When the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced Sunday night that Chubby Checker would be inducted into its ranks later this year, many fans of early rock ‘n' roll who'd assumed that the Hall would never reach back that far again were surprised and exultant that a longtime wrong was being righted.

First-time nominees Chubby Checker, Joe Cocker and Bad Company will also be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

The 83-year-old South Philly singer has advocated for his own induction, oncing taking out a full page ad in Billboard saying, “I want my flowers when I’m alive. I can’t smell them when I’m dead.”