Chubby Checker & The Twist: Music and Dance Legacy in 2025

Meet Chubby Checker, the legendary singer and dancer who sparked a global dance revolution with "The Twist."

Born Ernest Evans in 1941 in South Carolina, Chubby grew up in Philadelphia, where his love for music and performing began

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His nickname “Chubby Checker” was inspired by his resemblance to Fats Domino and a playful twist on the name.

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In 1960, Chubby’s cover of “The Twist” hit No. 1 on the Billboard charts, launching a worldwide dance craze and changing pop culture forever.

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Checker popularized other dances too-including the Pony (“Pony Time”), Limbo (“Limbo Rock”), and The Fly-keeping the world on its feet

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“The Twist” is the only song to top the Billboard Hot 100 in two separate years (1960 & 1962). Chubby Checker’s hits filled dance floors everywhere.

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Chubby’s influence broke social barriers, making solo dancing mainstream and earning him a Grammy and a place in music history

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In 2025, 65 years after “The Twist,” Chubby Checker is inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame-receiving the recognition he long deserved

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