Texas Alexander

Texas Alexander: 98

by Derek Taylor
April 1, 2001

Texas Alexander was something of an unlikely blues celebrity in his prime. Cut from the coarse cloth of country blues his voice was raw as birch bark with a dire edge and volume that balked at notions of lyrical finesse. In addition unlike most of his contemporaries he didn’t play an instrument. Instead the Okeh label hired musicians to accompany him a practice running contrary to blues convention, which set an influential precedent in the industry.

The accompanists chosen were ...