Chubby Checker to Twist Onto Spencer Theater Stage, 8/10

It's easy to see why Chubby Checker enjoys continuous fame when catching his explosive energy on stage. He's a virtual dynamo, and his historic song's call -- "Come on everybody, Let's do the Twist" -- gets folks young and old springing into motion with increased spunk in their every kick.

The man behind this phenomenon is an amazing vocalist, singer-songwriter, rocker and arranger. Not only has his "Twist" been ranked as Billboard's biggest chart hit of all time (for its charting singles between 1958 and 2008) but Chubby is the only recording artist to place five albums in the Top 12 all at once. Starting in 1960 when he was just 18-years-old, he's enjoyed a succession of up-tempo dance tracks that include the Platinum record "Let's Twist Again," the winner of the 1961 Grammy Award for Best Rock and Roll Solo Vocal Performance. Additional hits include "The Hucklebuck," "The Fly," "Dance the Mess Around" and "Pony Time," which became his second #1 single. Additionally, his 1962 duet with Dee Dee Sharp, "Slow Twistin'" reached #3 on the national charts and "Limbo Rock" hit #2.

Chubby has performed and recorded continuously since his wave-cutting rhythms first hit the airwaves and, to date, has sold over 250 million records worldwide, securing the # 56 spot in all-time record sales. His National Chart Life is second only to Elvis, and everyone agrees that Chubby revolutionized our culture with his so-called "dancing apart to the beat" when introducing "The Twist" to the world. (The high-octane tune not only changed the way we all move to music, it's the first to have gotten teenagers and adults dancing on the dance floor at the same time). Indeed, from Woodstock to the 21st century, artists and fans express themselves in a fashion that Chubby first presented on American Bandstand in 1960. That's the reason why Dick Clark said: "The three most important things that ever happened in the music industry are Elvis Presley, The Beatles, and Chubby Checker."

Joined by his five man band The Wildcats on saxophone, keyboards, drums, guitar and bass, the one and only Chubby will twist in Spencer spotlights on Saturday, August 10 at 8 p.m. Excellent seats are available for $79 & $76. Call the Spencer Box Office at 575.336.4800 or go online to www.spencertheater.com for tickets. The night of musical charm and gusto is sponsored by Sandy Erwin and Kay Bird. A pre-performance grilled pork chop buffet ($20) is also available in the lobby at 6 p.m. See you there!

Spencer Theater is a world-class performance hall located in the Sacramento Mountain settlement of Alto, about 12 miles north of downtown Ruidoso. Unique architecture, outstanding acoustics, intimate seating, and excellent artistry are the Spencer's celebrated features. The elegant, award-winning hall, which first raised its curtains in 1997, seats 514, with no seats farther than 67 feet from the 4,770 square-foot stage. The Spencer also has a 964 square-foot outdoor stage that can seat 1,500. From its Spanish mica-flecked limestone face to the crystal lobby, the building itself is a work of art. Free public tours are offered at 10 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout the year.