Arthur Alexander

Arthur Alexander (May 10, 1940 - June 9, 1993), born in Florence, Alabama, was perhaps the biggest star to arise out of the American country-soul scene. Working with Muscle Shoals, a pioneering record label, Alexander's "You Bett

Arthur Alexander (May 10, 1940 - June 9, 1993), born in Florence, Alabama, was perhaps the biggest star to arise out of the American country-soul scene. Working with Muscle Shoals, a pioneering record label, Alexander's "You Better Move On" was the label's first hit and perhaps his best-known song, covered by the Rolling Stones. "Anna (Go to Him)" a US R&B Top Ten Hit (covered by The Beatles), "Soldier of Love" (covered by The Beatles and Marshall Crenshaw) and "Set Me Free" (covered by Esther Phillips and Joe Tex) were also major hits and established Alexander as a pioneering arranger of others' tunes, as well as an established songwriter in his own right. He switched to another label Sound Stage 7. and although a 1972 album for Warner Brothers was promising, the singer's potential seemed to wither. He secured a pop hit with "Every Day I Have To Cry" on Buddah (1975), but the success remained shortlived. For many years Alexander was out of the music business, he was a bus driver for much of this time. He began to perform again in 1993 as a renewed interest was shown in his small but important catalogue. His last album "Lonely just Like Me" was his first in 21 years. He signed a new recording/publishing contract in May 1993. But he suffered the cruelist fate, when he collapsed and died of a heart attack the following month three days after performing in Nashville with his new band.es:Arthur Alexander