Wild Reception For Chubby Checker

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30038, 24 January 1963, Page 14

Wild Reception For Chubby Checker

A crowd of yelling youngsters gave the American twist and limbo “king,” Chubby Checker, a wildly enthusiastic welcome when he arrived at Christchurch airport yesterday morning. For the 30 minutes or so he was at the airport they followed him about as if he was the original Pied Piper of Hamelin. For Checker, who gets similar receptions everywhere he goes, the occasion was “just one of those things you’ve got to expect in show business.” A man who likes people to like him, Checker said it was a good omen for his Christchurch visit. After giving several performances in the North Island, Checker said the audience reaction in New Zealand was just the same as

it had been in the United States, in Europe, in Australia and in Latin America. “I guess you could say they all seemed to enjoy what I’ve got to put across,” he said. Although he has appeared in several entertainment mediums, his favourite work was in night clubs and at “straight” concerts, said Checker. Asked how much money he grossed from record sales last year Checker just grinned and said: “Quite a pile I guess.” He explained that to him, money (after

some had been accumulated) was not in itself so important; what was more important was to strive for a good position at the top of show business. The 21-year-old negro from Philadelphia said he liked all kinds of music with no particular preference. Although the songs he has made famous have been connected with particular dances. Checker said it had not been planned that way. Both the twist and the limbo had been in existence for years. “The limbo was a death

dance performed at funerals in Trinidad. The idea was that the lower you could go under the limbo bar the higher went the spirits of tile deceased in heaven.” To help keep the crowd under control from the time Checker stepped off the aircraft were six burly policemen who escorted him along the tarmac in front of the terminal building to the lounge. So crushed was he that when the door of the lounge opened for him to enter Checker flew in and sprawled on all fours on the floor. The New Zealand promoter, Mr Harry M. MiUer, who, along with the Howard Morrison Quartet, escorted Checker to Christchurch, said Checker was the “hottest” property he had ever brought to New Zealand.