Al Dexter
Induction Year: 1971
Birth Name: Clarence Albert - Al Dexter
Birth Date: May 04, 1905
Place of Birth: Jacksonville, TX
Deceased: January 28, 1984
Place of Death: Denton, TX
Biography
Inspiration for "Pistol Packin' Mama" came from a waitress in a roadhouse Dexter owned in the East Texas oilfields (song was written partly on a paper napkin); she was chased through a barbed wire fence by the gun-toting wife of the man she was seeing
(Speaking about the turning point in his career coming when he was in Dallas, starting to make the rounds trying to get recorded) "An old man peered over his glasses and asked me what kind of music I played. I told him Jimmie Rodgers and others. He looked at me and said, 'Son, Jimmie Rodgers is under contract. If you want to sing, sing your own songs.' "
Former Occupations: | Education: |
Discography / Career Highlights
Career Milestones:
1932 - first published song, "Going Home to Glory"
1934 - first hit, "Honky Tonk Blues" (recorded for Brunswick Record Company)
1942 - recorded 12 songs including "Pistol Packin' Mama" for Art Satherley on Columbia in March
1943 - "Pistol Packin' Mama" biggest selling record of the year (cited as one of the biggest selling records in American recording history); broke country barrier to popular hit parade; with 6 months of release, it sold 1 million copies and sheet music sales hit 200,000
1943 - Republic bought screen rights to "Pistol Packin' Mama" in September
1943 - recording of "Pistol Packin' Mama" by Bing Crosby banned from both Blue and NBC radio network because of line "drinkin' beer in a cabaret"; publisher had radio version prepared after rejection (lyric changed to "singin' songs in a cabaret")
Awards:
1943 - Mademoiselle Magazine\Mille Merit Award\Pistol Packin' Mama
1943 - BMI Citation of Achievement\Pistol Packin' Mama
1946 - Billboard\Top Country Artist\Guitar Polka
1946 - Automatic Music Industry of America\Best Western Record\Guitar Polka
1948 - KRLD - The Midnight Jamboree\Most Popular Recording Artist
1976 - BMI Citation of Achievement\Too Late to Worry, Too Blue to Cry
Catalog Highlights:
"Pistol Packin' Mama" - Artists: Al Dexter and his Troopers (1943), Bing Crosby and the Andrew Sisters (1943), Mac Curtis
"Triflin Gal" - Co-writer: Cindy Walker - Artists: Al Dexter
"Too Late To Worry, Too Blue to Cry" - Artists: Al Dexter and his Troopers, Glen Campbell, Ronnie Milsap, Texas Jim Lewis
"New Broom Boogie" - Co-writer: Cindy Walker - Artists: Al Dexter
"Wine, Women and Song" - Co-writer: Audrey Gass - Artists: Al Dexter
"Guitar Polka" - Co-writer: James B. Paris - Artists: Al Dexter and his Troopers, Rosalie Allen
"Down at the Roadside Inn " - Artists: Al Dexter and his Troopers
"Rosalita" - Artists: Al Dexter and his Troopers
"Honky-Tonk Blues" - Co-writer: James B. Paris - Artists: Al Dexter and his Troopers
"Jelly Roll Blues" - Co-writer: James B. Paris - Artists: Al Dexter
"Poor Little Honky-Tonk Girl" - Artists: Al Dexter
"I Learned About Love From You" - Artists: Al Dexter
"I'll Wait For You Dear" - Artists: Al Dexter and his Troopers
"I Waited Too Long" - Artists: Al Dexter
"So Long Pal" - Artists: Al Dexter
"Texas Waltz" - Co-writer: Cindy Walker Artists: Al Dexter
"Honey Do You Think It's Wrong" - Artists: Al Dexter
"Two Broken Hearts" - Co-writer: Frankie Marvin - Artists: Al Dexter
"Saturday Night Boogie" - Artists: Al Dexter
"I Told My Heart" - Artists: Al Dexter
"Why Did It Have To Be Me" - Co-writer: James B. Paris - Artists: Al Dexter
"Bye, Bye Blue Eyes" - Artists: Al Dexter
"Cajun Guitar" - Artists: Al Dexter
"Don't You Love Me Anymore" - Artists: Al Dexter
"I'm Sending Roses To My Lawyer" - Artists: Al Dexter
"Wheels of Love" - Artists: Al Dexter
"My Careless Heart" - Artists: Al Dexter
"Honeymoon Waltz" - Artists: Al Dexter
Comments:
Became the first country singer to play on Broadway
