On count 1, the outward sweep, the hands are quickly pushed out, giving the jerky motion.
Released as a single in 1964 on the Money record label, "The Jerk" was a hit for the Los Angeles band the Larks.
The Capitols performed a 1966 hit song called "Cool Jerk", written to capitalize on the dance's popularity.
Rocket from the Crypt recorded the song "When in Rome, Do the Jerk" in 1998 as a homage to the dance.
Janet Jackson made reference to jerking in her 2004 single "All Nite (Don't Stop)".