Gene Chandler..........

Gene Chandler

Gene Chandler (born Eugene Dixon, July 6, 1937, Chicago, Illinois) also known as "The Duke of Earl" or simply "The Duke", is an American R&B and soul singer-songwriter, producer and record executive. He is one of the leading exponents of the 1960s Chicago soul scene. He is best known for his million-selling hits, "Duke Of Earl," and "Groovy Situation," and his associations with the Dukays, the Impressions and Curtis Mayfield. A Grammy Hall Of Fame inductee, and winner of the National Association of Television and Radio Announcers Producer of the Year Award, and the Rhythm and Blues Foundation's Pioneer Award, Chandler has had more than thirty chart hits.

Chandler attended Englewood Technical Prep Academy High School on Chicago's south side. He began performing in the early 1950s with The Gaytones. In 1957 he joined a doo-wop group, The Dukays, with James Lowe, Shirley Jones, Earl Edwards and Ben Broyles, soon becoming their lead singer. After his draft into the US Army he returned to Chicago in 1960 and rejoined The Dukays.

The Dukays were offered a recording contract by Nat Records and recorded a single, "The Girl Is a Devil" (1961), followed by two other singles including "Nite Owl". "Nite Owl" entered the charts and he recorded with The Dukays under the name 'Gene Dixon' and as a solo act as Gene Chandler. Vee-Jay Records released the Dukays recording of "Duke of Earl" but credited the song solely to Chandler. "Duke of Earl" sold a million copies in just over one month.

After spending three weeks at number one on the Billboard Magazine charts, Chandler purchased a cape, a monocle, a top hat and a cane and became "The Duke of Earl". Chandler can be seen in the full 'Duke' outfit singing "The Duke of Earl" in the movie Don't Knock the Twist 1962, starring Chubby Checker. His concerts became popular and he performed encores, usually "Rainbow '65," one of his collaborations with Curtis Mayfield. This song was recorded by Chandler three times during his career, becoming a hit each time.

Chandler left Vee Jay and recorded for Constellation Records, Chess and Brunswick Records: these companies alternated with each other when releasing Chandler's recordings. He had a Top 20 Pop hit with "Just Be True" (1964), produced by Curtis Mayfield. "Nothing Can Stop Me" (1965), also written by Mayfield, became a Top 20 pop hit as well. More hits followed such as "What Now", "Rainbow", "I Fooled You This Time", "Think Nothing About It"', "A Man's Temptation", "To Be A Lover", "Rainbow '65" (recorded live at Chicago's Regal Theatre), "Bless Our Love", and "You Can't Hurt Me No More", during the next five years. These songs helped Gene to successfully shed his "Duke Of Earl" typecasting, and become a major R&B star. Chandler also had success with his hit cover of James Brown's "There Was A Time" and "You Threw A Lucky Punch", which was released as an "answer" song to Mary Wells's Motown hit "You Beat Me To The Punch". In 1970, Chandler recorded the album Gene and Jerry: One on One, with Jerry Butler.

After a number of years on the road, Chandler decided to become more involved with production of music. He produced, wrote, arranged and had a major hit with "Groovy Situation" (1970), which reached #12 on the pop charts pop and #8 on the R&B charts, becoming his second biggest hit since "Duke Of Earl". "Groovy Situation" sold more than a 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, against competition from other esteemed nominees including Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff and Norman Whitfield. He also appeared with The Impressions and Curtis Mayfield on the live album Curtis in Chicago (1973). Chandler appeared on Arthur Louis's album Knocking on Heaven's Door (1974) alongside Eric Clapton. Later he had success with disco music, creating hits such as "Get Down" (1978), "When You're #1", "Does She Have A Friend?" and "Rainbow '80". 

During this time he was also the Executive Vice President of Chi Sound Records and worked with reggae star Johnny Nash. In the late 1970s an interest in older musicians inspired US DJ Wolfman Jack put together a tour including vintage acts featuring Chandler.

"Duke of Earl" was sampled by Cypress Hill, on the song "Hand on the Pump" from their album Cypress Hill (1991) and also Chandler's song "Hallelujah, I Love Her So" for their album Black Sunday (1993). In Argentina, Cris Morena was the host of a popular teenage programe 'Jugate Conmigo' the song was included on the main intro on the fiction novel, inside the program called: "Life College" (1994). In 1997 Chandler was inducted as a Pioneer Award honoree into the Rhythm and Blues Foundation .Chandler's "Tomorrow I May Not Feel the Same" was sampled by Reflection Eternal on the song "Ghetto Afterlife" from Train of Thought (2000).

In 1998 "Duke of Earl" was included on the soundtrack of Hairspray."Groovy Situation" appeared on Anchorman: Music from the Motion Picture (2004). In the same year "Duke Of Earl" was inducted into the Grammy Hall Of Fame. Groovemaster K. & 88 Keys sampled Chandler's "When You're #1" for their song "Frisco Disco".

Chandler still performs in Chicago, Las Vegas and elsewhere in the US.

One of my all time favourite voices. Here we go with part one............"The Duke", Mr. Gene Chandler.....

After the laughter
Ain't no use
Baby that's love
Bet you never thought
Bless our love (Live-Regal Theater '65)
Bless our love
Buddy ain't it a shame
Check yourself (bonus)
Check yourself
Cowboys to girls
Daddy's home w/ The Dukays/The Duke of Earl
Duke of Earl w/ The Dukays
Eleanor Rigby
Everybody let's dance
Festival of love w/ The Dukays
Fool for you
From teacher to the preacher
Good times
Here come the tears
I can take care of myself
I fooled you this time
I wake up crying
I'll follow you
I'm the traveling kind
If you can't be true (live '65)
If you can't be true
Introduction/Rainbow (live '65)
It's no good for me
It's time to settle down
The big lie w/ The Dukays
The girl don't care


http://www.4shared.com/file/-jsqlssB/gene_chandler_1.html