Gene Chandler
Biography
Gene Chandler is remembered by the rock & roll audience almost solely for the classic novelty and doo wop-tinged soul ballad "Duke of Earl"; the unforgettable opening chant of the title leading the way, the song was a number one hit in 1962. He's esteemed by soul fans as one of the leading exponents of the '60s Chicago soul scene, along with Curtis Mayfield and Jerry Butler. Born Eugene Dixon, he was a member of the doo wop group the Dukays and "Duke of Earl" was actually a Dukays recording; Dixon was renamed Gene Chandler and the single bore his credit as a solo singer. Chandler never approached the massive pop success of that chart-topper (although he occasionally entered the Top 20), but he was a big star with the R&B audience with straightforward mid-tempo and ballad soul numbers in the mid-'60s, many of which were written by Curtis Mayfield and produced by Carl Davis. Chandler's success became more fitful after Mayfield stopped penning material for him, although he enjoyed some late-'60s hits and had a monster pop and soul smash in 1970 with "Groovy Situation." His last successes were the far less distinguished disco- and dance-influenced R&B hits "Get Down" (1978) and "Does She Have a Friend?" (1980). . Gene Chandler is remembered by the rock & roll audience almost solely for the classic novelty and doo wop-tinged soul ballad "Duke of Earl"; the unforgettable opening chant of the title leading the way, the song was a number one hit in 1962. He's esteemed by soul fans as one of the leading exponents of the '60s Chicago soul scene, along with Curtis Mayfield and Jerry Butler. Born Eugene Dixon, he was a member of the doo wop group the Dukays and "Duke of Earl" was actually a Dukays recording; Dixon was renamed Gene Chandler and the single bore his credit as a solo singer. Chandler never approached the massive pop success of that chart-topper (although he occasionally entered the Top 20), but he was a big star with the R&B audience with straightforward mid-tempo and ballad soul numbers in the mid-'60s, many of which were written by Curtis Mayfield and produced by Carl Davis. Chandler's success became more fitful after Mayfield stopped penning material for him, although he enjoyed some late-'60s hits and had a monster pop and soul smash in 1970 with "Groovy Situation." His last successes were the far less distinguished disco- and dance-influenced R&B hits "Get Down" (1978) and "Does She Have a Friend?" (1980).
Top Albums |
1. The Duke of ..
| 2. The Very Bes..
| 3. The Girl Don..
| 4. Daddy's Home
| 5. Soul Master
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6. The Chi Soun..
| 7. Gene Chandle..
| 8. Rainbow '80 ..
| 9. 80 / Here's ..
| 10. Together Aga..
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11. The Best of ..
| 12. Walk On With..
| 13. Keep on Smil..
| 14. A Celebratio..
| 15. Duke of Earl..
|
16. Duke of Earl..
|
Top Songs |
| Name | Album | Time | Price | |
1. | Duke of Earl | Original Solid Gold Hits, V.. | 2:25 | $0.99 | |
2. | Groovy Situation | Anchorman: The Legend of Ro.. | 3:43 | $0.99 | |
3. | Duke of Earl | Duke of Earl | 2:27 | $0.99 | |
4. | Groovy Situation | Soul Man: 16 Kings of Solid.. | 2:47 | $0.99 | |
5. | Get Down | Celebration of Soul, V 1 (f.. | 8:17 | $0.99 | |
6. | Duke of Earl | Stand by Me, The Best of th.. | 2:32 | $0.99 | |
7. | Man's Temptation | Doo Wop Soul R&B | 2:45 | $0.99 | |
8. | Duke of Earl | Oldies but Goodies, Vol. 4 | 2:24 | $0.99 | |
9. | Duke of Earl | 50 U.S. Number Ones of the .. | 2:19 | $0.99 | |
10. | Duke of Earl | Heart & Soul of Rock N&.. | 2:24 | $0.99 | |
11. | Candy | Keep on Smilin' | 3:13 | $0.99 | |
12. | Get Down | Keep on Smilin' | 3:11 | $0.99 | |
13. | Duke of Earl | Sock Hop Classics: Golden O.. | 2:23 | $0.99 | |
14. | You Throw a Lucky Punch | Popcorn Shakers 12 | 2:29 | $0.99 | |
15. | Duke of Earl (Re-Recorded) | Sugar Sugar Hits from the 5.. | 2:28 | $0.99 | |
16. | Duke of Earl | Big Mix of Hits, Vol. 1 | 2:23 | $0.99 | |
17. | Tear for Tear | Greatest Big Hits of 1962, .. | 2:01 | $0.69 | |
18. | Duke of Earl | Just the Very Best of Rock,.. | 2:23 | $0.99 | |
19. | You Threw a Lucky Punch | Greatest Big Hits of 1962, .. | 2:30 | $0.69 | |
20. | Rainbow | Greatest Big Hits of 1962, .. | 2:20 | $0.69 | |
21. | Duke of Earl | Hits of 1962, Vol. 3 | 2:26 | $0.99 | |
22. | Duke of Earl | Greatest Big Hits of 1962, .. | 2:10 | $0.69 | |
23. | Duke of Earl (Re-Recorded) | Retro Christmas - '50s .. | 2:28 | $0.99 | |
24. | Duke of Earl | Rolling Back the Years | 2:23 | $0.99 | |
25. | Girl`s a Devil | Walk On With the Duke of Ea.. | 2:25 | $0.99 | |