Dance Tunes - #4 - The Twist

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"The Twist" was originally written and released in 1958 by Hank Ballard and the Midnighters. Hank Ballard was inspired to write "The Twist" when he saw teens in Tampa, FL, doing the dance. It gained its real popularity when it was recorded and released by Chubby Checker in 1960. On August 6, 1960 "The Twist" became a national hit when Chubby Checker performed the song on Dick Clark's "American Bandstand. It hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #6 on the US Billboard Hot R&B Sides chart. In late 1961 and early 1962 high society saw celebrities doing the dance and made the song a hit with adults. Soon there were long lines forming at the Peppermint Lounge in New York City, a popular spot for celebrities. "The Twist" once again hit #! on US charts. Checker recorded the song several times and even released a country version in the late 70s. In 2014 "Billboard" magazine dubbed "The Twist" as the "biggest hit" of the 1960s. In 2018 Chubby Checker's version was one of the six singles inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame under a new category for singles by artists who have not been inducted into the Hall of Fame. Click on the link below; and you will be able to hear Chubby Checker sing and see him dance "The Twist". Video Credit: YouTube Photo Credit: Pixabay