Joe Tex
| Joe Tex | |
|---|---|
Joe Tex in 1965
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Joseph Arrington, Jr. |
| Also known as | Yusuf Hazziez |
| Born |
August 8, 1935 Rogers, Texas, U.S. |
| Origin | Baytown, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | August 13, 1982 (aged 47) Navasota, Texas, US |
| Genres | R&B, soul, southern soul, deep soul, funk, disco |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1955–1982 |
| Labels | King Records, Ace Records, Anna Records, Dial Records, Atlantic Records, Mercury Records, Epic Records |
Joseph Arrington Jr. (August 8, 1935– August 13, 1982), better known as Joe Tex, was an American musician who gained success in the 1960s and 1970s with his brand of Southern soul, which mixed the styles of country, gospel and rhythm and blues.
His career started after he was signed to King Records in 1955 following four wins at the Apollo Theater. Between 1955 and 1964, he struggled to find hits and by the time he finally recorded his first hit, "Hold What You've Got" in 1964, he had recorded 30 previous singles that were deemed failures on the charts. He went on to have four million-selling hits, "Hold What You've Got" (1965), "Skinny Legs and All" (1967), "I Gotcha" (1972), and "Ain't Gonna Bump No More (With No Big Fat Woman)" (1977).
Joe Tex was born Joseph Arrington Jr. in Rogers, Texas in Bell County to Cherie Sue (née Jackson) and Joseph Arrington. He and his sister Mary Sue were initially raised by their grandmother, Mary Richardson. After Tex's parents divorced, their mother moved the siblings to Baytown, Texas. In high school, Tex played baritone saxophone in the school band and sang for a local Pentecostal church choir. He entered a number of talent shows and after an important win in Houston, the 18-year-old won $300 and a trip to New York City. While in New York, Tex took part in the amateur portion of the Apollo Theater, winning first place four times, leading to his discovery by A&R man Henry Glover, who offered to give him a contract with King Records. Due to his mother's strong convictions that he should finish high school first, Glover waited a year before Tex signed with the label at the age of 19.
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