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
Duke Of Earl
Gene Chandler Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Duke, Duke, Duke of Earl
Duke, Duke, Duke of Earl
Duke, Duke, Duke of Earl
Duke, Duke, Duke of Earl
Duke, Duke, Duke of Earl
Duke, Duke, Duke of Earl
As I walk through this world
Nothing can stop the Duke of Earl
And-a you, you are my girl
And no one can hurt you, oh no
Yes-a, I, oh I'm gonna love you, oh oh
Come on let me hold you darlin'
'Cause I'm the Duke of Earl
So hey yea yea yeah
And when I hold you
You'll be my Duchess, Duchess of Earl
We'll walk through my dukedom
And a paradise we will share
Yes-a, I, oh I'm gonna love you, oh oh
Nothing can stop me now
'Cause I'm the Duke of Earl
So hey yeah yeah yeah
Well, I, oh I'm gonna love you, oh oh
Nothing can stop me now
'Cause I'm the Duke of Earl
So hey yeah yeah yeah
The song "Duke of Earl" by Gene Chandler is about a man who is completely confident in himself and his position as the Duke of Earl. He sings about how nothing can stop him as he walks through the world and how he will protect his girl from harm. He promises to love her and hold her, as he is the Duke of Earl, and is in control of everything in his dukedom. He wants her to be his Duchess and together they will walk through his domain and share a paradise.
The lyrics in "Duke of Earl" are a reflection of the feeling of control that people strive to have in their lives. It is a message of being confident in oneself and believing that nothing can come in the way of achieving one's goals. The Duke of Earl is a symbol of power, authority, and the ability to control one's destiny. The song expresses this idea in a catchy, upbeat way that has made it a classic.
Line by Line Meaning
Duke, Duke, Duke, Duke of Earl
The singer, Gene Chandler, repeats 'Duke of Earl' multiple times to establish himself as the Duke and to draw attention to himself.
As I walk through this world
Chandler emphasizes his superiority and confidence as he walks through the world as the Duke of Earl.
Nothing can stop the Duke of Earl
The Duke of Earl feels invincible and unstoppable because of his high status and power.
And-a you, you are my girl
The Duke of Earl has a romantic interest and is telling his girl that she is his property because he is the Duke.
And no one can hurt you, oh no
The Duke of Earl is trying to assure his girl that no one can harm her because he has the power to protect her as the Duke.
Yes-a, I, oh I'm gonna love you, oh oh
The Duke of Earl is expressing his love for his girl and declaring his intentions to be with her forever.
Come on let me hold you darlin'
The Duke of Earl wants to show his dominance and possessiveness over his girl by physically holding her.
'Cause I'm the Duke of Earl
The Duke of Earl constantly reminds his girl that he's royalty and that he deserves her obedience because of his high status.
So hey yea yea yeah
The Duke of Earl is confidently asserting his power and control over his girl.
And when I hold you
The Duke of Earl is implying that the physical touch of his girl is just another way he shows and has power over her.
You'll be my Duchess, Duchess of Earl
The Duke of Earl is giving his girl a lesser title, Duchess, to emphasize his superiority and reinforce his control over her.
We'll walk through my dukedom
The Duke of Earl is asserting his power as ruler of his dukedom and showing his girl how much control he has over the land.
And a paradise we will share
The Duke of Earl believes that his dukedom is like a paradise and that he can give his girl everything she wants as long as she is with him.
Nothing can stop me now
The Duke of Earl feels untouchable and invincible because of his position of power.
Well, I, oh I'm gonna love you, oh oh
The Duke of Earl has no plans of ever letting go of his girl because he loves her too much.
So hey yeah yeah yeah
The Duke of Earl is once again asserting his power and control over his girl with his confident tone.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: EUGENE DIXON, EARL EDWARDS, BERNICE WILLIAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@michaelmatthews7764
My dad had me repeat “duke of earl” while he sang the song in perfect harmony. For years I thought it was his own song. Rest in Power Dad.
@saulrosenberg9445
I like that. We did the same thing. and the Silloquites on a shade (m.s.) Siolloquittes during the song.
@joanmjames2495
Beautiful story and memory!! 😊👍
@DasBoese_1985
I salute your dad for being this awesome! May he rest in peace.
@Littlelewie151
Your dad sounds like he was an awesome guy! RIP
@michaeltorres492
Damnnn. Whenever anyone past amongst any of my friends....... One of my friends would say Rest in Power. Rest in power indeed
@darykinnaman2319
This is a timeless classic. 100 years from now people will listen to this and like it.
@kmanthecoolest9304
96 left
@octavian771
I prefer the Al Bundy version ✌️
@SteveStalzle
I wrote Gene a fan letter, many years ago, and he sent me a signed photo. One of the masters of the doo-wop vocal r and b era.
I looked it up, he's still around, 84 years old.