As
his name implied, Blues singer Texas Alexander was from the Lone Star
State. He started performing at local parties and picnics in the early
1920s, sometimes working with Blind Lemon Jefferson. In 1927 he started
recording and made some very good Blues records with such Jazz luminaries
as Lonnie Johnson, Eddie Lang, Clarence Williams and King Oliver. He
continued to record until 1929 and then after a five year break made a
number of recordings in 1934. He didn't record again until 1947.
Throughout his career Alexander often performed with his guitarist cousin
Lightnin' Hopkins. During the Depression and afterwards Hopkins and
Alexander often resorted to working as street musicians or outside of
music altogether. Alexander didn't play an instrument so he always
performed with accompanists or in a band setting. In the late 1930s he
worked with Lowell Fulson and Howlin' Wolf among others. In 1939 Alexander
murdered his wife and was sentenced to prison from 1940 to 1945. When he
got out of prison he hit the streets again with Lightnin' Hopkins and the
pair recorded in 1947 on the Aladdin label. Texas Alexander made his last
recording in 1950 with Benton's Busy Bees and died of syphilis in 1954
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