Lincoln Chase facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lincoln Chase
Background information
Birth name	Lincoln R. Chase
Born	June 29, 1926 New York City
Died	October 6, 1980 (aged 54)
Genres	Pop, R&B
Occupation(s)	Songwriter, singer
Years active	1951-1973
Labels	Decca, RCA, Dawn, Liberty, Columbia, Paramount
Associated acts	LaVern Baker Shirley Ellis

Lincoln R. Chase (born June 29, 1926 – died October 6, 1980) was an American songwriter and sometimes a recording artist. He was famous for writing popular songs. Some of his most well-known songs include "Such a Night" and "Jim Dandy". He also wrote many hits for Shirley Ellis in the early 1960s, like "The Name Game" and "The Clapping Song".

Early Life and Family

Lincoln Chase was born in New York City. He was the only child of parents who came from the West Indies. His father, Lorenzo, was born in Cuba. His mother, Edith, came from the British West Indies. Lincoln grew up in New York City. He was married to Monica D. Chase. They had three children: Alton D. Chase, Leland E. Chase, and Melanie D. Chase. He also had grandchildren named Nadira and Ansar Chase.

Starting His Music Journey

Lincoln Chase studied music at the American Academy of Music in New York City. In 1951, he signed with Decca Records as a singer. However, his own songs released by Decca and other labels like RCA and Liberty did not become big hits.

Success as a Songwriter

Even though his own singing career wasn't a huge success, Lincoln Chase became a very successful songwriter. Some of his early songs were recorded by other artists. For example, "Rain Down Rain" was sung by Big Maybelle in 1952. "Salty Tears" was recorded by Chuck Willis in the same year.

His first major hit as a songwriter was "Such a Night". The Drifters, with Clyde McPhatter, recorded this song in 1953. It quickly reached number 2 on the Billboard R&B music chart in 1954. Later, Johnnie Ray's version of the song became number 1 in the UK. Even Elvis Presley recorded it in 1960, and his version became a hit in 1964. Many other musicians have also recorded "Such a Night".

Writing for LaVern Baker and Shirley Ellis

Lincoln Chase had another big success with the song "Jim Dandy". LaVern Baker and the Gliders recorded it in 1956. This song went to number 1 on the US R&B chart. It also reached number 17 on the Hot 100 in early 1957. Chase also wrote the follow-up song, "Jim Dandy Got Married". In 1957, he released an album called The Explosive Lincoln Chase.

In 1959, Lincoln Chase met singer Shirley Ellis. He became her manager for several years. He wrote many songs for her. After a few tries, he wrote "The Nitty Gritty" for Shirley Ellis. This song became a big hit, reaching number 8 on the Hot 100 in 1964. He also wrote or co-wrote other popular songs for her, including "The Name Game" and "The Clapping Song (Clap Pat Clap Slap)". These songs also appeared on the US pop charts.

Later Years and Legacy

In 1973, Lincoln Chase released another album of his own music. It was called Lincoln Chase 'N You and came out on Paramount Records. This album featured the famous drummer Idris Muhammad. People have described this album as "trippy, odd and funky."

Lincoln Chase passed away in the Atlanta area on October 6, 1980. He was 54 years old. His songs continue to be enjoyed by many people.