Chubby Checker
The man who twisted the world into a dance craze.
Last updated
Philkon Phil Konstantin · Public domain
Chubby Checker was born Ernest Evans on October 3, 1941, in Spring Gully, South Carolina, and grew up in the projects of South Philadelphia with his parents, Raymond and Eartle Evans, and two brothers. At age 11, he formed a street-corner harmony group, and later learned a little piano at Settlement Music School. In high school, he entertained classmates with vocal impressions of Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, and Fats Domino. One of his classmates was Fabian Forte, who became a popular performer as Fabian.
After school, Evans sang and told jokes for customers at jobs like Fresh Farm Poultry and the Produce Market. His boss at the Produce Market, Anthony Tambone, gave him the nickname "Chubby." The owner of Fresh Farm Poultry, Henry Colt, was so impressed that he and songwriter Kal Mann arranged for Chubby to do a private recording for American Bandstand host Dick Clark. After hearing his Fats Domino impression, Clark’s wife, Barbara, suggested the stage name "Chubby Checker" as a tribute.
1950s–1960s
In December 1958, Checker recorded a novelty single for Clark in which he played a teacher with a rowdy classroom of musical performers, imitating acts like Fats Domino, The Coasters, Elvis Presley, Cozy Cole, and The Chipmunks singing "Mary Had a Little Lamb." Clark sent it as a Christmas greeting, and the strong response led Cameo-Parkway Records to sign Checker. His first release, "The Class," charted at No. 38 in spring 1959. At age 18, in July 1960, Checker introduced his version of "The Twist" at the Rainbow Club in Wildwood, New Jersey. The song hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 twice—first in 1960 and again in late 1961—with the second run driven by older audiences after a live performance on The Ed Sullivan Show seen by over 10 million viewers.
(Bing Crosby’s "White Christmas" had also reached No. 1 twice on an earlier Billboard chart.) Hank Ballard’s original 1959 version of "The Twist" had peaked at No. 16 on the R&B chart, but Checker’s cover became a nationwide smash, helped by appearances on American Bandstand. By 1965, "The Twist" had sold over 15 million copies and earned multiple gold discs. Checker later said the song "ruined my life," feeling critics saw him only as a dance demonstrator and that it overshadowed his other talents.
Checker followed up with other dance hits, including "The Hucklebuck" (No. 14), "The Fly" (No. 7), "Dance the Mess Around" (No. 24), and "Pony Time," his second No. 1. "Let’s Twist Again" won the 1962 Grammy for Best Rock and Roll Recording. A duet with Dee Dee Sharp, "Slow Twistin’," reached No. 3.
Other hits included "Dancin’ Party," "Popeye the Hitchhiker," "Twenty Miles," "Birdland," "Loddy Lo," and a Christmas duet with Bobby Rydell, "Jingle Bell Rock." "Limbo Rock" hit No. 2 in December 1962, becoming his last top 10 hit. He continued to chart in the top 40 until 1965, when "Let’s Do the Freddie" reached No. 40. Changing tastes due to the British Invasion and counterculture ended his hit-making run, and he spent much of the rest of the 1960s touring and recording in Europe.
Awards
In September 2008, "The Twist" topped Billboard’s list of the most popular singles on the Hot 100 since its 1960 debut, a ranking it kept in an August 2013 update. Checker was inducted into the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame in 2014 and selected for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2025.
Background
By 1965 alone, 'The Twist' had sold over 15 million copies, and was awarded multiple gold discs by the RIAA. Checker introduced his version of 'The Twist' at age 18 in July 1960 in Wildwood, New Jersey at the Rainbow Club. The song went on to top the Billboard Hot 100 not just once in 1960, but yet again in a separate chart run in late 1961. The first success was attributed to teens, and the unprecedented second number-one Billboard ranking was driven by older audiences following a spirited live performance of the song by Checker on The Ed Sullivan Show, seen by over 10 million viewers.
Checker’s defining characteristic was his role in popularizing a series of dance crazes, beginning with the Twist, which he introduced as a cover of Hank Ballard & The Midnighters' R&B song. He followed with the Pony via his 1961 cover of "Pony Time", and later "Let's Twist Again" became his biggest UK hit in 1962. That same year, he added lyrics to the instrumental "Limbo Rock" by the Champs, creating the associated Limbo dance. He also introduced the Fly and other styles.
His appearance was that of a clean-cut, energetic young performer, often seen demonstrating these dances on television. His range extended beyond novelty hits to include substantial chart successes like "The Hucklebuck", "Dance the Mess Around", and a duet with Dee Dee Sharp, "Slow Twistin'". He continued to place singles in the top 40 until 1965, with his last being "Let's Do the Freddie". His habitat was primarily the American pop music scene of the early 1960s, with frequent appearances on Dick Clark's American Bandstand and The Ed Sullivan Show, which helped broadcast his dance innovations to a national audience.
Did You Know?
- In 2002, Checker protested outside of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony over his perception that the Hall had snubbed him.
- In 2013, Checker sued HP over a WebOS application using his name that unscientifically estimated penis size from shoe size.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Chubby Checker?
Chubby Checker, born Ernest Evans in 1941, is an American rock and roll singer and dancer. He became a global cultural figure in the early 1960s by turning dance into a mass entertainment phenomenon.
What is Chubby Checker most famous for?
He is best known for his 1960 cover of "The Twist," which ignited a worldwide dance craze and reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on two separate occasions. The song made him a household name and defined party culture for an entire generation.
What other dances did Chubby Checker popularize?
Beyond the Twist, he brought the Pony, the Fly, and the Limbo into mainstream visibility. These routines became staples of 1960s dance floors and television performances.
What is Chubby Checker's real name and birth date?
His birth name is Ernest Evans, and he was born on October 3, 1941. He adopted the stage name Chubby Checker early in his career to match his energetic, larger-than-life performance style.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Chubby Checker (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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