Times-Daily by Terry Pace
(condensed)
Alexander, Muscle Shoals' first hitmaker, dead at 53
Sheffield native Arthur Alexander Jr.- the former bellhop who wrote and recorded the Muscle Shoals music industry's first nationwide hit- died in Nashville, at the age of 53.
Alexander, was rushed to Baptist Hospital after experiencing chest pains during a meeting with publishers at Bug Music.
The day before, he delivered his final live performance Sunday at Nashville's "Summer Lights" festival.
Alexanders recording career began in 1961, while working as a bellhop at a Sheffield hotel, he recorded "You Better Move On', which climbed both pop and rhythm "n" blues" charts. Alexanders hits, "Anna" and "You Better Move On" inluenced others and were later recorded by the Beatles and the Rolling Stones.
Alexander was born in Florence and raised in Sheffield.
He had abandoned professional music for a while, and had lived in Cleveland, Ohio, working as a bus driver and serving as a volunteer counselor for at-risk youth.
In July 1990, he performed at local area events, the grand opening of the Hall of Fame Museum in Tuscumbia, and Tuscumbia's Spring Park 13th Helen Keller Festival. this success helped convince him to return to the music business.
The service for Alexander will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Thompson and Son Funeral Home in Florence. Burial will follow in Florence City Cemetery.
Times-Daily July 10, 1993
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Alexander
Times-Daily by Terry Pace
(condensed)
Alexander, Muscle Shoals' first hitmaker, dead at 53
Sheffield native Arthur Alexander Jr.- the former bellhop who wrote and recorded the Muscle Shoals music industry's first nationwide hit- died in Nashville, at the age of 53.
Alexander, was rushed to Baptist Hospital after experiencing chest pains during a meeting with publishers at Bug Music.
The day before, he delivered his final live performance Sunday at Nashville's "Summer Lights" festival.
Alexanders recording career began in 1961, while working as a bellhop at a Sheffield hotel, he recorded "You Better Move On', which climbed both pop and rhythm "n" blues" charts. Alexanders hits, "Anna" and "You Better Move On" inluenced others and were later recorded by the Beatles and the Rolling Stones.
Alexander was born in Florence and raised in Sheffield.
He had abandoned professional music for a while, and had lived in Cleveland, Ohio, working as a bus driver and serving as a volunteer counselor for at-risk youth.
In July 1990, he performed at local area events, the grand opening of the Hall of Fame Museum in Tuscumbia, and Tuscumbia's Spring Park 13th Helen Keller Festival. this success helped convince him to return to the music business.
The service for Alexander will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Thompson and Son Funeral Home in Florence. Burial will follow in Florence City Cemetery.
Times-Daily July 10, 1993
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Alexander
Bio by: Gerald Staggs
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