James W. Alexander

b. Adam W. Alexander, 1925, USA. Performing in cathedral from early youth, Alexander tried various other careers before getting wholly involved with music. These alternative activities included playing semi-pro football in the then-segregated Negro Group. In 1945, Alexander became a member of the Pilgrim Travelers gospel group. Currently dynamic and favored by churchgoers in the LA region, the group comprised founders Joe Johnson and Willie Davis, with Kylo Turner, Keith Barber and Raphael Taylor. Using the entrance of Alexander, who also had taken over as supervisor, the group became enormously effective. From 1947-56, the Pilgrim Travelers produced information, notably for Area of expertise Records, and inspired artists such as for example Ray Charles, Lou Rawls and Sam Cooke. During this time period, Alexander noticed Sister Wynona Carr and suggested her to Area of expertise owner Artwork Rupe who quickly agreed upon her. Another musician Alexander discovered for Area of expertise was Sibling Joe May, the ‘Thunderbolt from the Mid-West’, and he also present Jesse Dixon, appointing him as May’s accompanist. In 1959 SAR Information and Kags Music Company were produced in LA, California, by Alexander together with Cooke and Silas Roy Crain, both previous members from the Spirit Stirrers gospel group. It had been Crain who acquired uncovered Cooke (the label name allegedly originated from Sam, Alex and Roy). The brand new label’s first one was the Spirit Stirrers’ ‘Wade In The Drinking water’, that was supported by ‘He Cares’. A gospel label, SAR also documented singles with the Womack Brothers and Robert H. Harris And His Gospel Paraders, the last mentioned being formerly business lead singer using the Spirit Stirrers. The singles aside, the business released a small number of albums, simply by the Spirit Stirrers. Kags released music by Alexander and Cooke aswell as others. (SAR and Kags ultimately became ABKCO Information and ABKCO Music Inc. respectively.) In the first 60s, Alexander and Cooke produced pop label Derby, saving Mel Carter’s WHENEVER A Guy Falls In Like and Billy Preston’s 16 Calendar year Old Spirit. Among Alexander’s compositions is normally ‘Shed And Lookin’’, created in cooperation with Lowell Jordan and documented in the first 60s by many performers including Les McCann and Lou Rawls. The second option had produced his begin as an associate from the Pilgrim Travelers.