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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZTEX, Joe(b Joseph Arrington, 8 Aug. '33, Rogers TX; d 12 Aug. '82, Navasota TX; Peter Guralnick says birth date was '35) Soul singer. While still in high school won talent show in Houston, appeared at the Apollo amateur show and won that. Recorded for King '55--7, Ace '58--60, also Anna, Parrot, Checker without chart success but developing popular stage show; James Brown covered his 'Baby You're Right' '61; recorded for manager Buddy Killen's Dial label in Nashville and the UK releases were on Atlantic, who sent him to Muscle Shoals to record. Twenty-six Hot 100 hits '64--72 incl. eight in top 40, 'Hold What You've Got' '64 at no. 5, 'Skinny Legs And All' no. 10 '67, 'I Gotcha' '72 at no. 2 his biggest. Nine hits were top ten in soul chart; he thought the first hit (after ten years of trying) was a terrible record and had been promised it wouldn't be released; with the money he bought his grandmother a house. Left Atlantic, recorded for various labels, became a Muslim and was known as Joseph Hazziez; came back with novelty 'Ain't Gonna Bump No More (With No Big Fat Woman)' '77 on Epic. |