Loading details…
Artist
Alger "Texas" Alexander
12+ albums
delta bluesbluesUSA
about
Alger "Texas" Alexander (September 12, 1900 – April 18, 1954)[1] was an American blues singer from Jewett, Texas.[2] Some sources claim that he was the cousin of Lightnin' Hopkins, but no direct kinship has ever been established. It was also claimed that he was the uncle of Texas country blues guitarist Frankie Lee Sims. [edit]Career A short man with a big, deep voice, Alexander started his career performing on the streets and at local parties and picnics in the Brazos River bottomlands, where he sometimes worked with Blind Lemon Jefferson.[5] In 1927 he began a recording career that continued into the 1930s, recording sides for the Okeh and Vocalion labels in New York, San Antonio, and Fort Worth. In November 1928, Alexander recorded what has been believed by some to be the earliest version of "The House of the Rising Sun." Other songs he recorded include "Mama's Bad Luck Child," "Sittin' on a Log," "Texas Special," "Broken Yo Yo" and "Don't You Wish Your Baby was Built Up Like Mine?"] His early records for Okeh are notable not only for the personal originality of his songs, but for the musical motifs against which they are set.[6] On April 9, 1934, Alexander recorded backed by the Mississippi Sheiks. Their line-up featured Bo Carter on violin, plus Sam Chatman and Walter Vinson on guitar. The eight tracks recorded included "Seen Better Days", and "Frost Texas Tornado Blues", the latter of which spoke of the tornado which destroyed Frost, Texas on May 6, 1930, leaving 41 de
top songs
albums
▥
New York 1927/1935 Disc C
▥
Really the Blues?: A Blues History (1893-1959), Vol. 1 (1893-1929)
▥
The Blues [Blue City] Disc 1
▥
Great Blues Guitarists: String Dazzlers
▥
The Blues Collection 78: Texas Blues
▥
That Devilin' Tune: A Jazz History (1895-1950), Vol. 2 (1927-1934)
Texas Troublesome Blues
▥
The Story of the Blues [Sony] Disc 1
▥
Texas Alexander, Vol. 1 (1927)
▥
Classic Blues Artwork: 1920's Calendar 2008
▥
The Blues: A Smithsonian Collection of Classic Blues Singers (disc 1)
▥
Texas Alexander, Vol. 2: 1928-1930