Gene Chandler – “Groovy Situation” (1970)

Gene Chandler (born Eugene Dixon, July 6, 1937, Chicago, Illinois is an American singer. He is one of the leading exponents of the 1960s Chicago soul scene. He is best known for his million selling # 1 hit, Duke Of Earl, his million-seller Groovy Situation , and his associations with The Dukays ,The Impressions , and Curtis Mayfield. A Grammy Hall Of Fame Inductee, Chandler has had more than thirty chart hits. Chandler attended Englewood Technical Prep Academy High School on Chicago’s south side. He began performing in the early 1950s with The Gaytones. In 1957 he joined a doo-wop group The Dukays with James Lowe, Shirley Jones, Earl Edwards and Ben Broyles, soon becoming their lead singer. After his draft into the US Army he returned to Chicago in 1960 and rejoined The Dukays. The Dukays were offered a recording contract by Nat Records and recorded a single “The Girl Is a Devil” (1961), followed by two other singles including “Nite Owl”. “Nite Owl” entered the charts and he recorded with The Dukays under the name of Gene Dixon and as a solo act as Gene Chandler. Vee-Jay Records released the Dukays recording of “Duke of Earl” but credited the song solely to Chandler. “Duke of Earl” sold a million copies in just over one month. After spending three weeks at number one on the Billboard Magazine charts, Chandler purchased a cape, a monocle, a top hat and a cane and became “The Duke of Earl” . Chandler can be seen in the full ‘Duke’ outfit singing “The Duke of Earl” in the …
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