Legendary rock and roll artist, Chubby Checker, is ready to twist again with his band, the Wildcats, at Tioga Downs on Thursday, July 16 at 8 p.m. Tickets for the July 16 show are $5 with the full proceeds being donated to the Food Bank of the Southern Tier. Jeff Gural, CEO of American Racing and Entertainment and owner of Tioga Downs, will match each guest who attends with a $10 donation to the Food Bank. Tickets are on sale at the Tioga Downs gift shop and all Ticketmaster locations. (Provided photo)
The legendary rock and roll artist who redefined the way people danced more than 50 years ago will again entertain concertgoers at Tioga Downs. Chubby Checker, “The King of the Twist” and his band, the Wildcats, are ready to twist again on July 16 at 8 p.m. on the Tioga Downs summer concert stage. Checker’s show on May 30 was canceled due to inclement weather.
Tickets for the July 16 show are $5 with the full proceeds being donated to the Food Bank of the Southern Tier. Jeff Gural, CEO of American Racing and Entertainment and owner of Tioga Downs, will match each guest who attends with a $10 donation to the Food Bank.
Chubby Checker owns a chapter of rock history. “The Twist” holds the status of being the number one hit of all time and also carries the distinction in music history as being the only song ever to hit #1 on the Billboard charts in different years, 1960 and 1962.
“The Twist,” a two minute and 42 second song which remains a fan favorite today, was recorded when Checker was a mere 18 years old. Checker’s follow-up, “Let’s Twist Again” was a chart topper as well, along with a string of subsequent hits.
During a July 9 phone interview, Checker shared, “I plan to finish burning the place down.” Checker loves his fans and is genuinely pleased that he has the opportunity to return to Tioga Downs.
Although most people know him by the name Chubby Checker, Checker’s roots are in Philadelphia where he grew up as Ernest Evans.
An interesting fact for fans, Checker commented during the phone interview, “My high school yearbook has my given name and beside it is written, ‘Chubby Checker.’” The wife of American Bandstand host, Dick Clark, came up with the last name Checker to accompany his nickname.
Checker also shared during the phone interview that one of his first performances was a debut at the Rainbow Club located in Wildwood, N.J. Wildwood, known in the 1950’s as “Little Las Vegas,” helped launch many famous music careers, and Checker returned there in 2010 for “The Twist’s” 50th anniversary.
Checker said, “I have a street named after me in Wildwood, which is so cool.”
Wildwood holds a special place in Checker’s heart. Chuckling, Checker shared that he has driven to Wildwood on several occasions, where he has an updated photo taken of himself next to the street sign.
In his more than five decades of recording and performing, Checker, now 73, explained that he has crafted a rock show that will appeal to fans of all ages, and believes concertgoers will leave feeling that it was the best show they’ve ever been to.
Tickets for the July 16 Chubby Checker concert are on sale at the Tioga Downs gift shop and all Ticketmaster locations. For additional information about Chubby Checker, visit his Facebook page or website, chubbychecker.com. For additional information about Tioga Downs, visit their web site, tiogadowns.com, or find them on Facebook and Twitter.
