b. 10 May 1940; Florence, AL
d. 9 June 1993; Nashville, TN
Southern soul singer whose ballads were especially
popular during the early 1960s with the rock ’n’ roll
audience. Alexander first recorded for the Judd label
in 1960. He was one of the first artists to record for
Rick Hall’s studio in Florence, Alabama. Hall placed
Alexander’s first records with Dot Records. His initial
record, ‘‘You Better Move On,’’ became a pop and
R&B hit in early 1962; the flip, ‘‘A Shot of Rhythm
and Blues,’’ received heavy airplay as well. He followed with another ballad, ‘‘Where Have You Been
(All My Life),’’ also a pop and R&B success in 1962.
His third single from 1962 was the ballad ‘‘Anna (Go
to Him),’’ a top ten R&B hit and a pop hit as well. He
also recorded the well-regarded but unreleased
‘‘Every Day I Have to Cry.’’ These songs were influential and were frequently remade by other acts.
‘‘Anna’’ was subsequently recorded by the Beatles
and Humble Pie, ‘‘You Better Move On’’ was
recorded by the Rolling Stones and the Hollies, and
‘‘Everyday I Have to Cry’’ by Steve Alaimo and Joe
Stampley.
After Dot, Alexander recorded for the Sound
Stage 7 subsidiary of Monument (1965–1969) and
then for Warner Brothers (1971–1972). Neither label
affiliation produced any hits, however. In 1975,
Alexander rerecorded ‘‘Everyday I Have to Cry
Some’’ (note the slight change in the title), and he
got a hit on Buddah. The following year he charted
with ‘‘Sharing the Night Together.’’ In 1977 Alexander retired, but revived his career in 1990, after he was
inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. Just
prior to his death he recorded an album for Electra.
ROBERT PRUTER
Bibliography
Younger, Richard. Get a Shot of Rhythm and Blues: The
Arthur Alexander Story. Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press, 2000.