Gene Chandler (aka Eugene Dixon) was one of the more prominent figures in mid-Twentieth Century Soul and R&B. In 1962, he released his biggest hit – The Duke of Earl. Following this award winning number one billboard hit, he began to refer to himself as the Duke of Earl. However, according to court documents in Cook County, Illinois, the Duke of Earl had a very troubled life, from felony convictions for Heroine possession to fathering well over 20 children by many women. Late in life, he married a wealthy real estate mogul, Lilli Kinnard, who already had children of her own.
Just before his wealthy wife passed away from cancer, her will mysteriously was changed to entirely disinherit her children, leaving millions to the Duke. In fact, the new will made no mention of her children and instead named several of Chandler’s children from prior relationships as successor executors. Even more shocking, the attorneys who drafted the new will were the same ones that helped the Duke negotiate his prenuptial agreement with Kinnard.
Today, Chandler is still embroiled in an ongoing will contest case and several supplemental proceedings involving allegations of fraudulent transfers of business and real estate assets, unlawful attempts to defraud creditors, and undue influence. This case, however, teaches a couple invaluable lessons.