Lincoln Chase
Encyclopedia
Lincoln R. Chase was an African-American songwriter
and occasional recording artist. As a writer, his most notable songs were "Such a Night
", "Jim Dandy
", and several of Shirley Ellis
' hits in the early 1960s including "The Name Game
" and "The Clapping Song
".
, and signed as a recording artist for Decca Records
in 1951. However, his single releases for Decca and, later, other labels including RCA
, Dawn
, Liberty
and Columbia
were unsuccessful.
As a songwriter, early recordings of his songs included "Rain Down Rain" by Big Maybelle
, and "Salty Tears" by Chuck Willis
(both 1952), and "Mend Your Ways" by Ruth Brown
(May 1953). His first real success came when his song "Such a Night
" was recorded by The Drifters
, featuring Clyde McPhatter
, in November 1953. The song reached #2 on the Billboard
R&B chart in early 1954, and was covered by Johnnie Ray
, whose version reached #1 on the UK singles chart
. A version recorded by Elvis Presley
in 1960 also became a hit in 1964, and the song has subsequently been recorded by many other musicians.
Chase's next major success came with "Jim Dandy
", recorded in 1956 by LaVern Baker
and the Gliders. The song rose to #1 on the US R&B chart and #17 on the Hot 100 in early 1957. Chase also wrote the follow-up record, "Jim Dandy Got Married". He released an album on Liberty Records
in 1957, The Explosive Lincoln Chase, recorded with the Spencer Hagen Orchestra.
In 1959, he met singer Shirley Ellis
, and worked as her manager for the next few years. Contrary to some reports, they were never married. After collaborating on several unsuccessful singles, he wrote the song "The Nitty Gritty
" for her, and it rose to #8 on the Hot 100 in early 1964. Several follow-ups written (or co-written) by Chase - "(That's) What The Nitty Gritty Is", "The Name Game
", and "The Clapping Song (Clap Pat Clap Slap)
" - also made the US pop charts.
In 1973, Chase released a second album under his own name, Lincoln Chase 'N You, on Paramount Records
. Featuring drummer Idris Muhammad
, it has been described as "trippy, odd and funky all at the same time....a bit like a black Frank Zappa
but groovier."
Chase died in 1980 at the age of 54.
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...
and occasional recording artist. As a writer, his most notable songs were "Such a Night
Such a Night
"Such a Night" is a popular song from 1953, written by Lincoln Chase and first recorded by The Drifters.The Drifters' original version, featuring Clyde McPhatter, was recorded in November 1953 and released in January 1954...
", "Jim Dandy
Jim Dandy (song)
"Jim Dandy" is a song written by Lincoln Chase, and was first recorded by American R&B singer LaVern Baker in 1956. It reached the top of the R&B chart and #17 on the pop charts in the U.S...
", and several of Shirley Ellis
Shirley Ellis
Shirley Ellis is an American soul music singer and songwriter of West Indian origin. She is best known for her novelty hits "The Nitty Gritty" , "The Name Game" and "The Clapping Song"...
' hits in the early 1960s including "The Name Game
The Name Game
"The Name Game", or "The Banana Song", is a children's singalong rhyming game that creates variations on a person's name. It was written by U.S...
" and "The Clapping Song
The Clapping Song
"The Clapping Song" is an American song, written by Lincoln Chase, originally arranged by Charles Callello and recorded by Shirley Ellis in 1965. The song was released shortly after Ellis had released "The Name Game"...
".
Career
He studied at the American Academy of Music in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and signed as a recording artist for Decca Records
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
in 1951. However, his single releases for Decca and, later, other labels including RCA
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
, Dawn
Dawn Records
Dawn Records was a subsidiary of Pye Records. Active from 1970 to 1975, it was set up largely as Pye's 'underground and progressive' label, a rival of the EMI and Phonogram equivalents, Harvest and Vertigo....
, Liberty
Liberty Records
Liberty Records was a United States-based record label. It was started by chairman Simon Waronker in 1955 with Al Bennett as president and Theodore Keep as chief engineer. It was reactivated in 2001 in the United Kingdom and had two previous revivals.-1950s:...
and Columbia
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
were unsuccessful.
As a songwriter, early recordings of his songs included "Rain Down Rain" by Big Maybelle
Big Maybelle
Mabel Louise Smith , known professionally as Big Maybelle, was an American R&B singer and pianist. Her 1956 hit single "Candy" received the Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 1999.-Biography:...
, and "Salty Tears" by Chuck Willis
Chuck Willis
Harold "Chuck" Willis was an American blues, rhythm and blues, and rock and roll singer and songwriter. His biggest hits, "C. C. Rider" and "What Am I Living For" , both reached no. 1 in the Billboard R&B chart...
(both 1952), and "Mend Your Ways" by Ruth Brown
Ruth Brown
Ruth Brown was an American pop and R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, composer and actress, noted for bringing a pop music style to R&B music in a series of hit songs for Atlantic Records in the 1950s, such as "So Long", "Teardrops from My Eyes" and " He Treats Your Daughter Mean".For these...
(May 1953). His first real success came when his song "Such a Night
Such a Night
"Such a Night" is a popular song from 1953, written by Lincoln Chase and first recorded by The Drifters.The Drifters' original version, featuring Clyde McPhatter, was recorded in November 1953 and released in January 1954...
" was recorded by The Drifters
The Drifters
The Drifters are a long-lived American doo-wop and R&B/soul vocal group with a peak in popularity from 1953 to 1963, though several splinter Drifters continue to perform today. They were originally formed to serve as Clyde McPhatter's backing group in 1953...
, featuring Clyde McPhatter
Clyde McPhatter
Clyde McPhatter was an American R&B singer, perhaps the most widely imitated R&B singer of the 1950s and 1960s, making him a key figure in the shaping of doo-wop and R&B. He is best known for his solo hit "A Lover's Question"...
, in November 1953. The song reached #2 on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
R&B chart in early 1954, and was covered by Johnnie Ray
Johnnie Ray
Johnnie Ray was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Popular for most of the 1950s, Ray has been cited by critics as a major precursor of what would become rock and roll, for his jazz and blues-influenced music and his animated stage personality.-Early life:John Alvin Ray was born in...
, whose version reached #1 on the UK singles chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. A version recorded by Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
in 1960 also became a hit in 1964, and the song has subsequently been recorded by many other musicians.
Chase's next major success came with "Jim Dandy
Jim Dandy (song)
"Jim Dandy" is a song written by Lincoln Chase, and was first recorded by American R&B singer LaVern Baker in 1956. It reached the top of the R&B chart and #17 on the pop charts in the U.S...
", recorded in 1956 by LaVern Baker
LaVern Baker
LaVern Baker was an American rhythm and blues singer, who had several hit records on the pop chart in the 1950s and early 1960s. Her most successful records were "Tweedlee Dee" , "Jim Dandy" , and "I Cried a Tear" .-Early life:She was born Delores LaVern Baker in Chicago, Illinois...
and the Gliders. The song rose to #1 on the US R&B chart and #17 on the Hot 100 in early 1957. Chase also wrote the follow-up record, "Jim Dandy Got Married". He released an album on Liberty Records
Liberty Records
Liberty Records was a United States-based record label. It was started by chairman Simon Waronker in 1955 with Al Bennett as president and Theodore Keep as chief engineer. It was reactivated in 2001 in the United Kingdom and had two previous revivals.-1950s:...
in 1957, The Explosive Lincoln Chase, recorded with the Spencer Hagen Orchestra.
In 1959, he met singer Shirley Ellis
Shirley Ellis
Shirley Ellis is an American soul music singer and songwriter of West Indian origin. She is best known for her novelty hits "The Nitty Gritty" , "The Name Game" and "The Clapping Song"...
, and worked as her manager for the next few years. Contrary to some reports, they were never married. After collaborating on several unsuccessful singles, he wrote the song "The Nitty Gritty
Nitty Gritty (song)
"The Nitty Gritty" is a 1963 song written by Lincoln Chase and recorded by Shirley Ellis. Released by Congress Records, it reached #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1964....
" for her, and it rose to #8 on the Hot 100 in early 1964. Several follow-ups written (or co-written) by Chase - "(That's) What The Nitty Gritty Is", "The Name Game
The Name Game
"The Name Game", or "The Banana Song", is a children's singalong rhyming game that creates variations on a person's name. It was written by U.S...
", and "The Clapping Song (Clap Pat Clap Slap)
The Clapping Song
"The Clapping Song" is an American song, written by Lincoln Chase, originally arranged by Charles Callello and recorded by Shirley Ellis in 1965. The song was released shortly after Ellis had released "The Name Game"...
" - also made the US pop charts.
In 1973, Chase released a second album under his own name, Lincoln Chase 'N You, on Paramount Records
Paramount Records
Paramount Records was an American record label, best known for its recordings of African-American jazz and blues in the 1920s and early 1930s, including such artists as Ma Rainey and Blind Lemon Jefferson.-Early years:...
. Featuring drummer Idris Muhammad
Idris Muhammad
Idris Muhammad is a jazz drummer. He changed his name in the 1960s upon his conversion to Islam. He is known for his funky playing style. He has released a number of albums as leader, and has played with a number of jazz legends including Lou Donaldson, Johnny Griffin, Pharoah Sanders and Grover...
, it has been described as "trippy, odd and funky all at the same time....a bit like a black Frank Zappa
Frank Zappa
Frank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
but groovier."
Chase died in 1980 at the age of 54.