 |
| Please Enter A Valid Email Address |
|
|
|
 |
Al Dexter Biography |
|
When discussing some of the key figures that popularized honky tonk music, look no further than Al Dexter. During the 1930s and '40s, Dexter was one of the more popular Country and Western artists. Clarence Albert Poindexter was born on May 4, 1902. Information about his formative years is hard to come by, but it is known that Al Dexter started playing square dances at local dance halls around the rich oil fields of eastern Texas. He was forced, however, to become a house painter because of the depression.
Dexter started doing side gigs at night with his band, the Texas Troopers, in the early 1930s. In 1935 he was signed to Vocallion Records where he experienced little success. He then he signed with the Brunswick Record Company, which is when Dexter's success began happening. Albert Poindexter was now professionally known as Al Dexter, and he had his first hit with BRC in 1934 with the song "Honky Tonk Blues" (not to be confused with the Hank Williams' song). Incidentally, this is the first song to ever use the term "Honk Tonk" in it.
Dexter's success did not stop here. "Rosalita" was a top hit, as was it's B-side "Pistol Packin' Mama," which was themed after the hard-living, hard-loving lifestyle of honky tonk music. Stars like Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby and the Andrew Sisters recorded "Pistol Packin' Mama," providing Dexter with lucrative royalties. As popular as these singles were, they paled to the popularity of "So Long Pal," a song that spent an amazing 13 weeks at #1.
During the latter stages of World War II, Dexter was still cranking out hits, including the #1 smash "I'm Losing My Mind Over You." Throughout the 1940s Al Dexter's hit machine could not be stopped. "Guitar Polka," which one an Oscar, earend Dexter another #1 hit; it stayed on the charts for a whopping four months, and it even crossed-over into the top-20 on the pop charts.
Throughout Dexter's career he enjoyed 12 gold records, all million-sellers. Dexter was inducted into the Nashville Songwriter's Hall of Fame in 1971. He died in Lewisville, TX on January 28, 1984.
|
|
|
