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
Just Be True
Gene Chandler Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I vowed never to do you wrong, and shall always keep you happy, (together)
Now dear the things that I need are very few
But there is one thing, that I demand of you
Just be true, to me, just be true
Don't be offended from the things I've said
But my dear, I couldn't help but let 'cha know
That if you should leave me, it would hurt me so
nah nah nah nah
I've given you all of me, and and plan to give even more, baby
My true love and a sweet affection, and there's even more in store,
baby
Now all these things for you alone I'd do
And I'd need nothing in return, just as long as you
Just be true, to me, just be true
To me, wo oh wo ooh wo baby,
(fade) to me, be be be be be be be be true
The lyrics to Gene Chandler’s song “Just Be True” suggest a message of love, commitment, and loyalty. The opening line, “We're kids no more baby, we belong you and me together,” suggests that the singer and his beloved are no longer children and now fully belong to each other. It could also represent the beginning of a journey of maturity and growth in which he vows never to do her any wrong and promises to always keep her happy. He asks her to be true to him, suggesting that he wants to build a relationship based on trust and honesty.
As the song progresses, Chandler acknowledges that the things he needs are very few, and there is only one thing that he demands of her, which is to just be true. He warns her not to be offended by the things he has said or that he may say in the future, that he couldn’t help but express his feelings, and that if she should ever leave him, it would hurt him so. Chandler expresses that he has given her all of him, his true love, and sweet affection, which he intends to grow even more. He promises that he needs nothing in return as long as she remains true to him.
Line by Line Meaning
We're kids no more baby, we belong you and me together
Our youth is behind us now, and we are meant to be together
I vowed never to do you wrong, and shall always keep you happy, (together)
I promised to never hurt you and will always make sure you are happy
Now dear the things that I need are very few
I don't require much to be content
But there is one thing, that I demand of you
But I do need one thing from you
Just be true, to me, just be true
Remain faithful and honest to me
Don't be offended from the things I've said
Please don't take offense to what I have said
For I know it will never be that bad
I know it won't ever get too serious
But my dear, I couldn't help but let 'cha know
But I had to tell you how I feel
That if you should leave me, it would hurt me so
Your departure would cause me immense pain
nah nah nah nah
N/A
I've given you all of me, and and plan to give even more, baby
I've already given you my all, and will continue to do so
My true love and a sweet affection, and there's even more in store, baby
I have genuine love and tenderness for you, and have even more to give
Now all these things for you alone I'd do
I'd do all of this for you and you alone
And I'd need nothing in return, just as long as you
I don't expect anything in exchange, as long as you
Just be true, to me, just be true
Stay loyal and truthful to me
To me, wo oh wo ooh wo baby,
To me, my love
(fade) to me, be be be be be be be be true
Stay faithful to me
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CURTIS MAYFIELD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Amanda Galeana
We're kids no more baby, we belong you and me together
I vowed never to do you wrong, and shall always keep you happy, (together)
Now dear the things that I need are very few
But there is one thing, that I demand of you
Just be true, to me, just be true
Don't be offended from the things I've said
For I know it will never be that bad
But my dear, I couldn't help but let 'cha know
That if you should leave me, it would hurt me so
nah nah nah nah
I've given you all of me, and and plan to give even more, baby
My true love and a sweet affection, and there's even more in store,
baby
Now all these things for you alone I'd do
And I'd need nothing in return, just as long as you
Just be true, to me, just be true
To me, wo oh wo ooh wo baby,
(fade) to me, be be be be be be be be true
Compositores: Curtis Mayfield
Freddie Brown
February 2, 2023
"Just be true" Wonderful Curtis Mayfield composition. A brilliant orchestration with superb string & Horn arrangement., piano and strumming-rhythm guitar throughout. Also, Check-Out my recommended All-Chicago-Soul playlist this hour too.
Curtis Mayfield & The Impressions
1. "Never too much love."
2. " The Chi-Lites, "Pretty girl."
3. The Knight Brothers "Temptation 'bout to get me." 4. Walter Jackson,
" That's what Mama's said".
5. The Five Stairsteps, "Behind Curtains"
6. Lil Ben & The Cheers " I Made up my mind. 7. The Artistics "I'm gonna miss you." 8. Walter Jackson "What would you do." Yeah! this is the music, and artists who helped ushered-in the Musical Soundtrack of my youth and Soul generation. --Can you dig-it?
Monique Namahoe
THIS SONG REMINDS ME WHEN MY MOM WOULD BE CLEANING HOUSE ALWAYS PLAYING THE GOOD JAMMZ...MISS THOSE DAYS
kingkong
I am still listening in 2021 - January 9th! Reminds me of my husband when he was in the Marines from January, 1964 - February, 1968! I was in high school!
Margie Morris
I loooved this song back in the day! My husband was in the army and this was our song!
Buzz Davis
60's Monster. Still slaying dragons in 2020. Old Skool Rules.
bromancollins
this song gives me the shivers every time I hear it! Much Respect !!!!
Wade Genwright
Magnificent Masterpiece Designed To Devastate Your Soul.
Kenneth Anderson
Smoky And Curtis Worte The Hits!
SILLYMETV
This song just give me gooos bumps love it thank you for writing it Garry
Rupert Daley - Slow Soul
Sensational tune ✔
Theron English
A great song written by Curtis Mayfield