Fifty-five years ago, a fellow by the name of Ernest Evans, a.k.a. Chubby Checker, stepped up to the stage on Dick Clark’s TV show American Bandstand and performed a song and dance called “The Twist.” It wasn’t long before he became one of the most popular pop stars of that or any other era. Checker has had many other hits, including “The Hucklebuck,” “Dance the Mess Around” and “Limbo Rock,” to name just a few, and at the age of 73 he continues to perform throughout North America. Checker and his band are playing on Aug. 25 at the Ex.

So what can we expect from your show in Toronto at the CNE this month?
We’re going to come up there with matches, set it on fire and then we’re going to go home.

Any particularly fond memories to Toronto?
All of my shoes, for as long as I can remember, I’ve gotten from a store on Danforth Avenue in Toronto. I know every street in the town, man.

What’s the name of the store?
Master John, and he was on Danforth. He took ill, so I ordered maybe 300 pairs of his shoes. I’m still wearing them. He’s a wonderful guy. 

Tell me about “The Twist.” How did you come up with that?
You mean the number one song of all time? I would actually compare “The Twist” to the electric light. The minute that Edison did it, it became something that people used 24/7. Like the telephone, when that guy said, “Watson, is that you?” that very moment the telephone was used forever. And in that two minutes and 42 seconds when Chubby Checker came on American Bandstand and did “The Twist,” that style of dance has never left us.

And that was a cover of a Hank Ballard tune. Did you have any idea that it would be so successful?
No way. We didn’t know what we were doing. We didn’t know what we were doing, we were stupid. It was a stupid little dance. But it was kinda sexy. It was just amazing. Girls, at that time, were wearing bobby socks, short things, white sneakers, dresses that came just below the knee a little bit, tight skirts and always wore those sweaters that exposed a little bit of cleavage, bangs, ponytails. It was very hot stuff, believe me. And when they did “The Twist,” I’ll tell you that was something for the male gender to behold. It was quite incredible and the world changed.

And you’re still making new music, and you’ve had some hits in the last few years. What keeps you motivated?
This is what we do, this is the fun we have, this is my Mickey Mouse, my Donald Duck. It’s a great life. And a great thing to wake up to in the morning, same house for 50 years, same woman for 51 years, just amazing. Been there, done that. Let’s do it again.… I’m amazed that I can do what I do. It amazes me. 

What advice would you give to pop stars trying to handle the pressures that come with success at a young age?
There is really no pressure. There is only pressure if you don’t live up to what you’re supposed to do. If you’re the best, wherever you go, you’ll be recognized. If you’re a lazy musician, it’s not going to work. If you’re fantastic, people will remember you. On top of that, you gotta behave. If you want to find the devil, go look in the mirror. He’s right there.