George Alexander (musician)


George Alexander was a baritone singer pioneer recording artist who made several best-selling records for Columbia Records in the first decade of the 20th century.

Biography

George Alexander was born in Baltimore on July 9, 1867, his birth name was Clifford Alexander Wiley. He initial recording activity was for Zonophone Records in 1902, and he subsequently recorded for Columbia in 1903, where he produced the majority of his output. He also recorded a few sides for Victor Records in 1903. The same year, he made cylinder records for Edison under the pseudonym Arthur Clifford. He died on March 2, 1913 in New York at the age of 45.

Style and popularity as recording artist

He has been noted for his "robust sonority and precise diction." Joel Whitburn, in his chart reconstructions, estimates that Alexander had three records that would have made the Billboard charts had they existed: Mighty Lak' a Rose at #3 in December 1903; America at #7 in May 1905, and Dearie at #10 in July 1906.