HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

Honky Tonk by Al Dexter and His Troopers

Al Dexter

Honky tonk is a major subgenre of C&W, and Al Dexter was among its earliest originators. Born on 4 May 1905 in Jacksonville, Texas, as Clarence Albert Poindexter, Dexter began his career performing at such as square dances. During the Depression years he worked as a house painter, also owning a honky tonk (bar) for a time. Dexter is generally thought to be the first to use the term "honky tonk" in music. The word appeared in print as early as 1880 in the Dallas 'Morning News' and has meant a "dive" of a drinking shack ever since. Dexter served up his first titles in San Antonio on November 28, 1936, with Bobby Symons (guitar), Luke Owens (guitar) and Jack True (string bass): 'Honky Tonk Blues' / 'New Jelly Roll Blues' (Vocalion 03435) 'Whisper Again That You Love Me' / 'If We Can't Be Sweethearts Why Can't We Be Pals' (Vocalion 03569) and 'Little Sod Shanty' / 'Mother Mine' (Vocalion 03461). Rocky Productions has those issued in 1937. Dexter was accompanied on his first several sessions into 1938 by Symons, Owens and True.

'New Jelly Roll Blues' Al Dexter & His Nite Owls

28 Nov 1936 at the Gunter Hotel in San Antonio

Matrix SA 2640-1 Vocalion 03435 / ARC 70365

Electric guitar: Bobby Symons Acoustic guitar: Luke Owens Bass: Jack True

Composition: Dexter

'Honky Tonk Blues' Al Dexter & His Nite Owls

28 Nov 1936 at the Gunter Hotel in San Antonio

Matrix SA 2641-1 Vocalion 03435 / ARC 70365

Electric guitar: Bobby Symons Acoustic guitar: Luke Owens Bass: Jack True

Composition: Dexter

'Car Hoppin' Mama' Al Dexter & His Nite Owls

15 June 1937 at the Brunswick Warehouse in Dallas

Matrix DAL 331-1 Vocalion 03636

Electric guitar: Bobby Symons Acoustic guitar: Luke Owens Bass: Jack True

Composition: Dexter

'One More Day in Prison' Al Dexter & His Nite Owls

15 June 1937 at the Brunswick Warehouse in Dallas

Matrix DAL 332 Vocalion 04405

Electric guitar: Bobby Symons Acoustic guitar: Luke Owens Bass: Jack True

Composition: James B. Paris / Dexter

'Broken Hearted Blues' Al Dexter & His Nite Owls

17 June 1937 at the Brunswick Warehouse in Dallas

Matrix DAL 345-1 Vocalion 03636

Electric guitar: Bobby Symons Acoustic guitar: Luke Owens Bass: Jack True

Composition: Dexter / James B. Paris

In 1939 Dexter's Troopers possibly consisted of Leaford Hall on fiddle, Aubrey Gass at harmonica and washboard, Jack Lee at steel, Mabel Ogden on piano and an unknown on electric guitar. It was that configuration which recorded on June 13, 1939 in Dallas such as 'Daddy's in the Doghouse Now' / 'Bar Hotel' (Vocalion 05121).

'Jelly Roll Special' Al Dexter & His Troopers

13 June 1939 in Dallas Matrix DAL 787-3 Vocalion 04988 / Columbia 37641

Fiddle: Leaford Hall Steel guitar: Jack Lee

Piano: Mabel Ogden Harmonica / washboard: Aubrey Gass

Composition: James B. Paris / Dexter

'Sunshine' Al Dexter & His Troopers

13 June 1939 in Dallas Matrix DAL 792-1 Vocalion 04988 / Columbia 37641

Fiddle: Leaford Hall Steel guitar: Jack Lee

Piano: Mabel Ogden Harmonica / washboard: Aubrey Gass (vocal)

Composition: Dexter / Gass

'You May Be Sorry' Al Dexter & His Troopers

24 April 1940 in Saginaw TX Matrix DAL 1052-1 OKeh 05783 / Conqueror 9732

Bass: Joe Ferguson Harmonica / washboard: Aubrey Gass

Composition: Dexter

'It's Too Late to Say You're Sorry Now' Al Dexter & His Troopers

4 March 1941 in Ft. Worth TX Matrix DAL 1216-2 Okeh 06287

Fiddle: Cecil Brower Steel guitar: Ted Daffan Guitar: J.B. Brinkley

Bass: Joe Ferguson Harmonica / washboard: Aubrey Gass (vocal)

Composition: Dexter

'So Long Pal' Al Dexter & His Troopers

18 March 1942 in Hollywood Matrix H 736-1 Okeh 6718

Trumpet: Holly Hollinger Steel guitar: Frank Marvin Guitar: Johnny Bond

Piano / accordion: Paul Sells Bass: Fred Whiting

Composition: Dexter

'So Long Pal' and 'Too Late to Worry' above became #1 titles on the popularity charts in 1944. The popularity of country up to 1944 had been measured per retail sales, jukebox sales and disc jockey play of folk and hillbilly categories. Country charting began with folk juke box sales. The folk and hillbilly categories would disappear in 1949, replaced by Country Western even as the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville was attempting to maintain folk purity, distinguishing between real country as traditional folk and "country" as Hollywood conceived it, that is, country swing, sibling to jazz with its drums and trumpet. Dexter's first title to place on Billboard's new Country chart was 'Pistol Packin' Mama' issued in 1943. Musicvf has 'Pistol Packin' Mama' reaching #1 in August that year. Wikipedia wants Dexter earning $250,000 in royalties from that song's use in the soundtrack for the 1943 film by the same title. Though 'Rosalita' was recorded two days earlier than 'Pistol Packin' Mama' it didn't chart at #1 until January 1944. 'Guitar Polka' went down in Hollywood the day after 'Pistol Packin' Mama' but didn't chart at #1 until 1946. 'I'm Losing My Mind' was recorded the same day, to chart at #1 in 1945.

'Too Late to Worry, Too Blue to Cry' Al Dexter & His Troopers

18 March 1942 in Hollywood Matrix H 737-1 Okeh 6718

Trumpet: Holly Hollinger Steel guitar: Frank Marvin Guitar: Johnny Bond

Piano / accordion: Paul Sells Bass: Fred Whiting

Composition: Dexter

'Rosalita' Al Dexter & His Troopers

18 March 1942 in Hollywood Matrix H 738-1 Okeh 6708

Trumpet: Holly Hollinger Steel guitar: Frank Marvin Guitar: Johnny Bond

Piano / accordion: Paul Sells Bass: Fred Whiting

Composition: Dexter

'Pistol Packin' Mama' Al Dexter & His Troopers

18 March 1942 in Hollywood Matrix H 741-1 Okeh 6708 / Columbia 37668

Trumpet: Holly Hollinger Steel guitar: Frank Marvin Guitar: Johnny Bond

Piano / accordion: Paul Sells Bass: Fred Whiting

Music: 'Boil Them Cabbage Down': Ballad of America Wikipedia Lyrics: Dexter

'I'll Wait for You, Dear' Al Dexter & His Troopers

20 March 1942 in Hollywood Matrix H 743-1 OKeh 6727 / Columbia 37037

Trumpet: Holly Hollinger Steel guitar: Dick Roberts Guitar: Dick Reinhart

Piano / accordion: Paul Sells Bass: Fred Whiting

Composition: Dexter

'Guitar Polka' Al Dexter & His Troopers

21 March 1942 in Hollywood Matrix H 746-1 Columbia 36868

Trumpet: Holly Hollinger Steel guitar: Frank Marvin Guitar: Dick Reinhart

Piano / accordion: Paul Sells Bass: Fred Whiting

Composition: Dexter

'I'm Losing My Mind Over You' Al Dexter & His Troopers

21 March 1942 in Hollywood Matrix H 748-1 Columbia 37037

Trumpet: Holly Hollinger Steel guitar: Frank Marvin Guitar: Dick Reinhart

Piano / accordion: Paul Sells Bass: Fred Whiting

Composition: Dexter / James B. Paris

'Pistol Packin' Mama' was Dexter's highest-selling title overall, but he issued numerous others placing well on the country charts into 1948, six of them at #1 and all composed by him alone or in collaboration with various:

   Pistol Packin' Mama   Aug 1943   #1 pop #1 country #5 R&B
   Rosalita   Jan 1944   #22 pop #1 country
   So Long Pal   March 1944   #1 country
   Too Late to Worry   March 1944   #18 pop #1 country
   I'm Losing My Mind Over You  Jan 1945   #1 country
   I'll Wait for You Dear   Jan 1945   #2 country
   Triflin' Gal   July 1945   #2 country
   I'm Lost Without You   Aug 1945   #5 country
   Guitar Polka   Feb 1946   #16 pop #1 country   Dexter's 2nd best-selling title overall
   Honey Do You Think It's Wrong   Feb 1946   #2 country
   Wine, Women and Song   Aug 1946   #1 country
   It's Up to You   Sep 1946   #3 country
   Kokomo Island   Jan 1947   #4 country
   Down at the Roadside Inn   May 1947   #4 country
   Rock and Rye Rag   July 1948   #14 country
   Calico Rag   Sep 1948   #11 country

'Honey, Do You Think It's Wrong?' Al Dexter & His Troopers

4 April 1945 in Hollywood Matrix HCO 1341 Columbia 20010

Composition: Dexter / Marvin

'Wine, Women and Song' Al Dexter & His Troopers

5 April 1945 Matrix HCO 1345 Columbia 20073

Composition: Dexter / Aubrey Gass

'Diddy Wah Boogie' Al Dexter & His Troopers

1950 Matrix K3055 King 913

Composition: Dexter

'Counting My Teardrops' Al Dexter & His Troopers backing Aubrey Gass

7 Feb 1952 in Dallas Matrix HCO 1345 Decca 9-28345

Composition: Dexter / Aubrey Gass

'My Careless Heart' Al Dexter & His Troopers

16 May 1953 Matrix 84460 Decca 28739

Composition: Dexter

'I Won't Be Number Two' Al Dexter & His Troopers

31 Oct 1961 in Nashville Matrix 36558 Capitol 4724

Composition: Dexter / B. Wood / E. Bloodworth

In 1962 Dexter issued his LP, 'Sings and Plays His Greatest Hits'. Praguefrank's traces Dexter to as late as sometime in 1964 for 'Country Guitar' / 'My Careless Heart' (Allstar 7306). Praguefrank comments that Dexter recorded after that, indicating dates possible to 1966.