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Gene Chandler: The Duke is born
As the story goes, during their vocal warm-ups, the group would repeat the phrase "doo-doo-doo-doo" at different pitches. Through many repetitions, it began to evolve. Words were added. Melodies began to form. Earl Edwards' name was added. The song that evolved was "Duke of Earl."
At the time Nat Records wanted to release the new song "Duke of Earl", but was unable to. An executive with Vee-Jay records heard the song and wanted it for distribution as a song on his label. But only as a Gene Chandler record. Vee-Jay wasn't interested in The Dukays.
Meanwhile, the previously recorded "Nite Owl" was on the charts, putting Chandler in more of a dillema. Should he stick with his bandmates, or go solo? He tried to do both. He 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 a Gene Chandler song, though the Dukays had recorded it. The song sold a million copies in just over one month. "The Duke" was born.
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