A music veteran says he is thrilled to have finally been admitted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but he wants more.
Chubby Checker publicly protested in 2002 about not being inducted into the Rock Hall, claiming that he deserved a plaque for his pioneering career. In a new interview, he says he’s excited to be a part of the 2025 class, which will be inducted in November, though he still wants a monument.
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“It’s fantastic that this is happening. And if they do put up my statue, I may not be there to see it, but people will love it,” Checker told Variety.
The 83-year-old singer is most known for “The Twist,” which reached No. 1 in 1960 and 1962 and was awarded the top song on Billboard’s all-time Hot 100 chart. His decades-long career also includes “Pony Time,” “Let’s Twist Again,” and his own version of “Limbo Rock.”
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“I told them that, because of what we’ve done in the music industry, the Hall should erect a statue of Chubby Checker in its courtyard inviting everyone in to rock ‘n’ roll,” according to him. “That made everyone very angry. Everyone has made a lot of money off of Chubby. Give this man some credit!”
Checker still performs frequently now, although he believes his music should be more popular. He said he wanted to hear his songs played on the radio and in supermarkets like other Rock and Roll Hall of Fame members, “like Billy Joel, The Beatles, Elton John, or Fleetwood Mac: Everywhere.”
“I want to hear my music liked like them,” he told Variety. “The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame says I’m in, and I appreciate that.”
“But I want to hear my music and have it heard in the same way that those other legends do… They do not have the world’s number-one song; I do. By the way, I built the dancefloor there, which so many of these musicians appreciate and use to generate millions of dollars. And it is still there.
His remarks came days after he expressed disappointment at not being invited to this year’s New York State Fair. Checker has performed at the New York State Fair six times, including the last three years in a row, but authorities say fairgoers want to see “new musical acts” and greater diversity.
“The New York State Fair congratulates Chubby Checker on his historic induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which reflects the impact he has made on American music history. “The Fair considers Chubby to be an integral part of the Fair family and has been honored to host him several times, bringing his timeless classics to fairgoers of all ages,” Fair organizers said in a statement to Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard. “However, after hearing from fairgoers last year that they wanted to see a larger concert program with new musical performers, the Fair has worked hard this year to diversify the entertainment calendar for the 2025 Fair. We wish we could bring in all of our favorites every year, but we are delighted to welcome some new musical artists to the Fairgrounds.”
Checker, who has been eligible since 1986, will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on November 8, alongside Joe Cocker, Cyndi Lauper, Bad Company, Outkast, Soundgarden, and the White Stripes. The event will be live on Disney+ and be available on Hulu the following day.
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