Texas Alexander

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Alger "Texas" Alexander (born September 12, 1900 in Jewett , Texas , † April 16, 1954 (according to other information April 18, 1954 ) in Richards , Texas) was an American blues singer.

life and work

Alexander, who did not play an instrument himself, made his first recordings in 1927 for Okeh Records . Over time, guitarists such as Little Hat Jones , Lonnie Johnson and Lowell Fulson , but also well-known groups such as The Mississippi Sheiks , King Oliver ’s New Orleans Band and Clarence Williams have provided musical accompaniment .

In addition to his musical activities, he worked as a cotton picker or in track construction. Around 1940 his career was interrupted because he had to go to prison for murder. After his release, he performed again, often with Lightnin 'Hopkins , who is sometimes referred to as his cousin, but for which there is no evidence. With him he also made some recordings for Aladdin Records in 1947 . He also made recordings with the pianist Buster Pickens . His last recordings were made in 1950 and were largely unsuccessful. In 1954, Texas Alexander died of syphilis .

In total, Alexander recorded over 60 titles, the majority of them before 1930. His singing style was closely based on the Field Hollers . His best-known pieces include Corn Bread Blues and Frisco Train .

Discography

  • 1995: Texas Alexander, Vol. 1 (1927) . Document records
  • 1996: Long Lonesome Day Blues . P-Vine Records
  • 2000: Texas Alexander, Vol. 2 (1928-1930) . Document records
  • 2000: Texas Alexander, Vol. 3 (1930 to 1950) . Document records
  • ?: Texas Troublesome Blues . Agram Blues

literature

  • Robert Santelli: The Big Book of Blues: A Biographical Encyclopedia . Penguin, New York 1993, ISBN 0-14-015939-8 , pp. 5-6.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Allmusic : Texas Alexander .
  2. ^ Edward Komara: Encyclopedia of the Blues. Volume 1. Routledge, New York 2006, ISBN 0-415-92699-8 , p. 17 ( limited preview in Google book search).
  3. ↑ Paul Oliver:  Alexander, Alger Texas. In: Grove Music Online (English; subscription required).
  4. ^ Alan Govenar: Lightnin 'Hopkins: His Life and Blues . Chicago Review Press, 2010, ISBN 978-1-55652-962-7 , pp. 21–30, here p. 22 ( limited preview in Google book search)
personal data
SURNAME Alexander, Texas
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Alexander, Algernon (real name); Alexander, Alger
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American blues singer
DATE OF BIRTH September 12, 1900
PLACE OF BIRTH Jewett , Texas
DATE OF DEATH April 16, 1954 or April 18, 1954
Place of death Richards , Texas