Chuck E.'s In Love (1979) 4/21/20

Rikki Lee Jones and her boyfriend singer/songwriter Tom Waits used to hang out with a guy named Chuck E. Weiss.

One day, Weiss disappeared, and they had no idea where he went—until he called Tom to let him know he had moved to Denver to be with a cousin he had fallen in love with.

When Tom hung up, he turned to Rikki Lee and said, “Chuck E.'s in Love.”

Rikki Lee thought that sounded like a good song title, and before you know it, “Chuck E.'s in Love” became a “Great Song of the '70s!”

It was quirky and jazzy and radio listeners liked it enough to make it a #4 song in the US and #5 in Canada and New Zealand.

The song was nominated for two Grammy's: ”Song of the Year,” and “Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female” and Rikki herself won the Grammy for “Best New Artist!

From 1979:

PS: No word on whatever happened to Chuck E. (unless he's responsible for all those kid-friendly pizza parlors.)