Chalmers Alford

Chalmers "Spanky" Alford
Birth name	Chalmers Edward Alford
Also known as	Spanky
Born	May 22, 1955 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Died	March 24, 2008(2008-03-24) (aged 52) Huntsville, Alabama, United States
Genres	Jazz, blues, Neo-soul, gospel
Instruments	Guitar
Years active	1960s–2008
Associated acts	John Mayer, Mighty Clouds of Joy, Joss Stone, Bee Gees, Raphael Saadiq, Mary J Blige, Roy Hargrove, D'Angelo, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, The RH Factor, 2Pac

Chalmers Edward "Spanky" Alford (May 22, 1955 – March 24, 2008)^[1] was an American three time Grammy winning jazz guitarist.^[2] Alford was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. He was well known for his playing style and use of arpeggiations. He had an illustrious career as a gospel quartet guitar player in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s with groups such as the Mighty Clouds of Joy among others.

Later in life, he found a new career in the neo-soul movement of the 1990s and 2000s, most notably contributing to the sounds of D'Angelo and Tony Toni Toné. Alford played guitar as part of The Soultronics, (D'angelo's band for his 2000 "Voodoo" tour), alongside Questlove, James Poyser, Pino Palladino and Anthony Hamilton. He was a teacher, and was credited with teaching Raphael Saadiq amongst others to play guitar. He played on several albums with artists such as Joss Stone, John Mayer, Mary J Blige, Raphael Saadiq, D'Angelo and Roy Hargrove.^[3]

Alford died in March 2008, at the age of 52, in Huntsville, Alabama.

Appeared on

• Stan Jones - Out of the Shadows
• D'Angelo - Voodoo
• The Roots - illadelph Halflife, Things Fall Apart (album)
• Joss Stone - Introducing Joss Stone
• Vikter Duplaix - Bold and Beautiful
• John Mayer - Continuum
• John Mayer - Try!
• Vick Allen - Simply Soul
• Evelyn Turrentine-Agee - Call Jesus
• Evelyn Turrentine-Agee - Go Through
• Ali Shaheed Muhammad - Shaheedullah and Stereotypes
• Roy Hargrove - Strength (EP)
• Norman Brown - West Coast Coolin'
• The Canton Spirituals - New Life: Live in Harvey, IL
• Rhian Benson - Gold Coast
• Roy Hargrove - Hard Groove
• Angie Stone - Black Diamond
• Raphael Saadiq - Instant Vintage
• Anthony Hamilton
• Bee Gees - Still Waters^[4]
• 2Pac - Until the End of Time^[5]
• A Tribe Called Quest - "4 Moms" (from The Love Movement)
• Al Green - Lay It Down

References

1. ^ WAFF.com: North Alabama News, Radar, Weather, Sports and Jobs |Valley musician dies
2. ^ Studio 125 Productions, Inc. - Home » Music
3. ^ Chalmers "Spanky" Alford on MSN Music
4. ^ Bee Gees Still Waters CD
5. ^ Until the End of Time [PA] by 2Pac

Persondata
Name	Alford, Chalmers
Alternative names
Short description	American jazz guitarist
Date of birth	May 22, 1955
Place of birth	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Date of death	March 24, 2008
Place of death	Huntsville, Alabama, United States