| "Everybody Loves to Cha Cha Cha" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single bySam Cooke | ||||
| B-side | "Little Things You Do" | |||
| Released | January 1959 | |||
| Recorded | January 7, 1959 | |||
| Studio | Radio Recorders (Hollywood, California) | |||
| Genre | R&B,cha-cha-cha | |||
| Length | 2:35 | |||
| Label | Keen | |||
| Songwriter | Sam Cooke | |||
| Producer | Bumps Blackwell | |||
| Sam Cooke singles chronology | ||||
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"Everybody Loves to Cha Cha Cha" (originally released as "Everybody Likes to Cha Cha Cha") is a song by American singer-songwriterSam Cooke, released in January 1959. The song was one of Cooke's biggest successes onBillboard'sHot R&B Sides chart, peaking at number two; the song also charted at number 31 on theBillboard Hot 100.
The song references thecha-cha-cha, a dance of Cuban origin that became popular in the United States in the late 1950s.
The song originated from a Christmas 1958 party atLou Rawls' stepfather's house. During the celebration, all began doing thecha-cha-cha, including Cooke's daughter, Linda.[1] When one of the kids called out, "Everybody, cha-cha-cha!", Cooke grabbed a sheet of paper and wrote down the lyrics while everyone else danced. The song was recorded the week after New Year's 1959.[1]
The song concerns Cooke and his girlfriend going to a dance in which all are doing the cha-cha-cha, a dance which his significant other doesn't know how to do. Cooke teaches his guest but by the end of the evening, she is "doing [the cha-cha-cha]" better than he is.[2]
Credits adapted from theliner notes to the 2003 compilationPortrait of a Legend: 1951–1964.[1]
| Chart (1959) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| USBillboardHot 100[4] | 31 |
| USHot R&B Sides (Billboard)[4] | 2 |
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)| Studio albums | |
|---|---|
| Live albums | |
| Collaboration albums | |
| Compilations | |
| Singles |
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| Related articles | |
