<back - GENE 'DUKE OF EARL' CHANDLER - The name Gene Chandler will always be primarily associated with Duke Of Earl: the indestructible 1962 harmony classic. Given the mesmerizing spell it cast, such notoriety is apt. There was a very different vibe happening, yet ironically Duke Of Earl also had a rather familiar ring to it. Perhaps, this fascinating dichotomy has accounted for its allure to this day. Transcending time and place, it continues to strike a resonant chord with new generations of listeners. Still, the real Gene Chandler story rests upon more than Duke Of Earl, as a run of releases would cement his status as a top tier Soul singer throughout much of the 60s.

Before being propelled to international prominence, Chandler was Eugene Dixon, born 1937 in Chicago, the Windy City, His first musical foray was with the Gaytones, and in 1957 he became lead singer of the Dukays, a group that included Earl Edwards, Shirley Jones, James Lowe, and Ben Broyles. By 1960, they'd attracted the attention of Nat Records. The Girl Is A Devil was one of their first issues, but the Don Covay-written Nite Owl would provide a better showcase of Chandler’s distinctive upper tenor. By 1961, the Dukays were attracting feelers from more-established labels, one being Vee-Jay (Spaniels, Jimmy Reed). Eugene Dixon was re-named with the more glamorous-sounding Gene Chandler. There were several masters bought by Vee-Jay, including Festival Of Love and The Big Lie--each previously released on Nat in 1960--but one track stood apart. Duke Of Earl would launch the career of Gene Chandler in spectacular fashion. It sold one million copies within a month of its 1962 release. Subsequent Vee-Jay releases didn't register with nearly the same impact, but Chandler earned better successes starting 1964 on the Constellation label, benefiting from the great material provided by Curtis Mayfield.  Though he continued recording for several other labels, Chandler began devoting more energy on label management, and this paid off with a huge hit on Bamboo with Backfield In Motion, featuring cousins Mel & Tim. In subsequent years, Chandler became an executive with Chi-Sound Records, but still kept on recording, and had a pop & R&B smash in 1970 with Groovy Situation. Late 70’s releases like Get Down, and Does She Have A Friend?, kept Chandler's name on the lips of dance and disco floor dwellers, but they form an insignificant part of his legacy. By fleshing out the gaps, hopefully this profile will acquaint those possessing only a cursory familiarity of this man’s career with the dazzling scope of Chandler’s artistry, especially his magnificent 60’s recordings. Gene Chandler possessed an exquisite voice, an instrument both distinctive and dramatic, and those attributes were fleshed out by some of the classiest and most compelling songs of the Soul era. -Gary Tate/  MP3- Duke Of Earl |