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Clarence Albert
Poindexter, country and western singer known as Al
Dexter, was born in Jacksonville, Texas, in 1902. While
working as a house painter, Dexter began performing in
local bars and clubs. In the early 1930s he collected a
band to perform in the outskirts of Longview, Texas.
Dexter signed a
recording contract with American Recording Corporation
in 1936. Dexter’s “Honky Tonk Blues,” which he wrote
with his writing partner James B. Paris, was the first
country song to use the term. In the late 1930s Dexter
owned a honky tonk himself, called the Roundup Club in
Turnertown, Texas.
Through his experiences
there and in other roadhouses, Dexter developed the idea
for his future hit, “Pistol Packin’ Mama.” Art Satherley,
Dexter’s producer, helped him by arranging a recording
session with Gene Autry’s backup band, for which Dexter
had expressed admiration. Dexter recorded “Pistol Packin’
Mama” and “Rosalita” with them at Columbia’s Hollywood
studios. The record was released in 1943 and in its
first six months sold one million copies.
The song “Pistol Packin’
Mama,” a controversial number due to its lyrics,
remained at Number One on Billboard Magazine’s best
sellers chart for eight weeks. In 1944, when Billboard
started its “Most Played Juke Box Folk Records” chart
for country music, “Pistol Packin’ Mama” was still at
the top. “Rosalita” also enjoyed a week at Number One,
and Dexter received such
widespread recognition that he launched national
tours.
From 1944 through 1948
Dexter recorded other country hits, including “Too Late
to Worry,” “Wine, Women and Song,” and “Calico Rag.” The
popularity of his honky tonk sound decreased over time.
He recorded other songs with King, Decca, and Capitol
but never had another hit.
In 1971 Dexter was
inducted into the Nashville Songwriter’s Hall of Fame.
He had invested in savings and loan, motel, and real
estate businesses in Texas and died a wealthy man. On
January 28, 1984, Dexter died from a heart attack in his
home on Lake Lewisville in Lewisville, Texas.
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