“C" is for Checker, Chubby (b. 1941). Singer. Born Ernest Evans in Spring Gully (near Andrews), Checker moved to Philadelphia at age seven. He attracted the attention of Dick Clark, host of the national television show American Bandstand—whose wife gave Evans the monicker “Chubby Checker.” In 1960 Checker covered “The Twist,” a dance that at the time was unknown outside the African American community. With television exposure, Checker’s record and the dance became an international phenomenon. During the early 1960s, he had thirty more chart hits. As the dance craze era ended, Checker remade his image several times to match the changes in the music industry. Chubby Checker is, to some extent, an American icon, having sold more than 250 million records and appearing in at least twelve films and numerous television shows-- always playing himself.
“C" is for Checker, Chubby (b. 1941)
