| Everybody Loves to Cha Cha Cha | |
| Cover: | Everybody Loves to Cha Cha Cha.png |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Sam 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 |
| Producer: | Bumps Blackwell |
| Prev Title: | I Need You Now |
| Prev Year: | 1959 |
| Next Title: | Only Sixteen |
| Next Year: | 1959 |
"Everybody Loves to Cha Cha Cha" (originally released as "Everybody Likes to Cha Cha Cha") is a song by American singer-songwriter Sam Cooke, released in January 1959. The song was one of Cooke's biggest successes on Billboard Hot R&B Sides chart, peaking at number two; the song also charted at number 31 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The song references the cha-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 at Lou Rawls' stepfather's house. During the celebration, all began doing the cha-cha-cha, including Cooke's daughter, Linda. 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 the liner notes to the 2003 compilation .[1]
| Chart (1959) | Peak position | |
|---|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100[4] | 31 | |
| US Hot R&B Sides (Billboard) | 2 |