Chubby Checker heading to Hollywood Bay St. Louis

30 October 2009

BAY ST. LOUIS, Mississippi -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- Chubby Checker will be performing live in concert at 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday, November 20th & 21st at Hollywood Casino Bay St. Louis. One would have to look long and hard to the ends of the earth to find someone, no matter what age, who hasn't heard of his fun catchy #1 hit "The Twist."

What many don't know is that the Grammy-Award winning artist is the only recording artist to chart a #1 hit with the same song twice. In fact, he's also the only artist to have five albums in the Top 12 all at once. Tickets are available at The Gift Shop starting at $19.95.

The legendary Chubby Checker celebrates 50 years of charting in Billboard, as "The Fly" debuted last month on Hot Singles Sales at #40. Checker first appeared on the Billboard Hot 100 dated May 23, 1959, with "The Class." The original version of "The Fly" reached #7 on the Hot 100 in 1961. Checker's milestone accomplishment marks the latest lofty honor for the beloved entertainer. Last year, Billboard named his classic "The Twist" the No. 1 song of the Hot 100's first 50 years. Upon being apprised of his latest achievement, Checker told Billboard in an e-mail, "It's so nice to get this kind of recognition, after all these years."

Let's face it, Chubby Checker changed the way we dance back in 1959 and hasn't stopped recording since. "The Twist" was not only the #1 song but it introduced the concept of "dancing apart to the beat." Over the next few years, endless songs incorporating "The Twist" into its name such as "Peppermint Twist," "Twist and Shout," and "Twistin' the Night Away." In addition, each new song brought a new dance involving "dancing apart to the beat," such as "The Jerk," "The Hully Gully," "The Boogaloo," and "The Shake." At the forefront was Chubby with "The Fly," "The Pony," and "The Hucklebuck."

Ernest Evans was born in Spring Gulley, South Carolina, but grew up in South Philadelphia, where he lived with his parents and two brothers. When he was a small boy, his mother took him to see Sugar Child Robinson, a child piano prodigy and also the famous country singer Ernest Tubb. Young Evans was so impressed, that he vowed to someday enter show business and took his first step toward that goal by forming a street corner harmony group when he was only 11 years old.

By the time he entered high school, Ernest had learned to play the piano a little at Settlement Music School and could do a number of vocal impressions. He also went to South Philadelphia High School with his friend Fabian Forte, who would have show business success of his own. He entertained classmates whenever he could. After school, Chubby would sing and crack jokes at his various jobs including Fresh Farm Poultry on 9th Street and at the Produce Market. It was Ernest's boss at the Produce Market, Tony A., who gave Ernest the nickname "Chubby."

The storeowner of Fresh Farm Poultry Henry Colt, was so impressed, he began showing off his employee to his customers through a loud speaker. Henry and his friend Kal-Mann arranged for young Chubby to do a private recording for Dick Clark. A Yuletide novelty tune called, "Jingle Bells," on which Chubby did several impressions of top recording stars was cut. Dick Clark sent it out as a Christmas greeting to all of his friends and associates in the music business. Cameo-Parkway liked it so much that they wrote a song called "The Class," and it became Chubby's first hit in early 1959.

In June of 1959, Chubby recorded "The Twist." Bernie Lowe, president of Cameo Parkway records, was not initially impressed with Chubby's recording and felt it may be a "B" side at best. However, Chubby felt "The Twist" was something special and worked hard promoting the record by undertaking non-stop rounds of TV dates, interviews and live performances. Fourteen months later, in the summer of 1960, "The Twist" was a hit.

The next few years were prolific for Chubby as hit followed hit. In 1961, Chubby recorded "Pony Time," written by Don Covay and John Berry. It went to #1 and stayed on the charts for 16 weeks. In between recording and touring, Chubby took time to add feature films to his portfolio with the releases of "Don't Knock The Twist," and "Twist Around The Clock."

In the fall of 1961, record industry history was made when Checker's original hit record, "The Twist," re-entered the charts and by January of 1962, it was back in the #1 position. No other record before or since has accomplished that feat. Combining its 1960 run with its 1961/62 return, "The Twist" spent an amazing nine month total on the U. S. best seller charts.

Chubby Checker merchandise was everywhere, and included T-shirts, shoes, ties, dolls, raincoats, and chewing gum. His success continued for years with the release of one dance record after another with "The Fly," and "Let's Twist Again," for which he won a Grammy-Award for the "Best Rock Performance." More hit records followed - "Slow Twistin," "Dancin' Party," "Popeye the Hitchhiker," and "The Limbo Rock," all came along in 1962.

In 1963, Checker returned to the hit parade with "Birdland," and "Twist It Up," after which he followed with "Loddy Lo," and a series of other novelty type tunes. Eventually, teens incorporated these movements to all songs that had a beat and called these movements "The Boogie," a permanent fixture in Rock and Roll and popular music today.

Today, Chubby continues 40 years of live performances while releasing new studio music. His Maxi-Single "Limbo Rock Re-Mixes," and CD "The Original Master of the Dance Hall Beat," by Chubby C & OD, featuring Inner Circle, were both on the Billboard Charts attracting a new generation of Chubby Checker fans.

Don't miss Chubby Checker! Hurry, limited seating is available. Tickets may be purchased at The Gift Shop and start at $19.95, or call 1-800-229-2683. Must be at least 21 to attend. Visit www.hollywoodcasinobsl.com.