Chandler attended Englewood High School (later known as Englewood Technical Prep Academy) on Chicago's south side. He began performing in the early 1950s 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 U.S. 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 the Chicago based Nat Records. The first single was titled "The Girl Is a Devil." In 1961, Nat Records released a song titled "Nite Owl", and the band went back to the recording studio to record once more.
The Duke is born
At the time, Nat Records wanted to release the new song "Duke of Earl", but was unable to. An executive with Vee-Jay Records, Calvin Carter, heard the song and wanted it for distribution as a song on his record label, but only as a Gene Chandler record. Vee-Jay were not interested in The Dukays.
Meanwhile, the previously recorded "Nite Owl" was on the charts, putting Chandler in a dilemma. He thus 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 by Chandler, even though the Dukays had recorded it. The song sold a million copies in just over one month."The Duke" was born. Chandler can be seen in the full 'Duke' outfit singing "The Duke of Earl" in the 1962 movie, Don't Knock the Twist, starring Chubby Checker.
The Duke lives on
After spending three 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" and his concerts drew a large crowd. Occasionally he would come out for an 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 and then for Chess and Brunswick Records. He wound up recording for Chess and Brunswick 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 release from Chess. In 1964, he had a Top 20 pop hit with the Curtis Mayfield produced "Just Be True"; another Top 20 pop hit in 1965 with "Nothing Can Stop Me", another Mayfield song, and hits throughout the 1960s with the songs "What Now", "A Man's Temptation", "Bless Our Love", and "You Can't Hurt Me No More". He also had success with his cover of James Brown's "There Was A Time" (taken from his 1968 Brunswick album of the same name); and "You Threw A Lucky Punch" - Chandler's answer song to the Mary Wells' Motown hit "You Beat Me To The Punch". Almost all of these songs were Top 5 R&B hits. To date, Chandler has had more than 30 chart hits. Throughout his career, he has maintained a close personal friendship with Mayfield, Butler, and the other members of The Impressions (Sam Gooden and Fred Cash), and they could be frequently heard as background singers on his recordings. In the late 1960s he also recorded a couple of reasonably successful duets with Barbara Acklin.
In 1970, Chandler teamed with Butler for the album Gene and Jerry: One on One on the Mercury label . He also guest starred with Mayfield, Butler and the group on the live album: Curtis in Chicago (1973).
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 he had another major hit in 1970 on Mercury. "Groovy Situation", was a pop and R&B success (reaching #12 and #8 respectively), his second biggest hit after "Duke Of Earl". This disc sold over one million copies, and received a gold disc awarded by the R.I.A.A. in November 1970.
The hits he recorded and produced earned 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, who were 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."[1] Most of these were more popular in the United Kingdom. At that time, he was also the Executive Vice President of Chi-Sound Records, and worked with reggae star, Johnny Nash.
Revival
In the late 1970s, even whilst he was placing hits on the disco chart, the nostalgia craze began. DJ Wolfman Jack put together a traveling show of "oldies" acts, and Chandler joined them in the travels around the country.
In 1997 Chandler was inducted as a Pioneer Award honoree into the Rhythm and Blues Foundation.
In 2002, his #1 hit recording of "Duke Of Earl" was inducted into the Grammy Hall Of Fame.
He still performs in Chicago, Las Vegas and elsewhere around the U.S.
"Duke of Earl" was played in the 1988 film, Hairspray. It was also sampled by Cypress Hill, on the song "Hand on the Pump" on their 1991 album, Cypress Hill. Equally, Chandler's song "Hallelujah, I Love Her So" was also sampled by Cypress Hill, on the song "Legalize It" on their 1993 album, Black Sunday. "Groovy Situation" appeared on 2004's Anchorman: Music from the Motion Picture
Does She Have a Friend For Me?
Gene Chandler Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I would do anything just to be in your place
You're my best friend you know that i would do you no wrong
There's a moon out tonight I don't wanna be alone
Ask her, ask her
Does she have a friend for me
Does she, does she
We could fly down to ginos
Maybe date and a show
We could come back to my place
Where the lights are down low
I know love is a gamble, got my eyes open wide
Spin my heart like a wheel
I feel lucky tonight
Ask her, ask her
Does she have a friend for me
Does she, does she
Does she have a friend for me
I just wanna know
Cause that pretty little thing you got there
All i know is somethin' would happen
Does she (does she does she) oh does she
I got a little money in my pocket
And i wanna...
Is that one out there for me
You could do me the favor
Get me sick off the blues
Here's a dime for the phone
I don't think she'd refuse
You're my best friend i know that
You would do me no wrong
I just want me a woman i could call my own
Ask her ask her
Does she have a friend for me
Does she does she
Does she have a friend for me
I just wanna know
Cause that pretty little thing you got there
All i know is somethin' would happen
Does she (does she does she) oh does she
I got a little money in my pocket
And i wanna...
Is that one out there for me
Ask her ask her
Does she have a friend for me
Does she does she
Does she have a friend for me
In "Does She Have a Friend for Me?" Gene Chandler expresses his interest in a woman who has captured his attention. He describes her as easy on the eyes with style and grace. He admires her so much that he fantasizes about being in her place. Despite his infatuation, Chandler assures his friend that he would do him no wrong because he considers him to be his best friend. However, Chandler doesn't want to be alone on this particular night and asks his friend if the woman he is interested in has a friend for him. He suggests they could go on a date to Gino's or come back to his place where they can be together in a relaxed setting. Chandler acknowledges that love is a gamble but is optimistic and feels lucky tonight.
The repetition of the phrase "ask her, ask her" throughout the song emphasizes Chandler's desperation to meet someone. The line "you're my best friend, you know that I would do you no wrong" shows how important friendship and loyalty are to him. The line "spin my heart like a wheel" is a metaphor for how he feels about love. Chandler's specific mention of Gino's references an Italian restaurant in Chicago that was well-known for its live music scene during the 1950s and 1960s.
Line by Line Meaning
She's so easy to look at, she's got style, she's got grace
She is incredibly good-looking, her fashion sense is remarkable, and she has an air of elegance.
I would do anything just to be in your place
I envy you so much that I long to be you, and I am willing to go to great lengths to take your place.
You're my best friend you know that I would do you no wrong
You are my closest ally, and I promise to not cause you any harm.
There's a moon out tonight I don't wanna be alone
The moon is shining, and being alone is not an option for me as I long for company.
Ask her, ask her
Please inquire on my behalf.
Does she have a friend for me
I am interested to know if she has a friend who is available and could be a potential romantic partner for me.
We could fly down to ginos
We could travel to Gino's.
Maybe date and a show
Perhaps we could have dinner and attend a performance together.
We could come back to my place
We could return to my home.
Where the lights are down low
My place has dim lighting.
I know love is a gamble, got my eyes open wide
I am aware that love is risky, but I am keeping a sharp lookout.
Spin my heart like a wheel
I am willing to take a chance on love.
I feel lucky tonight
I believe that good fortune is on my side tonight.
Cause that pretty little thing you got there
Your attractive companion sparks my interest.
All I know is something would happen
I am confident that something could take place between us.
I got a little money in my pocket
I have some cash at hand.
And I wanna...
And I desire a romantic companionship.
Is that one out there for me
Could there be someone for me out there?
You could do me the favor
Would you do me a favor?
Get me sick off the blues
Help me chase away my sadness.
Here's a dime for the phone
Take this coin to cover the cost of calling.
I don't think she'd refuse
I am confident that she would not turn down my offer.
I just want me a woman I could call my own
I desire to find a woman who will be exclusively mine.
Writer(s): J. Thompson
Contributed by Keira R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@dugchant5281
This is not Disco . This a class piece of Soul. Pure Soul
@harryoleary9209
I fully agree classy soul. You could play it at a disco, because it is a great tune. Flipside great also.
@tomthomassony8607
Thanking good old Tony Blackburn and his soul show on BBC Radio London for raising this classic from the depths of my consciousness.
@diomedea29
Tony Blackburn is a bloke with some seriously good taste in music
@kaneykane619
Heard it on Craig Charles soul show about 7 years ago such a cracker of a Tune 👍🏻
@headphones259
If your 45 plus,you was bought up with tunes like this that makes it as mine a favourite...
Take a bow👊🕺
@jadiellima8922
I'm 26, got to this because of reggae version!
@brosresist7711
Awesome time we had with music like this.
@smalliebiggs3836
I grew up on this song, I was 20 yrs old 1980.
@4evertemps
Very under rated . After The Duke this man put out some of the best songs ever!!! Not only a special singer he is a vet who served his country!!!! Love Geno