Doo Wop

Well, the “Duke of Earl” by Gene Chandler is our idea of royalty — doo wop royalty, that is.

The song “Duke of Earl” started as a vocal exercise by the Dukays, a group that included singers Gene Dixon and Earl Edwards, both of whom already had some success on the R&B chart. They  would warm up by singing “Do do do do…” in different keys. Dixon changed the syllables as he was singing to include Earl’s name, and the exercise eventually became the words “Du..du..du..Duke of Earl.” The pair worked on the song with songwriter and mentor Bernice William, and then recorded it with the other members of the Dukays. The record was never released, but Dixon decided to go solo with it.  Dixon changed his name to Gene Chandler.  The solo version, released late in 1961, rose quickly to #1 on both the pop and R&B charts in 1962. Chandler continues to tour and perform.

Here are the lyrics to “Duke of Earl” by Gene Chandler:

“Duke, Duke, Duke, Duke of Earl
Duke, Duke, Duke of Earl
Duke, Duke, Duke of Earl

Duke, Duke, Duke of Earl
Duke, Duke, Duke of Earl
Duke, Duke, Duke of Earl
Duke, Duke, Duke of Earl

As I walk through this world
Nothing can stop the Duke of Earl
And you, you are my girl
And no one can hurt you, oh no

Yes, I’m gonna love you, oh oh
Come on let me hold you darlin’
‘Cause I’m the Duke of Earl

So yeah …

And when I hold you
You will be my Duchess, Duchess of Earl
We’ll walk through my dukedom
And the paradise we will share

Yes, oh, I, I’m gonna love you oh oh
Nothing can stop me now
‘Cause I’m the Duke of Earl

So yeah…

Duke, Duke, Duke of Earl
Duke, Duke, Duke of Earl
Duke, Duke, Duke of Earl

I’m, oh, I’m gonna love you
Nothing can stop me now
‘Cause I’m the Duke of Earl

So yeah…”

For More Golden Oldies Music

The Daily Doo Wop Rec Room has daily featured doo wop music, rock and roll hits, R&B, or rockabilly songs that were hits during the first era of rock and roll (that is, from about 1952 until the British invasion in 1964). After a song is featured, it then goes into the juke box. You are welcome to listen to any of the 40+ selections there. Every weekend, there is a Golden Oldies Juke Box Saturday Night, and the juke box is full of song requests from the 1950s and 1960s.

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