Gene Chandler: "Duke of Earl" (1961)

Eugene Drake Dixon, aka Gene Chandler was born in Chicago in 1940 and as of this upload is still active at age 85. He's a Grammy Hall of Fame and Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame member and one of the few vocalists to place singles on the Hot 100, doo-wop, R&B, Soul and Disco surveys, doing so between 1961 and '86. From the early 1950s teenaged Eugene was in a couple of groups and was lead singer in the latter, the Dukays. Drafted into the Army in 1958, Gene returned to Chi-Town two years later and rejoined the Dukays. Signed to a minor label in 1961, at their second studio session the Dukays recorded four songs, including "Nite Owl" and "Duke of Earl". By year's end Nite Owl was an R&B hit. Subsequent to that, Duke of Earl was sold to VEE-JAY. Label-promoted as Gene Chandler, Duke hit the airwaves in late Nov. '61 and by February the song sold over a million copies and was the top title on BILLBOARD's Pop and R&B charts, staying there three weeks. Just as Duke of Earl was finishing its chart run, a follow-up, "Walk On with the Duke" was issued. Despite its five label-credited composers, this one stalled at #91 on the Hot 100. Sfter a few misses, Gene's next Top Ten single came in June of 1964 when "Just Be True" was a #4 national R&B hit. After Duke of Earl was a success, young Mr. Chandler took to wearing a costume: top hat, morning suit, monacle, cape, white gloves and a cane. (see slide show) PERSONNEL: Gene Chandler (composer, lead vocal); The Dukays (backing vocals); Floyd Morris (piano); Lefty Bates, Phil Upchurch, Kermit Chandler (guitars); ? (bass guitar); Al Duncan (drums); Cliff Davis, John Board (sax); Bill Sheppard (producer); Released Nov. 1961 on styrene VEE-JAY 45 #416 (2172) Reissued 1985 on vinyl JCI various artists LP #3112, "Baby Boomer Classics POP Sixties" Tech data: mastered with AVA triple filter© process (no Dolby)