Chubby Checker
Fallsview Casino
Niagara Falls, Ontario
March 26, 2019 (First of 3 Shows)
The legendary Chubby Checker showed fans in Niagara Falls he can still twist, limbo rock and even do the Hucklebuck at the young age of 77. Checker turned the Avalon Ballroom into one big party playing the hits and doing the dance moves that made him famous.
The mid-afternoon show at Fallsview Casino’s Avalon Ballroom got underway just after 3 p.m. with the James Brown song Good Good Lovin’ followed by Twist It Up, Dancin’ Party, I’m Walkin’ (Fats Domino cover), Blueberry Hill and Slow Twistin’.
Backed by a five-piece band, Checker kept the crowd dancing and singing and, at one point during the first 20 minutes, he went out into the crowd and danced with different audience members. He even brought a few fans up on stage throughout the show so they could show their Chubby Checker dance moves.
It wasn’t until after Slow Twistin’, when Checker finally spoke.
“Happy New Year! First time I’ve been to Canada this year,” Checker said catching his breath. He talked about being to every city in Canada and driving 10 hours to a place in Toronto on Danforth Avenue where he buys all his shoes. For this particular show Checker was wearing a pair of black and white checkered boots.
“I love Canada,” Checker told a cheering crowd. Checker introduced his band and slowed things down with Changes.
The party then continued with other songs including Hooka Tooka, The Hucklebuck, Loddy Lo, Limbo Rock, Peggy Sue, I Heard It Through the Grapevine, and Let’s Twist Again.
The 80-minute set finished with the #1 song of all time, a song called The Twist, written by Hank Ballard and a big hit for Chubby Checker. Checker invited fans on stage to dance and help close off the show.
Overall, it was a fun show with lots of great music and stories (he talked about the one and only time he met Elvis Presley, with other celebrities in the room including Liza Minelli and Alice Cooper). Judging by what I witnessed, I won’t be surprised if Checker is around a lot longer twistin’ for fans young and old.
All photos by Joel Naphin
©2019. Please DO NOT copy or use without permission.
