Harold Alexander

I first heard him on the David Holmes album "Come get it (I got it)" which features "mama soul".

I've since heard a few MOre tracks, and while "mama soul" is still in a class of its own, the rest have been great too.

Any info?

 

Anyone?

I've tried the usual suspects but can't fund anything. And google throws up a bit of everything, Sirs, Field Marshals, and Generals.

What info' I've sound that seems relevent to the Musician is limited. Maybe I'm just looking in the wrong places?

Found two albums (only on us sites though) "Are You Ready", and "Sunshine Man", from the early 70s. And H.Hancock is mentioned. I think he must have covered his "Watermelon man" tune. But that means nothing to me either

From VINYL.COM

I'd guess from what i've heard he'd be classed as sort of funky jazz. Sax and Flute. MOst of it is purely instrumental, but the track "mama soul" sounds like he's playing and singing at the same time. Well, not really singing, MOre like shouting and screaming in tune between playing. :lol: As if half the time he's blowing into the instrument, then the rest of the time just shouting the note.

So, anyone know MOre about him(Bio, website etc)? Or where I'm likely to find something of his (UK)

Cheers

MO :beer:

 

Hi Mo,

Harold Alexander played with the likes of Maurice Williams & the Zodiacs, John Patton & Pucho & the Latin Soul brothers in the 60s.
He released solo Lps in the 70s such as Sunshine Man (1971), Are you ready, (1972) for the Flying Dutchman label & Raw Root (1974) for Atlantic.

He appears on a recent compliation called Flying Funk.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000087HXA/ref=sr_aps_music_1_1/026-6765410-6157214

& Flying Groove

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000087HXB/ref=pd_sim_pm_dp_2/026-6765410-6157214

Also on Right On vol 2

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos...33575/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_2_1/026-6765410-6157214

There is a bit of info on him here.

http://www.soulbrother.co.uk/flyingdutchmananthology.htm#harold


I have seen some lps of his for sale here. These seem like repressings.

http://www.piccadillyrecords.com/ve...er2/search1.php?new=1&search=Harold+Alexander

Some of his stuff has come out on cd but may be hard to get.

http://www.dustygroove.com/cgi-sys/cgiwrap/dga/search.cgi?usersrch=alexander+harold&issearch=yes

Here are some people selling copies of his work.

http://db3.gemm.com/c/search.pl?sid...R+TITLE&wild=harold+alexander&Go!.x=1&Go!.y=4

You could ask SideshowBob (Ian) as he is a Jazz buff. He may be able to point you in the right direction.


I hope this helps.


SCIDB

 

You know far more about him than I do!

-- Ian

 

SCIDB, I kinda hoped/expected you'd be able to help

I've managed to hear quite a bit of his stuff now and it's MOved straight to the top of my "to buy list".

Ian, if you've not heard him then he'd be to your taste I think. Some of it is a bit MOre passive than others, but MOst of it is great. Can't sit still and listen to it! Funky Jazz stylééé!!!

 

Hi, I met Harold in the early 80s. We connected, as I'm a pianist. Did music together for a few years. He always called me his "soul-mate". His mom was in Charlotte, so that was always his home base. He used to call me every 2-3 months to catch up. In the mid - late 80s, he called and said he had two new albums out - one was flute and one was piano. (shocker - since in the early 80's he could play piano at all) He always heard sounds and colors and few of us could make that happen on the piano. So as he traveled the next few years he learned to play what he heard. Amazing. I haven't heard from him probably since right before Covid hit. I don't know how to get in touch with his mom, if she's still living, and I'm guessing he lost my number somewhere in the last few years, unless something has happened to him. He was a bit of a recluse, so he could disappear for months or longer. He had several close friends in the Charlotte area. Maybe they know??? I'd like to reconnect if possible, or at least find out if something happened to him.