Chubby Checker ― the iconic singer who charted 32 hits between 1960 and 1966, including “The Twist” ― has decided he won’t be attending his own Rock and Rock Hall of Fame ceremony.
In a twist of events, he even booked a gig on Nov. 8 ― the same day the ceremony is scheduled to take place in Los Angeles.
The Spring Gully, South Carolina-born singer, whose induction into the Hall of Fame was first announced on April 27, has not revealed where his performance will be held. But he did share his reasons for not attending the class of 2025 induction.
How long has Checker been eligible for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?
Fans of Checker’s music have waited 39 years for the hit maker’s induction into the Hall of Fame. Checker, who has been eligible since the first class of 1986 due to his significant contributions to rock and roll, has expressed his feelings about not receiving his honor. In 2004, he peacefully protested outside the Hall of Fame’s induction ceremonies in Manhattan.
“I’m not doing it to get into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at all,” he told the Associated Press in an interview. “I don’t get the airplay that one in my position deserves. ‘Twist and Turn’ gets more airplay than ‘The Twist’ and that’s not right.”
Dancers are cheering the efforts of Chubby Checker at the end of the taping for Checker’s “Texas Twist” video at the Wildhorse Saloon in downtown Nashville on Aug. 21, 1995.
Why won’t Checker be attending his own Hall of Fame induction?
Music journalists and fans may be surprised that Checker won’t be attending his own Hall of Fame induction, especially since it has taken him decades to receive the honor. However, Checker insists the snub from the hall isn’t why he won’t be attending.
According to The Root, Checker wants to rock the crowd and be in front of a live audience, which he won’t be able to do at the induction ceremony. He also doesn’t want fans to think that he’s slowing down in the music scene now that he is 83.
“‘Chubby goes to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, he’s an old guy, he’s probably retired, he’s not doing anything,'” he told Rock and Roll Hall of Fame officials, who surprised him with the induction announcement and a trophy during one of his concerts in Des Plaines, Illinois on July 27. “‘Maybe he has crutches and he’s coming to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to get his little award and go back home.’
“I said, ‘No, let’s be doing a show like I’m doing today,’” he continued. “This shows that I’m alive and well and the audience is wonderful and my dream is still being fulfilled, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is happening all at the same time.”
Has the Hall of Fame responded to Checker’s comments?
No, the Hall of Fame has not responded to Checker’s remarks yet. But they did include the following on their website regarding the singer’s induction into the class of 2025:
“Chubby Checker harnessed the explosion of youth culture in rock & roll’s early years, combining the power of records, radio, television, and movies to engage a worldwide audience. The undisputed king of 1960s rock & roll dance crazes, Chubby Checker inspired millions to shake it all night long to hits like ‘The Twist,’ ‘The Fly,’ ‘The Hucklebuck,’ ‘The Pony,’ and ‘Limbo Rock.'”
Singer Chubby Checker protests outside The Waldorf Astoria March 15, 2004 in New York City.
Nina Tran covers trending topics for The Greenville News. Reach her via email at [email protected]
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Chubby Checker makes other plans on day of his Hall of Fame induction
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.yahoo.com ’
