Al Dexter 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.' " Birth Name: Clarence Albert Poindexter Induction Year: 1971 Date of Birth: 5/4/1905 Place of Birth: Jacksonville, TX Date of Death: 1/28/1984 Place of Death: Denton, TX Former Occupations: house painter paper hanger handyman Education: Grade School--attended rural grade schools in East Texas 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