Joe Tex

Joe Tex (born Joseph Arrington Jr., 8 August, 1933 — 13 August 1982), was an American soul and Disco singer-songwriter most popular during the 1960s and 1970s leading the Joe Tex Band. His style of speaking over music, which he called "rap", made him a predecessor of the modern style of music.

Career

Joe Tex was born in Baytown, Texas. 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 derivative and disappointing, 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 Florence, Alabama and distributed by Atlantic on Killen's Dial record label, "Hold What You've Got" was a U.S. #5 pop hit. Others followed, namely "A Woman Can Change A Man", and "The Love You Save (May Be Your Own)" which were both slow 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).

In the late 1960s, future blues legend, bass guitarist W. C. Clark, joined the Joe Tex Band. Clark had left his hometown of Austin, Texas where he thought the R&B scene had died. But during a tour with the band back through Austin, W.C. left Joe Tex and moved back to Austin, where he went on to develop his reputation as the "Godfather of Austin Blues." [ [http://www.pbs.org/klru/austin/artists/program353.html Stevie Ray Vaughan followed by W. C. Clark Blues Revue] , Austin City Limits, 1990]

Meanwhile the singles "Skinny Legs And All" (U.S. #10) and "Men Are Getting Scarce" also became major hits for Joe Tex, but the singer seemed unsure of his future direction. His last major hit of that time was "I Gotcha" in 1972, and it was then he decided to retire.

A convert to the Muslim faith since 1966, he changed his name to Yusuf Hazziez, and toured as a spiritual lecturer. He has two sons, Ramadan Hazziez and Jwaade Hazziez.

He returned to music in 1975, and two years later enjoyed a massive 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 By the 1980s he had withdrawn again from full-time performing.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.

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

Rivalry with James Brown

Tex had a feud with James Brown after James Brown took his wife, Bea Ford as well as the report that James Brown took his dance moves. Similarities do exist in their dance moves (Joe Tex [http://youtube.com/watch?v=ivoAyRScrn8] and James Brown [http://youtube.com/watch?v=WUgIQej9SMg&mode=related&search=] ). He then wrote a song called "You Keep Her." They shared 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" James Brown later fired a gun at a nightclub belonging to Joe Tex. [cite web|title=Worst Band Feuds: No. 3|date=September 14, 2007|url=http://www.spinner.com/2007/09/14/worst-band-feuds-no-3/|publisher=Spinner]

Discography

Albums

*1965: "Hold on to What You've Got" (Atlantic) - US Pop #124, US R&B #2
*1965: "The New Boss" (Atlantic) - US #142, US R&B #3
*1966: "Show Me" (Atlantic)
*1966: "The Love You Save" (Atlantic)
*1966: "I've Got to Do a Little Better" (Atlantic)
*1969: "Happy Soul" (Atlantic)

ingles

*"I Want to Do" (1965) R&B #1
*"Hold What You've Got" (1965) U.S. #5
*"A Sweet Woman Like You" (1966) R&B #1
*"Skinny Legs & All" (1967)
*"I Gotcha" (1972) R&B #1, U.S. #2
*"Ain't Gonna Bump No More (With No Big Fat Woman)" (1977) U.S. #12, UK #2

References

;Other References
* "The New Musical Express Book of Rock", 1975, Star Books, ISBN 0 352 300744

External links

* [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0856722/ Joe Tex] at IMDb
* [http://www.superseventies.com/1972_5singles.html Joe Tex - I Gotcha] at superseventies.com