Chubby Checker is not a one-hit wonder since he had 34 singles and published the song that affected the dance craze culture in the 1960s. He was the only musician at the time who had five albums in the top twelve.
He obtained his stage name when auditioning for Dick Clark; they dubbed him Chubby Checker in honor of Fats Domino, and the moniker stuck. Checker saw a beauty in a polka dot swimming suit while performing in the Philippines in January 1962, and she took his breath away.
That girl turned out to be a true beauty queen. Catharina Lodders of the Netherlands was crowned Miss World in 1962. When he met Loddars, the musician stated that he had marriage intentions. She won his heart, and they began a romance. They were from different cultures, yet love was their common language.
Earnest Evans, better known as Checker, was born in South Carolina in October 1941. He relocated to Philadelphia when he was approximately seven years old to attend school. His mom loves him to sing and perform at church.
He received the nickname Chubby in high school and got a job slaughtering chickens, and his supervisor connected him with a buddy in the music business. Checker signed with Cameo-Parkway Records in 1959, and his debut song, “The Class,” was published. When asked how he got into the music business, Checker stated that Mrs. Dick Clark gave him his big break. She recognized something unique in him.
Checker’s confidence and skill were spotted by Dick Clark of “American Bandstand,” who suggested the young vocalist remake Hank Ballard’s “The Twist.” Checker’s version hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1960 and again in 1961 after a performance on the “Ed Sullivan Show.”
In December 1963, when Lodders had fulfilled her obligations as Miss World, Checker engaged to her at his parents’ home. The model and her Rock and Roll star married in 1964 at Temple Lutheran Church in Pennsauken, New Jersey, and have remained together ever since, despite the difficulties of being in an interracial partnership.
Checkers and Lodders faced racial prejudice and ridicule for their relationship. Despite the fact that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 had been approved, it provided African Americans the freedom to vote and to be free of institutional segregation. However, the legislation still prohibited people of various races from marrying. Three years after their wedding, the prohibition on interracial marriage would be abolished.
When questioned how he reacted when people discovered he was marrying a white woman, Checker stated he didn’t mind since love knows no color. They had difficulty purchasing a home in Philadelphia as newlyweds. They persisted, though, and in 1965 acquired a property outside of Philadelphia, where they currently dwell.
The musician went on to argue that racism has a huge impact on how long musicians receive attention for their work, giving Elton John as an example, who started his career in the 1960s and is still relevant and earning today. He worried how long contemporary African-American celebrities, such as Beyonce, would be able to survive.
The “Let’s Twist Again” singer is 81 years old and still sings and dances whenever he can. He travels on tour and performs at rock and roll music festivals and cruises. The epidemic may have prevented him from travelling, but it did let him spend more time with his family.
He didn’t lose a beat as he returned to the stage. He enjoys performing for those who have been impacted by his songs. Though some believe that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has neglected to honor his contribution to the genre, the musician has stated that it is more important to him to see people continue to attend his gigs.
Chubby Checker has 3 kids and seven grandkids with his wife of 58 years. He still enjoys spending time with his true love. He has no intention of retiring, claiming that idleness is the worst thing. He attributes his dad with instilling in him a strong work ethic and shaping him into a man. He started working as a shoe shiner when he was four years old and hasn’t stopped since.
