Al Dexter
Encyclopedia
Al Dexter was an American country music
ian and songwriter. He is best known for "Pistol Packin' Mama
," a 1944 hit that was one of the most popular recordings of the World War II
years and later became a hit again with a cover by Bing Crosby
and The Andrews Sisters.
, Dexter owned a bar in the 1930s and helped popularize the style of country music known as honky tonk
. He made his recording debut on November 28, 1936 for ARC Records. and he was probably the first artist to use the term "honky tonk" in a country song when he recorded "Honky Tonk Blues" at his first session. His tremendous hit "Pistol Packin' Mama" became the 1943 marching chorus of the New York Yankees
. The 1943 movie of the same name, made by the Republic Pictures
, gave Dexter close to $250,000 in royalties. Another hit from the 1940s was "Guitar Polka
", which entered Billboard
's list as the "Most Played Juke Box Folk Record" for 16 weeks running in 1946. Still other hits include "So Long Pal
", "Triflin' Gal", "I'm Losing My Mind Over You
" and "Too Late to Worry."
Dexter was the first country singer to perform on Broadway
, and in 1971, was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame
. He died January 28, 1984 in Lewisville, Texas
.
On August 21, 2010, Dexter was inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall Of Fame, located in Carthage, TX. Other inductees that night along with Dexter were George Jones
and Ray Winkler.
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
ian and songwriter. He is best known for "Pistol Packin' Mama
Pistol Packin' Mama
"Pistol Packin' Mama" is a 1943 song composed by Al Dexter. The song is notable in that it was the first number one on the Juke Box Folk Records chart, which would later be known as the Hot Country Songs chart...
," a 1944 hit that was one of the most popular recordings of the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
years and later became a hit again with a cover by Bing Crosby
Bing Crosby
Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby was an American singer and actor. Crosby's trademark bass-baritone voice made him one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century, with over half a billion records in circulation....
and The Andrews Sisters.
Biography
Born Clarence Albert Poindexter in Jacksonville, TexasJacksonville, Texas
Jacksonville is located in Cherokee County, Texas, United States. The population was 13,868 at the 2000 census. It is the principal city of the Jacksonville Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Cherokee County and part of the larger Tyler-Jacksonville Combined Statistical...
, Dexter owned a bar in the 1930s and helped popularize the style of country music known as honky tonk
Honky tonk
A honky-tonk is a type of bar that provides musical entertainment to its patrons...
. He made his recording debut on November 28, 1936 for ARC Records. and he was probably the first artist to use the term "honky tonk" in a country song when he recorded "Honky Tonk Blues" at his first session. His tremendous hit "Pistol Packin' Mama" became the 1943 marching chorus of the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
. The 1943 movie of the same name, made by the Republic Pictures
Republic Pictures
Republic Pictures was an independent film production-distribution corporation with studio facilities, operating from 1934 through 1959, and was best known for specializing in westerns, movie serials and B films emphasizing mystery and action....
, gave Dexter close to $250,000 in royalties. Another hit from the 1940s was "Guitar Polka
Guitar Polka
"Guitar Polka" is a 1946 instrumental song by Al Dexter and His Troopers. "Guitar Polka" would spend sixteen weeks at number one on the Juke Box Folk charts and a total of twenty-nine weeks on the chart....
", which entered Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
's list as the "Most Played Juke Box Folk Record" for 16 weeks running in 1946. Still other hits include "So Long Pal
So Long Pal
"So Long Pal" is a 1944 song by Al Dexter and His Troppers. The song was the follow-up to Al Dexter's two-sided hit, "Pistol Packin' Mama"/"Rosalita". "So Long Pal" stayed at the number one position on the Folk Juke Box chart for thirteen weeks. The B-side of the song, entitled, "Too Late to...
", "Triflin' Gal", "I'm Losing My Mind Over You
I'm Losing My Mind Over You
"I'm Losing My Mind Over You" is a 1945 song by Al Dexter and His Troppers. The song was Al Dexter's fifth release as well as his fifth number one on the Folk/Juke Box charts. The B-side of the song, entitled, "I'll Wait For You Dear" peaked at number two on the same chart....
" and "Too Late to Worry."
Dexter was the first country singer to perform on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
, and in 1971, was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame
Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame
The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame was established by the Nashville Songwriters Foundation, Inc. in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. A non-profit organization, its objective is to honor and preserve the songwriting legacy that is uniquely associated with music community in the city of...
. He died January 28, 1984 in Lewisville, Texas
Lewisville, Texas
Lewisville is a city in Denton County in the U.S. state of Texas. The 2010 United States Census placed the population at 95,290 within . The city also includes of Lewisville Lake....
.
On August 21, 2010, Dexter was inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall Of Fame, located in Carthage, TX. Other inductees that night along with Dexter were George Jones
George Jones
George Glenn Jones is an American country music singer known for his long list of hit records, his distinctive voice and phrasing, and his marriage to Tammy Wynette....
and Ray Winkler.
Albums
| Year | Single | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1954 | Songs of the Southwest | Columbia |
| 1961 | Pistol Packin' Mama | Harmony |
| 1962 | Sings and Plays His Greatest Hits | Capitol |
| 1968 | The Original Pistol Packin' Mama | Hilltop |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart Positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Country Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales... |
US Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
||
| 1944 | "Pistol Packin' Mama Pistol Packin' Mama "Pistol Packin' Mama" is a 1943 song composed by Al Dexter. The song is notable in that it was the first number one on the Juke Box Folk Records chart, which would later be known as the Hot Country Songs chart... " |
1 | 1 |
| "Rosalita Rosalita (Al Dexter song) "Rosalita" is a 1942 song performed by Al Dexter and His Troopers. It was recorded on March 18, 1942. The song was the B-side to "Pistol Packin' Mama", released on Okeh #6708. Both would chart in 1944, but "Rosalita" would spend more weeks on the chart than "Pistol Packin' Mama", with a total of... " |
1 | 22 | |
| "So Long Pal So Long Pal "So Long Pal" is a 1944 song by Al Dexter and His Troppers. The song was the follow-up to Al Dexter's two-sided hit, "Pistol Packin' Mama"/"Rosalita". "So Long Pal" stayed at the number one position on the Folk Juke Box chart for thirteen weeks. The B-side of the song, entitled, "Too Late to... " |
1 | ||
| "Too Late to Worry, Too Blue to Cry Too Late to Worry, Too Blue to Cry (song) "Too Late to Worry, Too Blue to Cry" is a 1944 song by Al Dexter. The song is the B-side to "So Long Pal" and went to number one on the Folk Juke Box charts for two weeks and a total of thirty weeks on the charts .... " |
1 | 18 | |
| 1945 | "I'm Losing My Mind Over You I'm Losing My Mind Over You "I'm Losing My Mind Over You" is a 1945 song by Al Dexter and His Troppers. The song was Al Dexter's fifth release as well as his fifth number one on the Folk/Juke Box charts. The B-side of the song, entitled, "I'll Wait For You Dear" peaked at number two on the same chart.... " |
1 | |
| "I'll Wait for You Dear" | 2 | ||
| "Triflin' Gal" | 2 | ||
| "I'm Lost Without You" | 5 | ||
| 1946 | "Guitar Polka Guitar Polka "Guitar Polka" is a 1946 instrumental song by Al Dexter and His Troopers. "Guitar Polka" would spend sixteen weeks at number one on the Juke Box Folk charts and a total of twenty-nine weeks on the chart.... " |
1 | 16 |
| "Honey Do You Think It's Wrong" | 2 | ||
| "Wine Women and Song Wine Women and Song "Wine Women and Song" is a 1946 song by Al Dexter. The song would be his final number one on the Juke Box Folk charts. "Wine Women and Song" stayed at number one for five weeks and spent thirteen weeks on the charts . The B-side of the song entitled, "It's Up To You" peaked at number three on... " |
1 | ||
| "It's Up to You" | 3 | ||
| 1947 | "Kokomo Island" | 4 | |
| "Down at the Roadside Inn" | 4 | ||
| 1948 | "Rock and Rye Rag" | 14 | |
| "Calico Rag" | 11 |