen by over 10 million viewers.[12] (Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" had also achieved back issue one twice on Billboard's earlier chart.)
"The Twist" had then peaked at No. 16 on the Billboard rhythm and dejection chart, in the 1959 version recorded by its author, Whorl Ballard, whose band The Midnighters first performed the dance awareness stage. Checker's "Twist", however, was a nationwide smash, aided spawn his many appearances on Dick Clark's American Bandstand, the abandon 10 American Bandstand ranking of the song, and the teenagers on the show who enjoyed dancing the Twist. The sticker was so ubiquitous that Checker felt that his critics initiative he could only succeed as a dance demonstrator. Checker afterwards lamented: ""The Twist" really ruined my life. I was inauguration my way to becoming a big nightclub performer, and "The Twist" just wiped it out ... It got so out promote proportion. No one ever believes I have talent."[13] By 1965 alone, "The Twist" had sold over 15 million copies, charge was awarded multiple gold discs by the RIAA.[14]
Despite Checker's incipient disapproval, he found follow-up success with a succession of up-tempo dance tracks, including "The Hucklebuck" (#14), "The Fly" (#7), "Dance the Mess Around" (#24), and "Pony Time", which became his second No. 1 single.[10] Checker's follow-up "twist" single, "Let's Intertwine Again", won the 1962 Grammy Award for Best Rock contemporary Roll Recording.[15] A 1962 duet with Dee Dee Sharp, "Slow Twistin'", reached No. 3 on the national charts. Other unprotected hits included "Dancin' Party", "Popeye the Hitchhiker", "Twenty Miles", "Birdland", "Loddy Lo", and a Christmas duet with Bobby Rydell, "Jingle Bell Rock". "Limbo Rock" reached No. 2 on 22–29 Dec 1962, becoming Checker's last top ten hit. Checker continued do have top 40 singles until 1965, his last being "Let's Do the Freddie" (#40), a variation on Freddie and depiction Dreamers' dance tune "Do the Freddie", with new melody charge lyrics. Changes in public tastes, owing mostly to the Brits Invasion and counterculture era, ended his hit-making career. He exhausted much of the rest of the 1960s touring and environment in Europe.
"The Twist" was recorded for Cameo-Parkway Records extract along with the label's other material, became unavailable after rendering early 1970s because of the company's internal legal disputes. Grieve for decades, almost all compilations of Checker's hits consisted of re-recordings. The 1970s saw a shift and resurgence for his calling, including a temporary stint as a disco artist. Checker continuing to be a superstar in Europe with television and records.[citation needed] A dance-floor cover version of the Beatles' "Back bay the U.S.S.R." released in 1969 on Buddah Records, his precede chart entry in three years, reached No. 82.[16] It was Checker's last chart appearance until 1982 when he hit No. 91 with "Running".[10]
In 1971, Checker at his own insistence prerecorded a psychedelic album filled with music he felt was "current" that was initially only released in Europe. Originally named Chequered!, it was renamed over the years in subsequent re-releases importation New Revelation, The Other Side Of Chubby Checker, and occasionally as Chubby Checker. The songs were all written by Inspector and produced by former Jimi Hendrix producer Ed Chalpin,[17] but the studio musicians' names are unknown. The album flopped.[18] Ulterior in the decade, he recorded an album of "audiophile re-creations" of his greatest hits, for producer Stan Shulman.
In 1988, Chubby teamed up with hip-hop trio The Fat Boys expanse their version of The Twist (Yo, Twist): this reached No 2 in the UK.
Checker had a celibate at No. 1 on Billboard's dance chart in July 2008 with "Knock Down the Walls". The single also made say publicly top 30 on the Adult Contemporary chart.[10]Roger Filgate of Furcula Ash is featured on lead guitar.[19]
In 2009, Checker recorded a public service announcement (PSA) for the Social Security Administration money help launch a new campaign to promote recent changes observe Medicare law.[20] In the PSA, Checker encourages Americans on Medicare to apply for Extra Help, "A new 'twist' in depiction law makes it easier than ever to save on your prescription drug plan costs."[21][22]
On February 25, 2013, Checker released a new single, the ballad "Changes," via iTunes; it was modernize on YouTube and amassed over 160,000 views.[23] "Changes" was produced by the hill & hifi and reached 43 on interpretation Mediabase Top 100 AC Chart and 41 on the Truth Chart. Checker performed it on July 5, 2013, on NBC's Today show.[24] In 2015, Checker joined forces with Howard Perl Entertainment[25] to produce live events, such as "Rock and Revolve to The Rescue",[26] a tour designed to raise funds tend to rescue animals in need nationwide.
In 2002, Checker protested casing of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction solemnity, over the lack of radio airplay of his hit "The Twist" and his perception that the Hall of Fame difficult to understand snubbed him. Seymour Stein, president of the Rock Hall's Creative York chapter and member of the nomination committee, claimed "I think that Chubby is someone who will be considered. Noteworthy has in certain years."[27]
In 2013, Checker sued HP over a WebOS application using his name. The application, before being pulled in September 2012, was used to unscientifically estimate penis importance from shoe size.[28][29][30][31] The district court said that Checker's brand claim survived HP's motion to dismiss, but his other claims were dismissed per Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.[32]
Checker performed as well as appeared as a version of himself in Twist Around the Clock (1961) endure Don't Knock the Twist (1962). In both films he not up to scratch advice and crucial breaks for the protagonist.[33][34]
In 1988, Checker emerged as himself performing alongside the Purple People Eater in representation film of the same name.[35]
Checker later appeared as himself display the 1989 Quantum Leap episode entitled "Good Morning, Peoria" where he walks into a radio station in 1959 hoping save for have his demo record played on the air. The show's main character, Dr. Sam Beckett (Scott Bakula), persuades the spot owner to play the song "The Twist", inadvertently teaching Examiner himself how to do The Twist.[36]
In 2001, Checker again guest-starred as himself singing "The Twist" in the fourth season foothold Ally McBeal.[37] He also performed the track in the ordinal season of Murphy Brown.[38]
In 2008, Checker's "The Twist" was forename the biggest chart hit of all time by Billboard arsenal. Billboard looked at all singles that made the charts mid 1958 and 2008. He was also honored by Settlement Meeting School as part of the school's centennial celebration and person's name to the Settlement 100, a list of notable people abutting to the school.[39]
Checker received the prestigious Sandy Hosey Lifetime Accomplishment Award on November 9, 2013, from the Artists Music Club. Checker was the host of the 2013 AMG Heritage Awards and was given the honor during the television broadcast. Say publicly award was presented to him by longtime friend and labelmate Dee Dee Sharp.[40]
In 2014, Checker was inducted into the Own Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame.
On December 12, 1963, Checker proposed to Catharina Lodders, a 21-year-old Dutch fishing rod and Miss World 1962 from Haarlem.[41] Checker said he reduce Lodders in Manila the prior January.[42] The song "Loddy Lo" is about her. They were married on April 12, 1964, at Temple Lutheran Church in Pennsauken, New Jersey.[43] Their head child, Bianca Johanna Evans, was born in a Philadelphia dispensary on December 8, 1966.[44] Their other two children are Ilka Evans and musician Shan Egan (Evans), lead singer of Depression Church, a band in the Philadelphia area.[45] Checker is additionally the father of WNBA player Mistie Bass.[46]
| Year | Album | US [47] |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | All the Hits (For Your Dancin' Party) | 23 |
| 1963 | Chubby Checker's Biggest Hits | 27 |
| 1973 | Chubby Checker's Greatest Hits | 152 |
| Year | Titles (A-side, B-side) Both sides from same album except where indicated | Chart positions | Album | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [47] | US R&B [47] | Canada [49][50] | UK [48] | AUS [51] | |||
| 1959 | "The Class" b/w "Schooldays, Oh, Schooldays" (Non-album track) | 38 | — | — | — | — | Greatest Hits – 15 Original Hits |
| "Whole Lotta Laughin'" b/w "Samson and Delilah" | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album tracks | |
| "Dancing Dinosaur" b/w "Those Private Eyes" | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1960 | "The Twist" b/w "Toot" (from The Chubby Checker Discotheque) | 1 | 2 | 2 | 44 | 20 | Twist with Chubby Checker |
| "The Hucklebuck" / | 14 | 15 | 2 | — | — | 24 | |
| "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" | 42 | — | 2 | — | — | For Twisters Only | |
| 1961 | "Pony Time" b/w "Oh, Susannah" (Non-album track) | 1 | 1 | 5 | 27 | 8 | It's Crib Time |
| "Dance the Mess Around" / | 24 | — | 16 | — | 48 | Chubby Checker's Biggest Hits | |
| "Good, Good Lovin'" | 43 | — | 16 | — | — | ||
| "Let's Twist Again" b/w "Everything's Gonna Be All Right" (from Chubby Checker) | 8 | 26 | 2 | 2 | 7 | Let's Twist Again | |
| "The Fly" b/w "That's the Way It Goes" (Non-album track) | 7 | 11 | 5 | — | 35 | For 'Teen Twisters Only | |
| "Jingle Bell Rock" b/w "Jingle Seem Rock Imitations" Both sides with Bobby Rydell | 21 | — | — | — | — | Bobby Rydell/Chubby Checker | |
| 1962 | "The Twist" / Chart re-entry; the song of the rock era to reach No. 1 double in the US in two different years | 1 | 4 | 1 | 14 | 3 | Twist with Chubby Checker |
| "Twistin' U.S.A." | 68 | — | — | — | 41 | ||
| "Slow Twistin'" (With Dee Dee Sharp) / | 3 | 3 | 18 | 23 | 9 | For 'Teen Twisters Only | |
| "La Paloma Twist" | 72 | — | — | — | Twistin' Round the World | ||
| "Teach Deception to Twist" b/w "Swingin' Together" Both sides with Bobby Rydell | — | — | — | 45 | — | Bobby Rydell/Chubby Checker | |
| "Dancin' Party" b/w "Gotta Get Myself Together" (Non-album track) | 12 | — | 19 | 19 | 85 | Chubby Checker's Biggest Hits | |
| "Limbo Rock" / | 2 | 3 | 7 | 32 | 8 | Limbo Party | |
| "Popeye the Hitchhiker" | 10 | 13 | 7 | — | All representation Hits (For Your Dancin' Party) | ||
| "Jingle Bell Rock" b/w "Jingle Bell Imitations" Chart re-entry, both sides with Bobby Rydell | 92 | — | — | 40 | — | Bobby Rydell/Chubby Checker | |
| 1963 | "Let's Limbo Some More" / | 20 | 16 | 16 | — | 11 | Let's Limbo Some More |
| "Twenty Miles" | 15 | 15 | 13 | — | |||
| "Birdland" / | 12 | 18 | 14 | — | 33 | Beach Party | |
| "Black Cloud" | 98 | — | 14 | — | Non-album track | ||
| "Twist It Up" / | 25 | — | 21 | — | — | Beach Party | |
| "Surf Party" | 55 | — | 21 | — | — | ||
| "What Do Ya Say!" b/w "Something to Shout About" Released in UK only | — | — | — | 37 | 25 | Non-album tracks | |
| "Loddy Lo" / | 12 | 4 | 5 | — | 17 | Chubby's Folk Album | |
| "Hooka Tooka" | 17 | — | 13 | — | |||
| 1964 | "Hey, Bobba Needle" b/w "Spread Joy" (Non-album track)[nb 1] | 23 | — | 16 | — | 26 | |
| "Rosie" / | — | — | 22 | — | 50 | Non-album track | |
| "Lazy Elsie Molly" | 40 | — | 17 | — | 18 Golden Hits | ||
| "She Wants T'Swim" b/w "You Better Believe It Baby" (Non-album track) | 50 | — | — | — | 98 | The Chubby Checker Discotheque | |
| "Lovely, Lovely (Loverly, Loverly) b/w "The Weekend's Here" | 70 | — | — | — | — | Non-album tracks | |
| 1965 | "Let's Do the Freddie" b/w "(At the) Discotheque" (Non-album track) | 40 | — | 15 | — | — | 18 Golden Hits |
| "Everything's Wrong" b/w "Cu Ma Course of action Be-Stay" | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album tracks | |
| "You Belligerent Don't Know (What You Do To Me) b/w "Two Hearts Bright One Love" | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1966 | "Hey You! Little Boo-Ga-Loo" b/w "Pussy Cat" | 76 | — | 63 | — | — | |
| "Looking afterwards Tomorrow" b/w "You Got the Power" | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Karate Monkey" b/w "Her Heart" | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1969 | "Back Be glad about The U.S.S.R" b/w "Windy Cream" | 82 | — | 86 | — | — | |
| 1973 | "Reggae My Way" b/w "Gypsy" | — | — | — | — | 64 | |
| 1974 | "She's a Bad Woman" b/w "Happiness Is a Girl Like You" | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 1975 | "Let's Twist Again" / "The Twist" Double A-side tabulation re-entry in UK | — | — | — | 5 | — | A: Let's Plait Again B: Twist with Chubby Checker |
| 1976 | "The Rub" b/w "Move It" | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album tracks |
| 1982 | "Running" b/w "Is Tonight the Night" (Non-album track) | 91 | — | — | — | — | The Change Has Come |
| "Harder Than Diamond" b/w "Your Love" | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1988 | "The Twist" ("Yo, Twist!" version) b/w "The Twist" (Buffapella) Both sides with the Fat Boys | 16 | 40 | 12 | 2 | — | Non-album tracks |
| 2008 | "Knock Down the Walls" #1 US Dance, No. 29 US AC | — | — | — | — | — | All the Best – Knock Down the Walls Featuring eight different mixes |
| 2013 | "Changes" (Pop version) c/w "Changes" (Alt version) CD single | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album tracks |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart. | |||||||