The Styrous® Viewfinder: 45 RPMs 98: Gene Chandler & the Dukays ~ Duke of Earl

December 4, 2025

45 RPMs 98: Gene Chandler & the Dukays ~ Duke of Earl

The Dukays - ca 1964
Left to right: Claude McCrae, James Lowe, Earl Edwards & Richard Dixon

On Monday, December 4, 1961, Gene Chandler (Eugene Dixon) released his phenomenal hit, Duke of Earl, the best known of his songs. He subsequently dubbed himself "The Duke of Earl". The song was written by Chandler, Bernice Williams, and Earl Edwards.

The song originated from warm-up exercises by the Dukays, a vocal group that included Chandler (under his original name, Eugene Dixon) and Earl Edwards and that had already had some success on the R&B chart. The group would regularly warm up by singing "Do do do do..." in different keys. On one occasion, Dixon changed the syllables he was singing to include Earl's name, and the chant gradually became "Du..du..du..Duke of Earl".

The Dukays' record label chose instead to release Nite Owl, offering Dixon the option of releasing Duke of Earl as a solo artist. Dixon changed his name to Gene Chandler (a surname taken from that of the actor Jeff Chandler), and the song was released at the end of 1961

The meaning of the Duke of Earl lyrics is that the singer is a confident, charismatic, and smooth character who believes nothing can stop him. The title "Duke of Earl" was chosen because it was inspired by a band member named Earl.

The title was played up on the sleeve accompanying the record, with Chandler dressed up in fancy clothes and sporting a monocle on his face in the manner of a British peer, as the title and song implied he was.

Gene Chandler ~ Duke of Earl

45 RPM record cover

Musicians on the record included Floyd Morris on piano, Lefty Bates, Phil Upchurch (who died last month) and Kermit Chandler (the nephew of Chris Chandler) on guitar, Al Duncan on drums, and Cliff Davis and John Board on sax.

During his 3-album stint with Brunswick Records, which lasted from 1967 to 1969, Chandler racked up seven Top 40 R&B singles, including the Top 5 R&B smash Nothing Can Stop Me (which was also a Top 20 Pop single), The Girl Don’t Care and the Barbara Acklin duet From The Teacher To The Preacher, the latter two breaking into the R&B Top 20. His tenure with Brunswick may have been brief but he made a huge impact during that time.

Duke of Earl lyrics

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
Duke, Duke, Duke of Earl

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

Yes-a, I, oh I'm gonna love you, oh oh
Come on let me hold you darlin'
'Cause I'm the Duke of Earl
So hey yea yea yeah

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

Yes-a, I, oh I'm gonna love you, oh oh
Nothing can stop me now
'Cause I'm the Duke of Earl
So hey yeah yeah yeah

Well, I, oh I'm gonna love you, oh oh
Nothing can stop me now
'Cause I'm the Duke of Earl
So hey yeah yeah yeah

Songwriters: Bernice Williams / Earl Edwards / Eugene Dixon

Tracklist:

Side 1:

A - Duke Of Earl, written by Williams*, Edwards*, Dixon* - 2:22

Side 2:

B - Kissin' In The Kitchen, written by B. Williams* - 2:15

Companies, etc.

Published By – Conrad
Published By – Karlan

Credits:

Producer – Bill Sheppard

Barcode and Other Identifiers

Matrix / Runout (Label side A): 61-2172
Matrix / Runout (Label side B): 61-2173
Rights Society: BMI

Gene Chandler – Duke Of Earl / Kissin' In The Kitchen
Label: Vee Jay Records – VJ 416
Format: Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM
Country: US
Released: 1961
Genre: Rock, Funk / Soul
Style: Doo Wop

Viewfinder links:

Gene Chandler

Jeff Chandler

Earl Edwards

Bernice Williams

Net links:

Chicago Reader ~ Music People: nothing has stopped the Duke of Earl

Quora ~ What does "Duke of Earl" refer to, why do black people often use this term?

Soul Tracks ~ Chris Chandler

YouTube links:

Gene Chandler ~

Duke of Earl

Duke of Earl (live)

Kissin' In The Kitchen

Styrous® ~ Thursday, December 4, 2025