1. Robert Lee "Chan" Romero was an American rock and roll performer, best known for his 1959 song "Hippy Hippy Shake".
11 Facts About Chan Romero
1. 2.
Chan Romero's father was of Spanish and Apache descent, while his mother was a mixture of Mexican, Cherokee, and Irish.
3.
Since Romero often ran around without footwear, the nickname, from a Spanish phrase meaning "little boy with pig's feet" seemed appropriate.
4.
Chan Romero said Elvis Presley's 1956 performance of "Hound Dog" on The Steve Allen Show was a turning point in his life.
5.
Chan Romero hitchhiked to East Los Angeles, California, in 1958 while still a teenager, where he wrote "Hippy Hippy Shake" and launched his career.
6.
Chan Romero's career skyrocketed with the release of "Hippy Hippy Shake" in July 1959.
7.
Chan Romero became the first Latino to be inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.
8.
Chan Romero's work bore a resemblance to that of Ritchie Valens, and the two ended up on the same record label.
9.
Chan Romero's home served as Romero's home during his visits to Los Angeles; he slept in Valens' bedroom.
10.
Chan Romero remained close to the Valens family and performed at the Ritchie Valens memorial concert held yearly in Pacoima, California.
11.
Chan Romero's first visit to Palm Springs, California in 1964 inspired him to make the area his home.