He just celebrated his 68th birthday this past Saturday, but rock 'n' roll legend Chubby Checker remains active and outspoken. The man whose version of the single "The Twist" was tabbed by Billboard as the No. 1 hit among all the songs on their pop charts since 1958 comes to Nashville Oct. 12 at The Ryman. He'll be feted at the International Entertainment Buyers Association's (IEBA) annual honors ceremony in recognition of his 50th anniversary in rock 'n' roll, and Checker wants fans to be clear about the importance of The Twist and his place in music history.
"When you see people out on the floor dancing apart to the beat, that's the impact of The Twist," Checker says by phone. "It's the only song that's ever been No. 1 on the Billboard charts two different times. I'm very proud of that record, yet a lot of times when I go to cities, I'll hear on the radio 'Twist and Shout' by either The Isley Brothers' or The Beatles—or even Joey Dee [and the Starliters] doing 'Peppermint Twist.' I just want folks to know the real significance of 'The Twist,' and also let them know that I'm still out here and enjoying performing."
At one point during the early '60s, Checker had five albums in the Top 12, another milestone. Indeed, he's so identified with that song that it's easy to forget he had other dance hits, among them "The Pony Time" (another No. 1) as well as "The Hucklebuck" and "Limbo Rock." There were even a few dance-themed films like Don't Knock The Twist and Twist Around the Clock that still pop up occasionally on Turner Classic Movies and the like.
Checker's been performing since the age of 8, when he was known as Ernest Evans and started a doo-wop group that sang in the streets of Philadelphia. He also attended the same South Philadelphia high school as another early rock sensation: Fabian (then known as Fabiano Forte).
While awaiting his break, Checker held a variety of jobs, including one at a produce market. It was his boss, Henry Colt, and Cameo-Parkway songwriter Karl Mann who arranged for a private session with American Bandstand host Dick Clark. Colt also gave him the nickname "Chubby," while Clark's wife dubbed him "Checker" after hearing his impersonation of Fats Domino.
Checker had a stirring, full sound and bombastic delivery, something that the driving beat of "The Twist" accented. It's also the prime reason Checker's enjoyed so many rhythmic hits, but never had identical success with slow tunes or ballads, even though his albums are filled with fine ones.
One thing Checker remains determined to do is set the record straight regarding various things that have been mistakenly written or claimed about "The Twist"—most notably that his version won some sort of competition with Hank Ballard, the man who introduced it.
"Man, I was a huge Hank Ballard fan," Checker says. "He was the first guy to do really adult-oriented R&B, songs that had real distinct themes about sex. But his version of 'The Twist' had already peaked and was done by the time mine came out." Indeed, the Ballard single had made it to No. 12. Checker's rendition was introduced on New York TV program The Clay Cole Show in 1959, and by the next year it was a sensation.
His days of chart domination may be over, but Checker still enjoys time in the spotlight. Last year his single "Knock Down The Walls" gave him yet another Billboard chart-topper, this time on the dance side. (It didn't dent the pop chart.) "I'm truly proud and happy to have helped change the way people dance to music in America," Checker concludes. "I'm thankful to still be pretty healthy, happy and also get this recognition from IEBA. And, I do still enjoy singing 'The Twist.' "
