January 13
LET’S TWIST AGAIN DAY
This day in 1962 saw singer Chubby Checker set a record, literally, with the hit, The Twist. The song reached the #1 position for an unprecedented second time -- in two years. The Twist was also number one on September 26, 1960. The Philadelphia boy made good twice!
Chubby’s birth name is Ernest Evans, but he changed it for show biz at the urging of Dick Clark’s wife. His smash success was also a twist of fate. Hank Ballard was supposed to record the song for Dick Clark’s American Bandstand. Hank didn’t show; Danny and the Juniors, Clark’s second choice, couldn’t make it in time. Chubby Checker showed up complete with energy and enthusiasm to turn The Twist into a hit and a dance craze.
Others followed: Pony Time, The Fly, Limbo Rock, Slow Twistin’ with Dee Dee Sharp and Let’s Twist Again.
Those Were the Days, the Today in History service from 440 International
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