Joe Tex (Joseph Arrington, Jr., August 8, 1935 – August 13, 1982) was an Am… Read Full Bio ↴Joe Tex (Joseph Arrington, Jr., August 8, 1935 – August 13, 1982) was an American rhythm & blues singer. Tex's last name was Arrington. He later changed it to Hazziez after conversion to Islam but his stage name was Joe Tex, for Texas, the state he was born & later died in.
He gained success in the 1960s and 1970s with his brand of Southern soul, which mixed the styles of country, gospel and rhythm and blues.
Born in Rogers, Texas, in 1935 and raised in Baytown, TX, Tex's career started after he was signed to King Records in 1955 following four wins at the Apollo Theater. Between that year and 1964, however, Tex struggled to find hits and by the time he finally recorded his first hit, "Hold What You've Got", in 1964, he had recorded thirty prior singles that were deemed failures on the charts. Tex went on to have three million-selling hits, "Hold What You've Got" (1965), "Skinny Legs and All" (1967) and "I Gotcha" (1972).
Joe Tex with the raspy voice & charm of a southern preacher and the linguistic skills of a true street hustler made a string of funky chart topping hits and occasional raps with moral themes. His peak as a hitmaker occured in the mid & late 60's, but extended into the 70's disco era.
His breakthrough 1965 song "Hold What You've Got" topped both the Pop and R&B charts. In 1966 he released "I Believe I'm Gonna Make It", which was the first major pop record associated with the Vietnam War. His style was usually more light hearted fare, like "S.Y.S.L.J.F.M. (The Letter Song)" and his biggest hit "Skinny Legs And All".
His last major record was 1972's funky jam "I Gotcha", a #1 song. It was after this release that he converted to Islam. After the death of Elijah Mohamed in 1975, Joe Tex received the blessing and approval of the Nation of Islam to begin recording and performing again. His career resurgence came as the disco years were in full swing. His late career comeback song was "Ain't Gonna Bump No More (With No Big Fat Woman)".
He gained success in the 1960s and 1970s with his brand of Southern soul, which mixed the styles of country, gospel and rhythm and blues.
Born in Rogers, Texas, in 1935 and raised in Baytown, TX, Tex's career started after he was signed to King Records in 1955 following four wins at the Apollo Theater. Between that year and 1964, however, Tex struggled to find hits and by the time he finally recorded his first hit, "Hold What You've Got", in 1964, he had recorded thirty prior singles that were deemed failures on the charts. Tex went on to have three million-selling hits, "Hold What You've Got" (1965), "Skinny Legs and All" (1967) and "I Gotcha" (1972).
Joe Tex with the raspy voice & charm of a southern preacher and the linguistic skills of a true street hustler made a string of funky chart topping hits and occasional raps with moral themes. His peak as a hitmaker occured in the mid & late 60's, but extended into the 70's disco era.
His breakthrough 1965 song "Hold What You've Got" topped both the Pop and R&B charts. In 1966 he released "I Believe I'm Gonna Make It", which was the first major pop record associated with the Vietnam War. His style was usually more light hearted fare, like "S.Y.S.L.J.F.M. (The Letter Song)" and his biggest hit "Skinny Legs And All".
His last major record was 1972's funky jam "I Gotcha", a #1 song. It was after this release that he converted to Islam. After the death of Elijah Mohamed in 1975, Joe Tex received the blessing and approval of the Nation of Islam to begin recording and performing again. His career resurgence came as the disco years were in full swing. His late career comeback song was "Ain't Gonna Bump No More (With No Big Fat Woman)".
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Joe Tex Collection Vol. 2
Joe Tex Lyrics
A Mother's Prayer Hush your mouth, mama's prayin' And I want to hear every…
A Woman Can Change a Man A man can say what he won't do But if she…
A Woman's Hands You and have come a long way together Haven't we baby? Heh,…
At the Dark End of the Street DARK END OF THE STREET (Joe Tex version specifically, not th…
Baby It's Raining Well you finally got around to telling Me you don't love…
Build Your Love You've got to build your love On a solid foundation You've g…
Chicken Crazy No no no, wait a minute Don't y'all laugh at me! I…
Don't Make Your Children Pay Don't make your children Don't make 'em pay for your mistake…
For My Woman I'm gonna always do all that I can For my woman,…
Funny How Time Slips Away Well, hello there My, it's been a long-long time How am I…
Give The Baby Anything The Baby Wants Hey! I give the baby i give the baby anything I give…
God of Love Ooh hoo ooh ooh, oh yeah God, god of the sun I…
Got You On My Mind I've got you on my mind Feelin' kinda sad and low Oh,…
Honey See the tree, how big it's grown But friend, it hasn't…
I Come to You I want to hold you in my arms 'Till you say…
I Mess Up Everything I Get My Hands On Oh Had the keys to her front door I could come and…
I'll Never Do You Wrong If I ever do you wrong If I ever leave you…
I'm Not Going to Work Today Say, man didn't I call you last night And tell you…
It Ain't Sanitary I took my girlfriend out for A ride the other night We…
Keep the One You've Got Hey fellas, look over there See that woman over there With …
Takin' a Chance Oakey Philip And Moroder Giorgio Philip Oakey And Giorgio Mo…
That's the Way You know Since I've been singing songs about love And how a…
The Same Things You Did To Get Me Now I remember when you were Tryin' to get me You used…
The Truest Woman In The World Listen, children You know everybody has got a favorite song …
Watch The One Hey man, stop eatin' that chicken And ridin' them bags and…
What In The World One, two What in the world do you want? You're like a…
You Better Get It You asked me Do I love you That's a silly question Listen I…
You Can Stay (You can stay) You can stay, but that noise has got…
You Got What It Takes Some boys say they like your eyes I heard some boys…
You're In Too Deep You're in too deep You ain't gon' never get out You're in…