Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

ALEXANDER, Arthur Jr

(b 10 May '40, Florence AL; d 9 June '93, Nashville) Singer/songwriter. Wrote early-'60s pop/soul classics 'You Better Move On' (his first record; made no. 24 on US pop chart '62; one of first hits out of Muscle Shoals studios), 'Anna' (no. 10 R&B chart '62), etc. Often used 'girl' in song lyrics, as in 'Go Home, Girl'. Songs were covered by Tina Turner, Beatles, Bee Gees, Rolling Stones etc. Less active in '70s ('Everyday I Have To Cry' no. 45 pop chart '75; recorded duets w. Carl Perkins '79), but songs were still being covered (e.g. 'Go Home, Girl' by Ry Cooder '79). He had been driving a bus for some years and claimed to be quite happy doing that, but made one last album, Lonely Just Like Me on Elektra, released a few months before he died of respiratory and heart problems. Rainbow Road: The Warner Brothers Recordings came out '94 in an Archive series.