Arthur Alexander facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Arthur Alexander
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Arthur Alexander in 1993, one of the last photos taken before his death
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Arthur Alexander |
| Born | May 10, 1940 Sheffield, Alabama, U.S. |
| Died | June 9, 1993 (aged 53) Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Genres | Country, soul |
| Occupation(s) | Recording artist, singer, songwriter |
| Years active | 1960–1993 |
| Labels | Judd, Dot, Buddah, Warner, Ace, Elektra, Sound Stage 7, Omnivore Recordings |
Arthur Alexander (born May 10, 1940 – died June 9, 1993) was an American singer and songwriter. He was known for mixing country music with soul music, creating a unique sound. A music expert named Jason Ankeny called him a "country-soul pioneer." Even though many people didn't know his name, his songs were loved by many famous artists.
Some of the biggest music stars covered Arthur Alexander's songs. These included the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Tina Turner, and Pearl Jam. This shows how important his music was to other musicians.
Contents
Early Life and Music Career
Arthur Alexander was born in Sheffield, Alabama, in the United States. He started his music career in 1960. His first song was called "Sally Sue Brown." He released it under the name June Alexander.
A year later, in 1961, he recorded his most famous song, "You Better Move On." He recorded it at a new place called FAME Studios in Florence, Alabama. This song became a big hit on the R&B music charts. It also helped FAME Studios become very well-known. Many artists later covered "You Better Move On." These included the Rolling Stones and the Hollies.
Another one of his songs, "Anna (Go to Him)," was also a hit. The Beatles famously covered this song. They also performed other songs by Arthur Alexander, like "Soldier of Love" and "A Shot of Rhythm and Blues."
In 1962, the song "Every Day I Have to Cry" was first recorded by Steve Alaimo. It reached number 46 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. Later, Dusty Springfield also recorded this song.
Later Career and Comeback
In the mid-1960s, Arthur Alexander changed record labels. He tried to find more success but it was difficult. In 1975, he had another pop hit with "Every Day I Have to Cry Some." This song was also covered by many artists, including Ike and Tina Turner.
After this, Arthur Alexander stepped away from the music business for many years. He even worked as a bus driver for a while.
In 1990, he was honored for his music. He was added to the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. People started to become interested in his older songs again. This led him to start performing music once more in 1993. His last album, Lonely Just Like Me, was his first new album in 21 years.
Arthur Alexander signed a new music contract in May 1993. Sadly, he passed away from a heart attack on June 9, 1993, in Nashville. This was only three days after he performed with his new band. He is buried in Florence City Cemetery in Florence, Alabama.
His Musical Impact
Arthur Alexander is special because his songs were covered by three of the biggest names in music: the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and Bob Dylan. Bob Dylan recorded "Sally Sue Brown" on his album Down in the Groove.
Paul McCartney from The Beatles once said that The Beatles wanted their music to sound like R&B. He added that they wanted to be like "Black" artists, and he specifically mentioned Arthur Alexander. This shows how much influence Arthur Alexander had on other musicians.
Studio Albums
- You Better Move On, Dot & London (UK) (1962)
- Arthur Alexander, Warner Brothers (1972)
- Lonely Just Like Me, Nonesuch/Elektra (1993)
Songs Written by Arthur Alexander
Arthur Alexander wrote or co-wrote many songs that became famous, often through other artists covering them. Here are some of his notable songs:
- "Sally Sue Brown" (co-writer), recorded 1960. Covered by Bob Dylan and Elvis Costello.
- "You Better Move On", recorded 1961. Covered by the Hollies, the Rolling Stones, and Mink DeVille.
- "Anna (Go To Him)", recorded 1962. Covered by the Beatles and Humble Pie.
- "Every Day I Have to Cry Some", written 1962, recorded 1975. Covered by Ike and Tina Turner and Bee Gees.
- "Go Home Girl", recorded 1962. Covered by the Rolling Stones and Ry Cooder.
- "In the Middle of it All", recorded 1987.
See Also
In Spanish: Arthur Alexander para niños
