Vintage 1961  jukebox title strip

Joey Dee and the Starliters released the hit song "Peppermint Twist" in 1961. It reached No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 on January 27, 1962.

Here are a few more quick facts about the song:

The Inspiration: It was co-written by Joey Dee and Henry Glover as a tribute to the Peppermint Lounge, a famous New York nightclub where the band served as the house band.

• The Release: The original recording was over four minutes long, which was too long for a standard 45 RPM single. It was split into two parts: Part 1 featured the vocals, and Part 2 was mostly instrumental.

• The Success: The song eventually became a million-seller, even knocking Chubby Checker's "The Twist" off the #1 spot.