<Archive Obituary> Joe Tex (August 12th 1982)
Bill Schenley
Photo: http://www.roctober.com/roctober/images/joetex.jpg
FROM: The United Press International (August 13th 1982) ~
Soul singer Joe Tex -- famous for the song ''Skinny Legs'' -- died
Friday, two days after suffering a heart attack at his home. He was
49.
Grimes Memorial Hospital spokeswoman Denise Mitchell said Tex entered
the hospital Wednesday after suffering a heart attack at his home. She
said he died at 12:3l a.m. Friday.
The singer, whose given name was Joseph Arrington Jr., used the stage
name Joe Tex but in recent years adopted the Muslim name of Joseph
Hazziez. Music sources varied on his birth date, but one authoritative
volume said he was born on Aug. 8, 1933.
He recorded a number of hits in the 1960s, including ''I Gotcha,''
''You Got What It Takes,'' ''Skinny Legs and All,'' ''The Love You
Save'' and ''Ain't Gonna Bump No More With No Big Fat Woman.''
Tex began his career in the mid-1950s by winning a talent contest in
his hometown of Baytown, Texas. First prize was a trip to New York,
where he performed at the Apollo Theater and was hired on for an
extended engagement.
His early recordings were with the King label and several others,
including Checker, but only with modest success. Finally he signed
with Dial records, where he had a major hit with ''Hold On To What You
Got'' in December 1964. It made it to No. 5 on Billboard pop charts.
He had a succession of songs on the soul, novelty and general pop
charts. ''Skinny Legs and All'' placed 10th on the Billboard pop chart
in October 1967.
He retired from music for religious reasons in 1972, but resumed his
career in 1977.
He is survived by his wife, Deliliah Hazziez, his mother, two sons, a
daughter, a sister and a grandmother.
A spokesman for the Ashford-Oliver Funeral Home in Navasota said the
funeral and burial were scheduled Monday in Navasota.
In lieu of flowers, the family requested friends send donations for
the establishment of a Joe Tex scholarship fund to Rt. 1, Box 84,
Navasota, Texas, 77868.
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Photo: http://ring.cdandlp.com/maiato/photo_grande/30201255.jpg