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'Twist' Started In Tampa
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Published: July 8, 2008
Here's a word association test. When I say "Chubby Checker", you say... "The Twist." At least most folks make that connection, because it was that tune that rocketed him to stardom. Chubby, who's real name is Ernest Evans, appeared at Busch Gardens last week as part of a Fourth of July celebration. But few people know that the Twist had its genesis in Tampa.
The song was written and recorded by Hank Ballard as the B-side to a ballad called "Teardrops on Your Letter", and went to No. 6 on the Billboard Charts in 1959. Dick Clark later encouraged Checker to do the song as something to use on his American Bandstand TV program.
But the origin of the iconic tune was chronicled in the liner notes to Ballard's album, "1960: Still Rockin." which was given to me by a friend, Charles Knight. It said, "When Hank Ballard and the Midnighters released the single, 'Teardrops on Your Letter' in early 1959, they had no idea they were about to launch the biggest dance craze in pop history. The single's flip side was 'The Twist,' which Ballard wrote after seeing kids doing the pelvis-swiveling maneuver in Tampa, Florida." This was also reaffirmed by a radio interview with the artist, which was sent to me by a radio listener.
Ballard and the Midnighters were known to have made at least a couple of appearances at nightspots on the then vibrant Central Avenue, which was the heart of black social and cultural life until urban renewal and I-4 came along and destroyed it.
So unbeknownst to most, the Twist was the creation of some young African-Americans dancing in the street on Central Avenue. Apparently they shall forever remain anonymous, and the fame associated with creating arguably the most powerful dance tune of all time will forever belong entirely to Chubby and Hank.
A couple of years ago, a group that included Fred Hearns, who was with the Tampa Department of Community Affairs, state Sen. Arthenia Joiner and promoter Ken Walters attempted to put together a major celebration of the Twist, to be highlighted by the unveiling of a historic marker in Perry Harvey Park, which would probably have been near where the discovery of the Twist took place. They had hoped to get Dick Clark to come to town to showcase the event. While the plans ended up put on hold, it might be a good idea to revive them again.
If nothing more is done, it would be nice if the Hillsborough County Historical Advisory Council would see fit to put a marker in the park denoting Tampa as "The Home of the Twist."
Jocularly,
Jack
Jack Harris co-hosts AM Tampa Bay from 6 to 9 weekday morning on WFLA-AM.
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