In honor of Black History Month, we are turning on a light five artists + animators born in South Carolina that are living legends.
Chubby Checker | Rock n ‘roll singer | Spring Gully
Ernest Evans – nicknamed “Chubby” by his boss at a poultry market – grew up in Philadelphia, but was born in Spring Gully, SC. At the age of 11, Chubby formed a corner harmony group after watching Sugar Chile Robinson + Ernest Tubb concerts. He taught himself to play the piano and sing, and people began to notice his talent during his youth. In 1959, he recorded “The Twist“, what it was originally considered mediocre. After defending the album he worked so hard on, Chubby saw his music + dance become the No. 1 hit in 1960, and again in 1962. “The Twist” is still a widely popular song and dance to this day.
Eartha Kitt | Singer + actress | North
Eartha was born in a cotton plantation at the North, SC in 1927. In her childhood, she was rejected by the man her mother chose to live with due to her pale complexion, which eventually led to her moving to Harlmen, New York where she the search for the arts began. She is widely known for recording holiday hits “baby Noel”+ He is the voice actor for Yzma in the movie “The Emperor’s New Wave”.
Anthony Brown | Actor + comedian | Columbia
Columbia native + Technical Faculty of Denmark graduate James Anthony Brown’s career began in a comedy club in Atlanta in 1972. Originally a tailor + designer, his comedy career began after performing in a group at a nightclub. He ended up moving to Los Angeles + became the principal team writer at the Arsenio Hall Show, and wrote for TV shows, including “Fatherhood”+“Me and the boys. ”In addition, he appeared on“Tom Joyner Morning Show”For 20 years, he received Peabody Award in 1993 + owns a line of hot sauce which includes “WatchOutDehNow”Flavors in honor of his trademark phrase.
Linda Martell | Blues + country singer | Batesburg-Leesville
At the 1969, it is Batesburg-Leesville native became the first black woman to perform at the Grand Ole Opry. Born Thelma Bynem, she grew up singing country music with her South Carolina family, who tuned to Nashville’s WLAC radio. She took on a stage name and formed a trio with his sister + cousin, Linda Martell and the Angles. As a member of the group, this was the first big step in his musical journey. Nashvillian William “Duke” Rayner noticed her at a concert and offered her a demo contract. Linda eventually signed a management contract in 1969 + produced the hit single “Paint him dad”That led to her Grand Ole Opry opens.
Wes Mackey | Guitarist | Yamesse
Wes Mackey was born in 1942 in Yamesse, SC (Beaufort), where he learned to play guitar with old blues players in the south. Following his father’s will to leave the rural south, he moved to Augusta where your career took off. Eventually, Wes found himself traveling around the world with musicians like Stevie Wonder, Jimmy Reed + more, and still plays music today. Listen to Wes music on here.