Bernice Williams
Encyclopedia
Bernice Williams is an American
songwriter
, who wrote the 1960s song "Duke of Earl
" along with Gene Chandler
and Earl Edwards. She also wrote "Night Owl". Bernice wrote three Billboard Hot 100
songs in the 1960s.
Chandler was discovered by Williams. Under her professional guidance, Chandler was introduced to agent Bill Sheppard, and Sheppard found a slot for Chandler as the lead singer with a doo-wop group called the Dukays. "Night Owl" (also known as "Nite Owl"), was released on Nat Records, and it entered the Billboard Top 100, peaking at number 73 in February 1962. "Duke of Earl" appeared as a single
in November 1961, with a song called "Kissin' In The Kitchen" (also written by Bernice Williams) on the B-side
. "Duke of Earl" was a major hit, with one million copies sold by the end of the calendar year; the song topped both the U.S.
pop and R&B charts in February 1962.
Williams was also responsibe for the discovery of The Starlets
, an American girl group from Chicago
, Illinois
. The group came together in 1961, and auditioned for Williams. She wrote them "Better Tell Him No", which was released on Pam Records that year. The record peaked at #38 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Williams has written over 200 songs. She lives in Chicago
with her daughter, and continues to write music, including the fantastic "BBQ Party".
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, who wrote the 1960s song "Duke of Earl
Duke of Earl
"Duke of Earl" is a 1962 number-one song, originally by Gene Chandler. It is the best known of Chandler's songs, and he subsequently dubbed himself 'The Duke of Earl'. The song was penned by Bernice Williams, Eugene Dixon, and Earl Edwards....
" along with Gene Chandler
Gene Chandler
Gene Chandler also known as "The Duke of Earl" or simply "The Duke", is an American R&B and soul singer-songwriter, producer and record executive. He is one of the leading exponents of the 1960s Chicago soul scene...
and Earl Edwards. She also wrote "Night Owl". Bernice wrote three Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
songs in the 1960s.
Chandler was discovered by Williams. Under her professional guidance, Chandler was introduced to agent Bill Sheppard, and Sheppard found a slot for Chandler as the lead singer with a doo-wop group called the Dukays. "Night Owl" (also known as "Nite Owl"), was released on Nat Records, and it entered the Billboard Top 100, peaking at number 73 in February 1962. "Duke of Earl" appeared as a single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
in November 1961, with a song called "Kissin' In The Kitchen" (also written by Bernice Williams) on the B-side
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
. "Duke of Earl" was a major hit, with one million copies sold by the end of the calendar year; the song topped both the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
pop and R&B charts in February 1962.
Williams was also responsibe for the discovery of The Starlets
The Starlets
The Starlets were an American girl group from Chicago, Illinois.The group came together in 1961, and auditioned for a Chicago songwriter, Bernice Williams. Williams wrote them the tune "Better Tell Him No", which was released on Pam Records that year. The record peaked at #38 on the Billboard Hot...
, an American girl group from Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. The group came together in 1961, and auditioned for Williams. She wrote them "Better Tell Him No", which was released on Pam Records that year. The record peaked at #38 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Williams has written over 200 songs. She lives in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
with her daughter, and continues to write music, including the fantastic "BBQ Party".