Arthur Alexander

Born: May 10, 1940, Florence, Alabama
Died: June 9, 1993, Nashville, Tennessee
Arthur Alexander was a southern soul/ country soul singer who was one of the first to record at a prototype Muscle Shoals Studio. In fact, the money from the hit "You'd Better Move On" enabled Rick Hall to properly develop these studios.
Alexander never really made a splash as a singer: especially, after suffering health problems that forced him to retire from the music business in 1975. A 1993 comeback album was well received by audiences and critics alike, but a comeback tour was cut short by his premature death from heart failure in its early stages.
Despite having a few minor hits, Alexander is better known for other people's versions of his songs. The Beatles and The Rolling Stones owe a debt to this singer from Alabama, USA. His tragic, harmony-laden 'Anna' was covered on Please Please Me, and 'You Better Move On' appears on The Rolling Stones EP. Other artists who've sung Alexander-penned songs include Burning Love / It's A Matter Of Time. Also, 'If It's Really Got to Be This Way' appears on Sixty Six To Timbuktu (US 2003) (opens in a new tab) and 'Every Day I Have to Cry Some' on River Deep-Mountain High. Alexander sings in a soft, low crooning style somewhat akin to Sam Cooke.