Earl Nelson (September 8, 1928 – July 12, 2008), who also
performed as Jackie Lee, Chip Nelson, Earl Cosby and Jay Dee, was an American
soul singer and songwriter. He started his career in the doo-wop group the
Hollywood Flames in the 1950s before founding the R&B duo Bob & Earl
with Bobby Byrd. As Jackie Lee, he was best known for his hit song "The
Duck" (#14 Pop, #4 R&B).
Born in Lake Charles, LA, on September 8, 1928, Nelson cut
his teeth singing in his church's gospel choir. His family relocated to Los
Angeles in 1937, and at age 17 he enlisted in the U.S. Army, working on the
construction of the Panama Canal. Upon returning to civilian life he began
singing with a variety of Los Angeles-area doo wop and R&B acts, usually in
collaboration with vocalist Bobby Byrd (aka Bobby Day). Nelson's lead tenor
graces the Hollywood Flames' 1954 single "Buzz Buzz Buzz," and a year
later he and Byrd teamed as the Voices to record "Two Things I Love"
for the Cash label.
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This incarnation of Bob & Earl first recorded in 1962,
cutting a pair of singles ("Don't Ever Leave Me" and "Deep Down
Inside") for the Tempe label. After a move to the Marc imprint they
recorded "Harlem Shuffle" in 1963, with their friend Barry White on
piano, arrangement by Gene Page and production by Fred Smith.
Relf admitted that the track was basically a reworking of
"Slauson Shuffletime" by Round Robin, with the location switched from
Slauson to the better known New York neighborhood. The gritty, sinuous track
remains an R&B landmark, reaching the U.S. Top 50 and becoming an even
bigger hit in the U.K. In a further
twist, Bob & Earl later sued Smith, and each won a third of the royalties
derived from the track.
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(Edited from Wikipedia, AllMusic & The Independent)
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