Gene Chandler, born Eugene Dixon, had a happy change of fortune as well as a change of outfit in 1962 thanks to his audacious hit song Duke of Earl. Who wouldn't like to be royalty? ( I myself have always wanted to be a Russian grandduke, but so far that hasn't worked out for me.) Chicago-born Chandler was singing with a group called the Dukays when he got the chance to record Duke of Earl, which rapidly sold a million copies and moved to No.1 on the charts.
After his big success, Chandler began performing dressed in a cape and top hat and sporting a cane and a monocle as he performed around the nation. During the 1970s, disc jockey Wolfman Jack toured with a number of performers from the 1960s and '50s, including Chandler. Duke of Earl was featured in the movie Hairspray (1988). Chandler has written, arranged and produced music since those days. He has owned his own label, Bamboo Records, and has been an executive for Chi-Sound Records. He still makes occasional singing appearances--dressed as the Duke, of course.
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