Mousey Alexander

Mousey Alexander
Mousey Alexander
	Clark Terry (left) and Mousey Alexander (right) in December 1970
Background information
Birth name	Elmer Alexander
Born	June 29, 1922
Origin	Chicago, Illinois; United States
Died	October 9, 1988 (aged 66)
Genres	Jazz
Occupation(s)	Musician,
Instruments	Drums
Labels	Famous Door
Associated acts	Benny Goodman, Billie Holiday, Red Norvo, Sauter-Finegan Orchestra, Marian McPartland, Clark Terry, Zoot Sims, Jimmy McPartland, Johnny Smith, Bud Freeman, Eddie Condon, Ralph Sutton, Sy Oliver, Charlie Ventura, Doc Severinsen

Elmer "Mousey" Alexander (June 19, 1922 – October 9, 1988) was an American jazz drummer.

Born in Gary, Indiana, Alexander studied at the Roy Knapp School in Chicago.[1] He is not related to Jamaican-born jazz pianist Monty Alexander.

In the late 1940s, Alexander began to work with Jimmy McPartland in Chicago, and in 1952 he began playing in the band of pianist Marian McPartland. In the middle of the 1950s he played and recorded with the Sauter-Finegan Orchestra and guitarist Johnny Smith.

In 1956 he accompanied Benny Goodman on a tour of the Far East. Later in the 1950s he worked often with Bud Freeman and Eddie Condon. He also played with Charlie Ventura, Red Norvo, Clark Terry, Ralph Sutton, Sy Oliver, and Doc Severinsen. He freelanced during the 1960s with several bands. In the 1970s he recorded for jazz producer Harry Lim and the Famous Door record label.

Alexander suffered a stroke in 1980. After a period of recovery, he continued playing jazz until his death in 1988. He died of heart and kidney failure.

Discography

With Buck Clayton

Buck & Buddy (Swingville, 1960) with Buddy Tate

With Lee Konitz

Spirits (Milestone, 1971)

With Zoot Sims

If I'm Lucky (Pablo, 1977) with Jimmy Rowles
Warm Tenor (Pablo, 1979) with Jimmy Rowles

With Rex Stewart

Henderson Homecoming (United Artists, 1959)

With Jimmy Witherspoon

Goin' to Kansas City Blues (RCA Victor, 1958) with Jay McShann

References

Mattingly, Rick (2002). "Albert, Don". In Barry Kernfeld (ed.). The new Grove dictionary of jazz, vol. 1 (2nd ed.). New York: Grove's Dictionaries Inc. p. 28. ISBN 1561592846.

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[New_Grove-1] Mattingly, Rick (2002). "Albert, Don". In Barry Kernfeld (ed.). The new Grove dictionary of jazz, vol. 1 (2nd ed.). New York: Grove's Dictionaries Inc. p. 28. ISBN 1561592846.