b. Joseph Arrington Jr. a.k.a. Jusef Hazziez, 8th August 1935, Rogers, Texas, U.S.A.
d. 13th August 1982, Navasota, Texas, U.S.A.
Joe Tex hailed from Rogers in Texas and was born Joseph Arrington Jr.in 1935.
Joe moved to Baytown at the age of five with his mother after her divorce from his father and attended school there.
At Baytown he performed song and dance routines whilst working as a young shoeshine and paper boy.
He also sang in the G. W. Carver school choir and the McGowen Temple church choir.
During his junior year of high school, Joe entered a talent search at a Houston nightclub.
He won first prize whilst competing against the likes of Johnny Nash and Hubert Laws.
He performed a song called 'It's In the Book' which won him $300 and a week's stay at the Hotel Teresa in Harlem.
Joe performed at the Apollo Theater and, during a four-week period, he won the Amateur Night competition four times.
After graduating from high school in 1955, he returned to New York City to pursue a music career.
While working odd jobs, including caretaking at a Jewish cemetery, he met talent scout Arthur Prysock, who introduced him to record-company executive Henry Glover, which in turn led to a recording contract with King Records.
Joe recorded sides for King, Ace and the Anna labels, whlst concentrating further on his songwriting abilities.
baby you're right - 1962 single
James Brown's version of, their joint penned song, 'Baby You're Right' b/w 'I'll Never, Never Let You Go' (in 1962) became a U.S. R & B number 2, after which Joe was signed by Buddy Killen, a Nashville song publisher, who in turn established Dial as a recording imprint.
hold on to what you've got - 1965 / the new boss - 1965
Following some album releases in 1964 and 65, Joe received his first chart success.
Recorded at Fame and distributed by Atlantic, 'Hold On To What You've Got' b/w 'Fresh Out Of Tears' was a U.S. Top 5 hit.
show me - 1966 / the love you save - 1966
The first of several singles, 'A Woman Can Change A Man' and 'The Love You Save (May Be Your Own)' consolidated his success.
i've got to do a little bit better - 1966 / the best of joe tex - 1967
Joe also recorded 'S.Y.S.L.J.F.M. (The Letter Song)' in 1966, and 'Show Me' in 1967.
live and lively - 1968 / soul country - 1968
buying a book - 1969 / happy soul - 1969
you better get it - 1969 / with strings and things - 1970
Later releases were less successful and although 'Skinny Legs And All', 'Men Are Gettin' Scarce' and 'I Gotcha' showed him still capable of major hits, Joe chose this moment to retire.
i gotcha - 1972 / spill the beans - 1972
In 1972 he gave up show business and began a three-year speaking ministry for the Nation of Islam, which he had originally joined in 1968.
He became known as Yusef Hazziez or Minister Joseph X. Arrington.
Joe said he would follow Allah and the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, however, after Muhammad's death in 1975, and with the approval and blessing of the Nation of Islam, Joe returned to show business in order to deliver the Nation of Islam's message to his fans.
bumps and bruises - 1977 / rub down - 1978
To begin with he enjoyed some modest success, with no hit singles, until the 1977 smash hit 'I Ain't Gonna Bump No More (With No Big Fat Woman)' put him back on the top of the charts.
A parent album accompanyed the single, entitled 'Bumps and Bruises', which was followed by the album 'Rub Down' in 1978.
he who is without funk cast the first stone - 1979
In 1979 Joe released a final album, entitled 'He Who Is Without Funk, Cast The First Stone', and then retired from full time performing.
Joe then devoted himself to Islam, his Texas ranch, and the Houston Oilers football team.
He was tempted into a Soul Clan reunion in 1981, however in August 1982 he died three days after suffering a heart attack.
He was 47 years old.
Survivors include his wife, Belilah Hazziez, one daughter, Eartha Doucet, and four sons, Joseph Arrington III, Ramadan Hazziez, Jwaade Hazziez and Joseph Hazziez.
Albums:
Hold On (Checker Records 1964)
Hold What You've Got (Atlantic Records 1965)
The New Boss (Atlantic Records 1965)
The Love You Save (Atlantic Records 1966)
I've Got To Do A Little Better (Atlantic Records 1966)
Live And Lively (Atlantic Records 1968)
Soul Country (Atlantic Records 1968)
Happy Soul (Atlantic Records 1969)
You Better Believe It (Atlantic Records 1969)
Buying A Book (Atlantic Records 1969)
With Strings And Things (Dial/Atlantic Records 1970)
From The Roots Came The Rapper (Dial Records 1972)
I Gotcha (Dial Records 1972)
Joe Tex Spills The Beans (Dial Records 1973)
Another Man's Woman (Powerpak Records 1974)
Bumps And Bruises (Epic Records 1977)
Rub Down (Epic Records 1978)
He Who Is Without Funk Cast The First Stone (Epic Records 1979)
