From: "Dik de Heer" Date: Thu Oct 3, 2002 2:09 am Subject: Born To Be With You : Chubby Checker CHUBBY CHECKER Born Ernest Evans, 3 October 1941, Spring Gulley, South Carolina In terms of chart performance, "The Twist" by Chubby Checker is the most successful single of all time. It is the only record to go to number one in two separate chart runs - first in September 1960, for one week, and again in January 1962, when it topped the charts for two weeks. It was on the Hot 100 for a cumulative total of 38 weeks. Not bad for a former chicken plucker from Philadelphia. Checker's musical career began in 1959 while working at a local chicken market. His employer introduced him to Kal Mann (songwriter and co-owner of Cameo-Parkway), who penned the singer's debut single, "The Class", which showcased his skills as an impressionist and peaked at # 38. He was given his new name by no less than Dick Clark's wife, as a sly reference to Fats Domino. Checker became one of several artists to enjoy the patronage of Clark's influential American Bandstand TV show and the successful Cameo-Parkway label. He achieved national fame in 1960 with "The Twist", a dance-based performance which outgrew its novelty value to become an institution. The song, initially recorded by Hank Ballard and the Midnighters in 1958, was stripped of its earthy, R&B connotation as Checker emphasized its carefree quality. "Pony Time" (1961) became Chubby's second US # 1, before "Let's Twist Again" established him as a truly international attraction. A Top 10 hit on both sides of the Atlantic, it became the benchmark of the twist craze. Eager for more dance-orientated success, he recorded a slew of optimistic singles including "The Fly" (1961) and "Limbo Rock" (1962), both of which sold in excess of one million copies. However, the bubble quickly burst, and dance inspired records devoted to the Jet, the Swim and the Freddie were much less successful. Even so Checker had in a comparatively short time a remarkable run of 32 USA chart hits up to 1966. Checker was latterly confined to the revival circuit, reappearing in 1975 when "Let's Twist Again" re-entered the UK Top 5. The Fat Boys' single, "The Twist (Yo Twist)", with Chubby guesting on vocals, climbed to # 2 in the UK in 1988. In 1964 he married a Dutch woman, Rina Lodders, a former Miss World. I still can hear my father say: "That marriage won't last five years". They are still married today. Recommended reading: Jim Dawson, The Twist : the story of the song and dance that changed the world. Boston : Faber & Faber, 1995. As the back cover says, "An often sordid tale of racism, copyright infringement, Mafia machinations and payola", with Dick Clark in the role of the villain. Official website: http://www.chubbychecker.com For an overview of LibertyBell CD's with Cameo-Parkway recordings, see: http://www.gocontinental.com/classic9.htm I really have no idea if these are bootlegs or not, Tapio.