Joe Tex (born Joseph Arrington Jr. and later known as Yusuf Hazziez following religious conversion 8 August 1933 — 13 August 1982), was an American Southern soul singer-songwriter, most popular during the 1960s and 1970s. His style of speaking over music, which he called 'rap', made him a predecessor of the modern style of music.
Joe Tex made the first Southern soul record that also hit on the pop charts ("Hold What You've Got," in 1965, made number five in Billboard). His raspy-voiced, jackleg preacher style also laid some of the most important parts of rap's foundation. He is, arguably, the most underrated of all the '60s soul performers associated with Atlantic Records, although his records were more likely than those of most soul stars to become crossover hits.
Dave Marsh, Biography of Joe Tex; www.allmusic.com.
As an artist, Tex was down-home though not accommodating. Perhaps due to his often maverick and off-putting behavior, his legacy is oddly sandwiched in between Screamin' Jay Hawkins and Garnet Mimms. That's a strange predicament for one of the best-selling acts of the '60s and '70s.
Jason Elias, Review of Joe Tex Greatest Hits!!! (2000; 7-N/Buddah); www.allmusic.com.
Tex was born in Baytown, Texas.[1] He was subsequently raised in the Central Texas town of Rogers. His professional career as a singer began onstage at the Apollo. He won first place in a 1954 talent contest and duly secured a record deal. Although his early releases on King Records, Ace and the Anna Records labels were considered by some to be derivative and generally disappointing in sales, Tex meanwhile honed his songwriting talent. James Brown's cover version of "Baby You're Right" (1962) became a U.S. number 2 hit, after which Tex was signed to Dial Records.
