James Alexander (musician)
Encyclopedia
James Alexander is an American
soul
and R&B musician
. He is a longtime member of the band The Bar-Kays, for which he plays bass guitar
. He also is the father of noted hip-hop
and R&B producer
Phalon "Jazze Pha" Alexander
, whom he named after his best friend and late Bar-Kays bandmate Phalon Jones
. Contrary to widespread belief, James Alexander's relationship, which produced his son Phalon, was not with R&B and gospel
singer Deniece "Niecy" Williams
, but rather with another woman (herself an experienced singer) named Denise Williams.
James Alexander was the bassist for The Bar-Kays when four of the six band members, including Jones, were killed in the same plane crash that claimed the life of soul singer Otis Redding
. Alexander was the only Bar-Kays member not aboard that flight as the plane, a Beechcraft owned by Redding, only held eight occupants (Redding, five of the Bar-Kays, the pilot and Redding's road manager); it was Alexander's turn in the rotation to board a commercial flight to the next destination. Alexander had the task of identifying the bodies of his bandmates, as well as that of Redding.
After the crash, Ben Cauley
, the sole survivor among those who were aboard the plane, worked with Alexander to reform the band. Subsequent work included the soundtrack recording of the Academy Award-winning theme song
from the 1971 feature film Shaft, on which Alexander played bass guitar. As of 2010, Alexander continues on as the only original member in still-active Bar-Kays
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
and R&B musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
. He is a longtime member of the band The Bar-Kays, for which he plays bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
. He also is the father of noted hip-hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
and R&B producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
Phalon "Jazze Pha" Alexander
Jazze Pha
Phalon Anton Alexander , also known as Jazze Pha , is an American singer, and songwriter.raised in Memphis, TN; son of James Alexander ....
, whom he named after his best friend and late Bar-Kays bandmate Phalon Jones
Phalon Jones
Phalon Jones was an American Soul and R&B musician.Jones was a saxophonist for The Bar-Kays musical group, which recorded with and also played backup for Otis Redding. James Alexander has described Jones as "the ladies' man" of the group...
. Contrary to widespread belief, James Alexander's relationship, which produced his son Phalon, was not with R&B and gospel
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
singer Deniece "Niecy" Williams
Deniece Williams
June Deniece Chandler known by her stage name Deniece Williams is an American Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and record producer who achieved success in the 1970s and 1980s...
, but rather with another woman (herself an experienced singer) named Denise Williams.
James Alexander was the bassist for The Bar-Kays when four of the six band members, including Jones, were killed in the same plane crash that claimed the life of soul singer Otis Redding
Otis Redding
Otis Ray Redding, Jr. was an American soul singer-songwriter, record producer, arranger and talent scout. He is considered one of the major figures in soul and R&B...
. Alexander was the only Bar-Kays member not aboard that flight as the plane, a Beechcraft owned by Redding, only held eight occupants (Redding, five of the Bar-Kays, the pilot and Redding's road manager); it was Alexander's turn in the rotation to board a commercial flight to the next destination. Alexander had the task of identifying the bodies of his bandmates, as well as that of Redding.
After the crash, Ben Cauley
Ben Cauley
Ben Cauley is an American trumpet player, vocalist, and founding member of the Stax recording group, The Bar-Kays. He is the sole survivor of the 1967 plane crash that claimed the lives of soul singer Otis Redding and four members of the Bar-Kays.-The Bar-Kays:The Bar-Kays were formed in the...
, the sole survivor among those who were aboard the plane, worked with Alexander to reform the band. Subsequent work included the soundtrack recording of the Academy Award-winning theme song
Theme from Shaft
"Theme from Shaft", written and recorded by Isaac Hayes in 1971, is the soul and funk-styled theme song to the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film, Shaft...
from the 1971 feature film Shaft, on which Alexander played bass guitar. As of 2010, Alexander continues on as the only original member in still-active Bar-Kays
Bar-Kays
The Bar-Kays are a popular soul, R&B, and funk group who began performing in 1966 and continue to perform today, although with only one original member. The group had dozens of charting singles from the 1960s to the 1980s, including "Soul Finger" The Bar-Kays are a popular soul, R&B, and funk group...
.