Al Dexter
Al Dexter ( born May 4, 1905 as Clarence Alfred Poindexter in Jacksonville, Texas, † January 28, 1984 in Denton, Texas) was an American country musician and songwriter.
Life
Al Dexter began his musical career as a member of dance bands. Early thirties, he formed his own band, The Troopers. In a small label some singles were produced, the greatest success was Honky Tonk Blues. During these years he began to write songs, which he sold local bands and musicians. It was a time of economic depression after the stock market crash of 1929. To survive financially, he was temporarily forced to work as painters and decorators.
Career
In the early 1930s founded Dexter own band called " Texas Troopers ", which decreed in the eastern part of Texas on a regional popularity, making 1934 Dexter got his first record deal with the label Vocalion Records. He was then discovered by a talent scout in New Orleans, while Dexter graduated from a gig.
The late thirties Dexter received a contract from the Okeh label. In 1942, he plays a the self- written song Pistol Packin 'Mama, who published a year later and became one of the biggest hits of the forties. More than three million singles were sold within 22 months. The title reached No. 1 on the Billboard sales charts and stayed 17 weeks in the top 10 Numerous sizes of pop music, among others, Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra recorded the song in their repertoire.
Pistol Packin 'Mama was only the beginning of a long series of number - one hits. 1944 stayed So Long Pal 13 weeks at the top of the country charts, Guitar Polka held in 1946 15 weeks. Dexter received twelve gold records. Between 1944 and 1946 reach Dexter seven number - one hits, and a total of fourteen tracks to place from 1944 to 1947 in the top ten. He had his last singles chart rankings 1948. Subsequently, he opened his own club in Dallas, Texas, where he appeared frequently. He invested his money in real estate successfully.
Although Al Dexter's music is more attributable to the mainstream, the name of a particular style of country music, Honky Tonk Honky Tonk Blues created the 1937 was borrowed from one of his songs. For his services as a songwriter, he was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1971.
Al Dexter died on 28 January 1984.