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'''Joseph Arrington, Jr.''' (August 8, 1933 – August 13, 1982), better known by the [[stage name]] '''Joe Tex''', was an [[United States|American]] [[Southern soul]] [[singer-songwriter]], most popular during the 1960s and 1970s. His style of speaking over music, which he called '[[rap music|rap]]', made him a predecessor of the modern style of music. Tex was later known as
'''Joseph Arrington, Jr.''' ([[August 8]], [[1933]]-[[August 13]], [[1982]]), better known by the [[stage name]] '''Joe Tex''', was an [[United States|American]] [[Southern soul]] [[singer-songwriter]], most popular during the 1960s and 1970s. His style of speaking over music, which he called '[[rap music|rap]]', made him a predecessor of the modern style of music. Tex was later known as
'''Yusuf Hazziez''' following a [[religious conversion]] to the [[Muslim]] faith.
'''Yusuf Hazziez''' following a [[religious conversion]] to the [[Muslim]] faith.


Revision as of 16:15, 23 January 2010

Joe Tex

Joseph Arrington, Jr. (August 8, 1933-August 13, 1982), better known by the stage name Joe Tex, was an American Southern soul singer-songwriter, most popular during the 1960s and 1970s. His style of speaking over music, which he called 'rap', made him a predecessor of the modern style of music. Tex was later known as Yusuf Hazziez following a religious conversion to the Muslim faith.

Career

Born in Baytown, Texas,[1] Texas was subsequently raised in the Central Texas town of Rogers. His professional career as a singer began onstage at the Apollo. He won first place in a 1954 talent contest and duly secured a record deal. Although his early releases on King Records, Ace and the Anna Records labels were considered by some to be derivative and generally disappointing in sales, Tex meanwhile honed his songwriting talent. James Brown's cover version of "Baby You're Right" (1962) became a U.S. number 2 hit, after which Tex was signed to Dial Records.

Although early releases showed promise, it was not until 1965 that Tex prospered, guided by Nashville, Tennessee record producer, Buddy Killen. Recorded at the FAME studio in Muscle Shoals, Alabama and distributed by Atlantic on Killen's Dial record label, "Hold What You've Got" was a U.S. #5 pop hit. "Hold What You've Got" spent 11 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 and sold a million copies by 1966.[1]

Others singles followed, namely "A Woman Can Change a Man", and "The Love You Save (May Be Your Own)" which were both ballads. But a change in tempo also brought hits such as "S.Y.S.L.J.F.M. (The Letter Song)" (1966), and "Show Me" (1967). Tex's recording career was distinguished by his extensive single releases. For example, in 1965 alone, Tex released seven singles, followed by six in 1966 and five in 1967. He had released over thirty singles prior to the release of his first album, in 1965.

Meanwhile the singles "Skinny Legs and All" (U.S. #10) and "Men Are Getting Scarce" also became major hits for Tex. "Skinny Legs And All" was Tex's second million seller spending 15 weeks in the charts. He was awarded a gold disc by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in January 1968.[2] His last major hit of that time was "I Gotcha". "I Gotcha" also penned by Tex and released in January 1972, went to #2 for two weeks, and stayed for 20 weeks in the listings. The RIAA gold disc award was made on March 22, 1972. It went on to sell over two million copies by August that year.[3] Follow its release, Tex decided to retire.

He returned to music in 1975, and two years later enjoyed a comeback hit with "Ain't Gonna Bump No More (With No Big Fat Woman)", which reached U.S. #12. By the 1980s he had withdrawn again from full-time performing. He devoted himself to Islam, his Texas ranch and the Houston Oilers American Football team.

Rivalry with James Brown

A feud between Tex and fellow labelmate James Brown began after Brown, who Tex felt copied his stage moves, began dating Tex's wife. In response, Tex wrote a song called "You Keep Her." They played a few more shows together until Tex mocked James Brown's act of throwing a cape over his shoulder and screamed "please - get me out of this cape". Brown later fired a gun at Tex in a nightclub.[4]

Personal life and death

A convert to the Muslim faith since 1966, he changed his name to Yusuf Hazziez, and toured as a spiritual lecturer. He has one daughter, Eartha Doucet, and four sons, Joseph Arrington III, Ramadan Hazziez, Jwaade Hazziez and Joseph Hazziez.

On August 13, 1982, Joe Tex died at his home in Navasota, Texas, following a heart attack, just five days after his 49th birthday.

Covers by other artists

Several other artists have covered Tex's work, including the rock band Phish who performed "You Better Believe It Baby" on July 26, 1998 at the Starplex Amphitheater in Dallas, Texas and again on August 2, 1998 at Deer Creek Music Center in Noblesville, Indiana.

Selected discography

Main article: Joe Tex discography

Albums

  • 1965 Hold On To What You've Got (Dial Records, distributed by Atlantic Records) - US Pop #124, US R&B #2
  • 1965 The New Boss (Dial/Atlantic) - US #142, US R&B #3
  • 1966 Show Me (Dial/Atlantic)
  • 1966 The Love You Save (Dial/Atlantic) - US #108
  • 1966 I've Got to Do a Little Better (Dial/Atlantic)
  • 1967 The Best of Joe Tex (Dial/Atlantic)[5]
  • 1968 Live And Lively (Dial/Atlantic) - US #84
  • 1968 Soul Country (Dial/Atlantic) - US #154
  • 1969 Buying a Book (Dial/Atlantic) - US #190
  • 1969 Happy Soul (Dial/Atlantic)
  • 1969 You Better Get It (Dial/Atlantic)
  • 1970 With Strings And Things (Dial/Atlantic)
  • 1972 I Gotcha (Dial) - US # 17
  • 1972 Spill the Beans (Dial)
  • 1977 Bumps & Bruises (Epic) - US #108
  • 1978 Rub Down (Epic)

Singles

  • 1965 "I Want To (Do Everything For You)" R&B #1
  • 1965 "Hold What You've Got" U.S. #5
  • 1966 "A Sweet Woman Like You" R&B #1
  • 1966 "The Love You Save (May Be Your Own)"
  • 1966 "S.Y.S.L.J.F.M.(The Letter Song)"
  • 1966 "I Believe I'm Gonna Make It"
  • 1966 "I've Got To Do a Little Bit Better"
  • 1966 "Papa Was, Too"
  • 1967 "Show Me"
  • 1967 "Skinny Legs and All"
  • 1972 "I Gotcha" R&B #1, U.S. #2
  • 1976 "Have You Ever"
  • 1977 "Ain't Gonna Bump No More (With No Big Fat Woman)" U.S. #12, UK #2
  • 1979 "Loose Caboose"

Notes

  1. ^ a b Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 183. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
  2. ^ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 231. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
  3. ^ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 322. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
  4. ^ "Worst Band Feuds: No. 3". Spinner. September 14, 2007.
  5. ^ "No filler, no fat. Can't argue with this one, as it has all of his hits up to then. No B-sides, no album cuts. However, Atlantic should have put together a "Vol. 2," because his biggest hit of the sixties was right around the corner." James Porter et al., Joe Tex Album Guide, 2003; www.roctober.com.

References

  • The New Musical Express Book of Rock, 1975, Star Books, ISBN 0 352 300744

External links


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