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'Chubby Checker's 1961 'Twist' Performance: the Birth of a Dance Craze'

A man in a suit dances joyfully with a group of people in a lively, celebratory scene.

Chubby Checker, also known as the King of Twist, had taken the world by storm in the 60s with his hit tracks, "The Twist" & "Let's Twist Again." On October 22nd, 1961, the talented vocalist appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show to perform in front of a live audience.

A man in a suit smiles brightly, surrounded by others in a lively setting.

A recently-shared clip of Checker's performance from The Ed Sullivan Show has gained immense popularity because of his brilliant dancing & amazing vocals. In addition, he impresses the live audience with his songs and revolutionary dancing style. Born as Ernest Evans, his stage name "Chubby Checker" is credited to Barbara Clark, wife of the Bandstand host, Dick Clark.

Checker's performance on The Ed Sullivan Show is considered the turning point in his career. The vocalist sings the 2 songs, "Twist" & "Let's Twist Again," & dances energetically with his group of backup dancers.

A man in a suit dances energetically in front of a group of people, all smiling and watching.

The Twist is a simple dance form that involves the dancer twisting one's hips and arms. This dancing style became a craze during the 60s and was one of the era's most sought out dancing styles.

Chubby Checker is one of the greatest artists who greatly impacted music and the dancing style of the 60s. In addition, he paved the way for several other popular dancing styles, such as the swim, the boogaloo, & the mashed potato.

A man in a suit dances energetically with a group of people in a lively setting.

Checker is so talented that his voice does not break even after he dances with so much energy. His immense stage presence and smiling face light up the Sullivan stage. The backup dancers perform in sync with the star performer.

Checker fans have left heartfelt messages for their beloved star. One fan wrote, "Teenagers had made The Twist a mega hit during the summer of 1960 and the summer of '61. Teens were still twisting away to "Let's Twist Again." Another person comments, "Chubby dances better than any of the dancers around him. What a star!"