Joseph Arrington Jr. was born in Rogers, Texas in 1933. He moved to Baytown, TX and grew up there, following his parents’ divorce. During his high school days, he sang in both the school choir and his church choir. In his junior year, he entered a Houston area talent show and took home first place, beating out names like Johnny Nash and Hubert Laws. He won $300 and a trip to New York, where he got to perform at the Apollo Theatre. While there, he won the Amateur Night competition four times, attracting the attention of talent scout Henry Glover. As soon as Joe finished high school, Glover signed him to King Records, at just 19 years old. From 1955-1957, he recorded with King Records, which was also home to soul icon, James Brown. Unlike Brown, however, Tex struggled to chart. Throughout his career, he ended up bouncing around record labels and would open for bigger artists, including James Brown himself.
Tex sang gospel, soul, R&B, and some funk throughout his career. He got his first taste of success with his 1965 hit, “Hold Onto What You Got,” recorded with Nashville’s Dial Records. This ballad features a style of Joe Tex’s referred to as “soul preaching,” where he switches between spoken verse and singing in the middle of his songs. Joe Tex is recognized as an innovator of soul music as artists such as Isaac Hayes, Barry White, and Millie Jackson would later borrow this style.
When it came to performances, Tex knew how to put on a show. He would often do mic tricks and dance moves comparable to those of his former labelmate, James Brown. In fact, a feud sparked between the two artists over who stole whose moves. For years, there was back and forth between two, ending with James Brown allegedly shooting up an after-hours club that Tex had been hanging out in.
Feud’s aside, Tex managed to garner some additional success following “Hold On To What You Got.” Some of his other hits included “Skinny Legs and All,” recorded in 1967; “I Gotcha,” recorded in 1972; and “Ain’t Gonna Bump No More (With No Big Fat Woman, )” recorded in 1977.
“Skinny Legs and All,” is a funk groove full of Tex’s signature soul-preaching. He only breaks to sing the chorus, but the rest of the song is Tex using a comedic sermon to tell the audience to appreciate their partners.
Another popular aspect of Joe Tex’s music was his raspy voice, which is showcased in “I Gotcha.” It’s understandable where the James Brown comparisons came from, as he too would use a gravelly voice in his songs. Whether or not Tex drew any inspiration, his delivery in this R&B/Pop hybrid is pretty unique as it has been considered by some as an early form of rap. “I Gotcha” was a huge success, reaching #2 on the Billboard Hot 100.
“Ain’t Gonna Bump No More” marks Tex’s transition into disco. The style of this song is noticeably different from some of his previous hits. Tex adapted to the massive popularity of disco that arose in the 70s. He stayed afloat, reaching number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Joe Tex’s popularity was at its apex throughout the late ’60s and early 70s. So much so, Colonel Sanders of Kentucky Fried Chicken personally commissioned him to promote the chain.
Joe Tex didn’t officially retire until 1981, when he decided to settle down on his ranch in Navasota, Texas. The following year, he died of heart failure in his home. He was only 49 years old, but his legacy carried on past his death. He is currently memorialized at the Texas Historical Commission in Austin and has been nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame six times.
Sources
Fitzgerald, Natalie. “Joe Tex (1935-1982) .” 20 May 2021, https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/tex-joe-1935-1982/.
“Joe Tex Biography, Songs, & Albums.” AllMusic, https://www.allmusic.com/artist/joe-tex-mn0000210323/biography.
“Arrington, Joseph, Jr. [Joe Tex] (1935–1982).” TSHA, https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/arrington-joseph-jr-joe-tex.
“Tales from the Tour Bus: James Brown and Joe Tex.” Mike Judge Presents: Tales from the Tour Bus, 21 Jan. 2021, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvWPineCh1c&t=41s.
“Billboard Database.” Hot100 / 1977-06-11, https://billboard.elpee.jp/hot100/week/1977-06-11/.
