Chubby Checker Tells Hall Of Fame: ‘Induct Me While I’m Still Smiling’

Chubby Checker is making no bones in the press about the fact that he wants to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame before it’s “too late.”

On Thursday, Checker, who wrote and performed the famous song “Let’s Twist Again,” which was the first Rock ‘n’ Roll song that received a Grammy award back in 1962, complained about the fact he still hasn’t been inducted into the Hall of Fame.

The basis of his complaint is that the old-timer wants to make it into the Hall of Fame before he’s too old. “I don’t want to get in there when I’m 85 years old. I’ll tell them to drop dead, so you better do it quick while I’m still smiling,” he said.

Indeed, having created probably the two most popular Rock ‘n’ Roll tracks of all time, “Let’s Twist Again” and “The Twist,” Chubby Checker probably well deserves his place there.

Continuing with his mini rant, Checker said:

“If you put me in when I’m too old to make a living, then it’s no good for me to be in there. The Rolling Stones, they’re in there. The Beastie Boys are in there, they’re young. Hall and Oates were just in there and they’re still making money.”

Ah, so his wish to get into the Hall of Fame isn’t so much an ego thing but more a financial consideration for Chubby.

The comments were made openly to reporters on the red carpet of the annual Songwriters Hall of Fame gala in New York where Checker performed “Let’s Twist Again.”

Even Daryl Hall from Hall and Oates, who were inducted to the Hall back in April, when asked about Chubby Checker not being in yet, said, “Why isn’t he in?”

Legendary songwriter Kenny Gamble said he thinks Chubby deserves a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

“I think Chubby Checker should be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He’s the only person I know to have the same song go to No. 1 twice,” he said.