Powerful Soul and R&B Singer and Performer
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A powerful performer and singer, he personified the laid-back, carefree attitude that the early 1960s soul and R&B singers developed. He will be best known for his 1962 smash "Duke of Earl", though he wrote and performed many more songs, and collaborated with many of the greats in the soul and R&B world, such as Curtis Mayfield and Jerry Butler.
Although Gene Chandler seems to have sprung into being in 1962, when he introduced himself to the world as "The Duke of Earl", Eugene Dixon had been singing since the early 1950s, first with The Gaytones. In 1957 he joined a doo-wop group called The Dukays with James Lowe, Shirley Jones, Earl Edwards and Ben Broyles, quickly becoming their lead singer. He was drafted by the US Army to Germany for three years, returned to Chicago in 1960, and rejoined his bandmates. Through music industry contacts, the Dukays were offered a recording contract by Chicago based Nat Records. The first single was titled "The Girl Is Evil." In 1961, Nat Records released a song titled "Nite Owl", and the band went back to the studio to record one more.
As the story goes, during their vocal warm-ups, the group would repeat the phrase "doo-doo-doo-doo" at different pitches. Through many repetitions, it began to evolve. Words were added. Melodies began to form. Earl Edwards' name was added. The song that evolved was "Duke of Earl."
At the time Nat Records wanted to release the new song "Duke of Earl", but was unable to. An executive with Vee-Jay records heard the song and wanted it for distribution as a song on his label. But only as a Gene Chandler record. Vee-Jay wasn't interested in The Dukays.
Meanwhile, the previously recorded "Nite Owl" was on the charts, putting Chandler in more of a dilemma. Should he stick with his bandmates, or go solo? He tried to do both. He recorded with The Dukays under the name "Gene Dixon", and recorded solo as "Gene Chandler".
When VeeJay was finally able to release "Duke of Earl", it sent it out as a Gene Chandler song, though the Dukays had recorded it. The song sold a million copies in just over one month. "The Duke" was born.
After spending 3 weeks at number one on the Billboard Magazine charts, Chandler got a cape, a monocle, a top hat, and a cane. He simply became "The Duke of Earl". His concerts were legendary for pulling in the crowd, who were initially there to hear "Duke", but he made them wait until the last song.
Occasionally he would come out for another encore, usually "Rainbow". "Rainbow" was one of Chandler's collaborations with Curtis Mayfield, and the only song Chandler has ever recorded three times. Each time the song has been re-recorded, it became a hit all over again.
Chandler left Vee Jay and recorded for Constellation Records (which was bought by Chess Records) and for Brunswick Records. In the end, he wound up on two record labels at the same time. This left the record labels with having to work out a compromise. It was decided that the companies would alternate Chandler's releases, a new one from Brunswick, followed by a re-release from Chess.
After a number of years on the road, Chandler decided to become more involved with the business end of the music industry. He produced, wrote, arranged, and started his own record label, Bamboo Records. With Bamboo, he had a major hit in 1969 with Mel and Tim's recording of "Backfield in Motion". By 1970, Gene Chandler was ready to be on the other side of the microphone again. He signed as an artist with Mercury Records, and recorded "Groovy Situation".
The hits he recorded and produced got him The National Association of Television and Radio Announcers Producer of the Year award in 1970. It should be noted that Chandler was nominated with Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff, and Norman Whitfield, very successful producers at that time, working with The Temptations and the Philadelphia soul sound.
Chandler went on to have a number of disco era hits, including "Get Down", "When You're #1", "Does She Have A Friend?" and "Rainbow '80", though most of these were more popular in England at the time. At that time, he was also the Executive Vice President of Chi-Sound Records. He worked a lot with reggae star Johnny Nash.
In the late 1970s, even while he was putting hits on the disco charts, the nostalgia craze began. Legendary DJ Wolfman Jack put together a traveling show of "oldies" acts, and Gene Chandler joined them in the travels around the country.
He still performs in Chicago, Las Vegas, Nevada, and elsewhere around the US. He also still wears the cape.
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NOPACTalent acts as a Celebrity Speakers Bureau and Athlete Booking agency for corporate functions, appearances, private events and speaking engagements. NOPACTalent does not claim or represent itself as Gene Chandler’s speakers bureau, agent, manager or management company for Gene Chandler or any celebrity on this website. NOPACTalent represents organizations seeking to hire motivational speakers, athletes, celebrities and entertainers for private corporate events, celebrity endorsements, personal appearances, and speaking engagements.
