Chubby Checker didn't write the song "The Twist," but he helped make the tune and the dance a national sensation. The golden oldie, who performs Wednesday at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and then signs copies of his new CD, won't let you forget about his place in rock history. They don't call him Chubby for nothing. Checker (Ernest Evans) hawks snacks through The Last Twist Inc. when he's not sweating off the calories performing. The 66-year-old musician spoke about his influence in a recent phone interview. — Ed Condran

The last time we talked you compared yourself to Alexander Graham Bell, Thomas Edison and George Washington Carver. That's pretty serious company.

They're all inventors. I'm an inventor. I'm an important person because of "The Twist." It changed the music business. No one danced apart from the beat before the Twist happened. It was No. 1 twice (in 1961 and 1962) and who else has done that?

The Beatles did it.

Dick Clark once said, "The three most important things to happen in the music business are The Beatles, Elvis Presley and Chubby Checker."

That was then. Is that still so now?

Yes. I've had quite an influence.

How?

Look at the dances I invented, and I'm not just talking about the Twist. There's the Fly and the Pony. Kids are doing the Fly and they don't even know that they're doing it. It's raise your hands in the air and wave them like you just don't care. The Pony, two on one side and two on the other, is the biggest dance of the last century. I would say that's pretty important and influential.

So should you be a running attraction at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?

Yes, I want my flowers now. I can't smell them when I'm dead.

The press you've received hasn't been that flattering.

The bottom line is that my fans are loving it but for some reason most publications just knock me down. For some reason they can't say, "He was great." They have to come up with some negative angle. They'll say all the people who come out to see me have gray hair. That's who they'll focus on when I'm on TV. They show the Beatles music and it's all young people listening to it. I don't understand it. Thankfully though, that's not what matters most to me. What is most important to me is the music and getting out there in front of the fans.

What advice do you have for someone who wants to become the next Chubby Checker?

The toughest thing in this business is to have patience but you got to have it. The other hard thing to do while being patient is to behave yourself. You also have to work hard. That's what I've always done. I wouldn't be where I am if I didn't work so hard.

You have The Last Twist Inc. but do you also own Checkers and Twist pretzels?

No. Everybody thinks I own these places and I don't. I'm not angry with these people that own them. They love me. It's all good for me. I have fun doing whatever I do. It's great for me because singing goes along with eating. It's good times.

How difficult was it growing up in gritty South Philadelphia?

It wasn't easy. Kids would want to get into fights with me because I had manners. It wasn't an easy place for a kid who was trying to be good to grow up. But I have lots of great memories.

But the memories of performing on American Bandstand must be a lot better.

Yeah. They're just really different too. I had a good childhood and once things started breaking for me, look out. I had a ball. I wouldn't trade anything for nothing. It all worked out for me. I have no complaints. I look back at things fondly.

Any plans to retire from performance?

Anyone who is in the rock 'n' roll business is between 62 and the graveyard. The Rolling Stones are all over 60. Eric Clapton, Aerosmith, Willie Nelson. It's the same thing. They're all just going to sing until they dry up, and I'll be right there with them. There's no reason to stop. That's the great thing about being an entertainer. You can go as long as you want to go. I still have fans from all over the place that want to see me do my thing.

Chubby Checker: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 23 at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, 1100 Rock and Roll Blvd., 216.515.1939. FREE.