This week, Ira spoke with Chubby Checker.
Chubby Checker, who changed the dance style of a nation, will be performing at the South Point Casino November 23-25.
In this 30-minute episode of Talk About Las Vegas, Checker talks about this first time performing in Las Vegas; why he owes a debt to Zsa Zsa Gabor: why the Twist was so popular by exploiting sexuality on the dance floor; how he imitates “Chubby Checker”; why he was influenced by the greats, including Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole; his country music roots; and why he appreciates the circle of life.
“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 sprang up 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 Checker with “The Fly,” “The Pony,” and “The Hucklebuck.”
