Duke Of Earl

This was first recorded by The Dukays for Nat Records in 1960. Vee Jay Records bought it and had one of their members, Eugene Dixon, change his name to Gene Chandler and take credit for it.

The song was not intended to be released with it was first sung: it was a method of doing vocal exercises until Dixon ad-libbed verses one day.

The "Duke" is Earl Edwards, the founder of The Dukays.

Eugene Dixon got the name Gene Chandler from actor Jeff Chandler.

Vee Jay bought the master tapes to Duke of Earl and wanted to release it immediately, but Nat Records did not want the Dukays' name on the record (as "Night Owl" was struggling to make the charts); so, the producers offered Eugene Dixon a choice: Start a solo career with "Duke of Earl" and be replaced as lead singer of the Dukays by a man named Charles Davis, orStay with the Dukays and have Davis start HIS solo career with "Duke of Earl." Chandler chose option #2 with the blessings of the group.

Shortly after the release of "Night Owl," Vee Jay Records bought the publishing rights to the song. Its A&R head listened to all the Dukays' tunes and was impressed with "Duke of Earl" to the point of wanting to buy the master and release it as a single right away.

"The Girl Is a Devil"/"Big Lie" was the first Dukays single to be released by Nat Records in early 1961, peaking at #64 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart; "Night Owl"/"Festival of Love" was released soon afterward (it barely made it onto the charts).

This was one of 6 songs that the Dukays recorded for Nat Records in 1960. The other five were "The Girl Is a Devil," "Night Owl," "Kissin' in the Kitchen," "Festival of Love," and "The Big Lie." (thanks, Brad Wind - Miami, FL, for above 4)

Sandwiched between The Paul Butterfield Blues Band and Jimi Hendrix at Woodstock in 1969, Doo-Wop cover band Sha-Na-Na performed to what was left of the crowd on Monday morning. This was one of the songs they played - others included "Jailhouse Rock" and "At The Hop."