Stage name (for men) or Chaba (Chebba) for women. Both Arabic words mean "young" (e.g. as in Cheb Khaled, or "Young Khaled"). Some performers take a series of different stage names. The British pop singer successful in the 1970s as Alvin Stardust previously went by the stage name of "Shane Fenton" in the 1960s. He had been born "Bernard William Jewry". Some performers will use different names in different settings. Charles Thompson, singer-songwriter for the alternative band the Pixies, was known in that band as "Black Francis". He was called "Frank Black" as a solo performer, and again called "Black Francis" in
Alvin "Shipwreck" Kelly Alvin "Shipwreck" Kelly Aloysius Anthony Kelly, popularly known as Alvin "Shipwreck" Kelly (May 11, 1893 [some accounts say 1885] – October 11, 1952), was a pole sitter who achieved fame in the 1920s and 1930s, sitting for days at a time on elevated perches throughout the United States. Kelly was born in Manhattan's Hell's Kitchen neighborhood. His mother died during childbirth and his father died before he was born. He ran away and went to sea at the age of 13, and changed his name to Alvin. In his early years he worked as a steelworker, steeplejack, high diver, boxer