HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

Texas Alexander

Birth of the Blues: Alger Texas Alexander

Alger Texas Alexander

Source: Red Hot Jazz (defunct)

Blues singer, Alger Texas Alexander, was born in Jewett, Texas, about 100 miles south of Dallas on 12 September 1900. Alexander was a vocalist who played no instruments, though he composed the bulk of his recordings. Most titles presented below are thought to have been authored by himself.

Like other bluesmen, Alexander busked streets and sang at various gatherings, that when not working for the railroad. He is said to have performed with Blind Lemon Jefferson during his early days. He turned up in New York City in 1927 to make his first recordings with Okeh session guitarist, Lonnie Johnson. Stefan Wirz at American Music (AM) has Alexander in sessions on the 11th, 12th, 16th and 17th of August, starting with 'Long Lonesome Day Blues' (OKeh 8511) and 'Range In My Kitchen Blues' (OKeh 8526). In 1928 Alexander received backing by Johnson and guitarist, Eddie Lang. et al. AM wants his first that year with both of them on November 15 for 'Work Ox Blues' (OKeh 8658) and 'The Risin' Sun' (OKeh 8673). The latter is not to be confused with the traditional title of uncertain origin, 'The House of the Rising Sun', not recorded until 1933 by country artists, Clarence Ashley and Gwen Foster.

'Range In My Kitchen' Texas Alexander w Lonnie Johnson (guitar)

Recorded 11 Aug 1927 in NYC Frist recording OKeh 8526

Composition: Alexander

'The Risin' Sun' Texas Alexander

Guitar: Lonnie Johnson / Eddie Lang

Recorded 15 Nov 1928 in NYC OKeh 8673

Composition: Alexander

The year of 1929 witnessed Alexander in San Antonio, TX, recording with guitarists, Little Hat Jones ('Ninety-Eight Degree Blues', et al) and Carl Davis ('Rolling Mill Blues', et al). On June 9, 1930, titles went down in San Antonio with the Mississippi Sheiks consisting of Bo Chatman at violin and Sam Chatman on guitar, such as 'She's So Far', 'Rolling and Stumbling Blues', et al. (Alexander's disco at Syncopated Times [below] has the year wrong.)

'Frost Texas Tornado Blues' Texas Alexander w the Mississippi Sheiks

Guitar: Sam Chatman Violin: Bo Chatman (Bo Carter)

Recorded 9 June 1930 in San Antonio OKeh 8890

Composition: Alexander

American Music (AM) shows a gap in sessions between 1930 and April 9, 1934, Alexander to record titles with his Sax Black Tams in San Antonio on the latter date like 'Blues in My Mind' with 'Mistreatin' Woman' (Vocalion 02743), et al. Several titles followed later that September in Ft. Worth with likely guitarist, Willie Reed, such as 'Justice Blues' with 'Easy Rider Blues' (Vocalion 02856). Wirz (AM) doesn't have Alexander in session for another sixteen years after September of 1934.

'Mistreatin' Woman' Texas Alexander w His Sax Black Tams

Personnel unidentified

Recorded 9 April 1934 in San Antonio Vocalion 02743

Composition: Alexander

'Easy Rider Blues' Texas Alexander w Willie Reed (guitar)

Recorded 30 Sep 1934 in Fort Worth Last of 3 sessions of 1934 Vocalion 2856 / Yazoo L1010

Composition: Alexander

Alexander's path into what may have been retirement years fades into obscurity from the latter thirties throughout the forties. It's alleged but disputed that Alexander murdered his wife in 1939, then served five years in prison. Nor is it confirmed that he spent any time on a work farm for singing "lewd" lyrics. Such are likely urban legends with no backing by any known prison documents. Sixteen years after his last recordings in 1934 Alexander returned to the studio in Houston in 1950 with Benton's Busy Bees where he laid up final titles per 'Bottoms Blues' and 'Crossroads' (Freedom 1538).