United States 
Chubby Checker booked for AARP’s “Rock ‘n Rollin'” Sock Hop virtual dance party
5 years ago
Chubby Checker, known for popularizing the Twist, has influenced global dance culture with his hit records and performances across diverse media platforms.
Chubby Checker signed exclusively to this legendary record label, which released his most iconic hits like 'The Twist' and 'Let's Twist Again.'
Dick Clark, the host of American Bandstand, played a pivotal role in Checker's career by championing 'The Twist' after his wife suggested the stage name. Checker made multiple appearances on the show, which significantly boosted his popularity.
Chubby Checker performed a spirited live version of 'The Twist' on The Ed Sullivan Show, which was viewed by over 10 million people and contributed to the song's unprecedented second rise to number one on the Billboard charts.
Released Checker's 1969 cover version of The Beatles' 'Back in the U.S.S.R.,' which marked his first chart entry in three years.
Chubby Checker teamed up with the hip-hop trio The Fat Boys in 1988 for their version of 'The Twist (Yo, Twist),' which reached No. 2 in the UK and No. 16 on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
In 2009, Checker recorded a public service announcement (PSA) for the Social Security Administration to promote recent changes in Medicare law, encouraging Americans to apply for 'Extra Help.'
Chubby Checker sued HP in 2013 over a WebOS application that used his name to unscientifically estimate penis size from shoe size.
Checker joined forces with Howard Perl Entertainment in 2015 to produce live events, such as 'Rock and Roll to The Rescue,' a tour aimed at raising funds for animal rescue.
Ernest Evans, known professionally as Chubby Checker, was born on October 3, 1941, in Spring Gulley, South Carolina. He later moved to South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he began entertaining classmates with vocal impressions of popular artists like Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Presley. His early career involved working at Fresh Farm Poultry and the Produce Market, where his boss, Anthony Tambone, gave him the nickname ‘Chubby.’ The owner of Fresh Farm Poultry, Henry Colt, and songwriter Kal Mann, working for Cameo-Parkway Records, arranged a private recording session for Dick Clark.
In December 1958, Checker recorded a novelty single for Dick Clark called “The Class,” which featured his vocal impressions and received positive feedback. This led to a recording contract with Cameo-Parkway. In July 1960, Checker introduced his version of “The Twist” at the Rainbow Club in Wildwood, New Jersey. The song achieved significant national success, topping the Billboard Hot 100 in 1960 and again in 1961, making it one of the most successful singles of its era. This widespread popularity was further fueled by his appearances on Dick Clark’s ‘American Bandstand.’
Following the success of “The Twist,” Checker released a series of popular dance tracks, including “The Hucklebuck” (1960), “The Fly” (1961), and “Pony Time” (1961), his second number-one single. His track “Let’s Twist Again” (1962) received a Grammy Award for Best Rock and Roll Recording. He continued to release successful singles such as “Limbo Rock” (1962), “Dancin’ Party,” and “Popeye the Hitchhiker.” Throughout the 1960s, he also appeared in films like ‘Twist Around the Clock’ (1961) and ‘Don’t Knock the Twist’ (1962). In later decades, Checker experimented with various music genres, including psychedelic music and disco, and continued to tour internationally. In 2025, he was selected for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for his contributions to music and dance.
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