As his name implied, Blues singer Texas Alexander (September 12, 1900 – April 18, 1954) was from the Lone Star State. He started performing at local parties and picnics in the early 1920s, sometimes working with Blind Lemon Jefferson.

In 1927 he started recording and made some very good Blues records with such Jazz luminaries as Lonnie Johnson, Eddie Lang, Clarence Williams and King Oliver. He continued to record until 1929 and then after a five year break made a number of recordings in 1934. He didn’t record again until 1947.

Throughout his career Alexander often performed with his guitarist cousin Lightnin’ Hopkins. During the Depression and afterwards Hopkins and Alexander often resorted to working as street musicians or outside of music altogether.

Alexander didn’t play an instrument so he always performed with accompanists or in a band setting. In the late 1930s he worked with Lowell Fulson and Howlin’ Wolf among others. In 1939 Alexander murdered his wife and was sentenced to prison from 1940 to 1945. When he got out of prison he hit the streets again with Lightnin’ Hopkins and the pair recorded in 1947 on the Aladdin label. Texas Alexander made his last recording in 1950 with Benton’s Busy Bees and died of syphilis in 1954.