Rev. Dallas Alexander
Dallas Alexander was a prominent figure in the Ohio bluegrass scene, born in Jackson County, Kentucky. He began playing guitar at age 14 and moved to Ohio in 1954. After his spiritual conversion in 1961, Alexander devoted his music to spreading the gospel message.
Throughout the 1960s and 70s, Alexander recorded and produced several albums of inspirational songs with his family and other musicians. His discography includes “Far Far Away” (1966) with The Happyland Trio, “New World to Come” (1967) with Russell McGuire, “Jesus is my Everything,” “In The Name Of Jesus Rise Up And Walk,” and “One Way Flight.” Many of these featured his children like Dallas Jr., Elsie, Ronald, Linda, Darrell and Peggy performing alongside him.
Alexander was based in Oxford and Hamilton, Ohio, often working with local churches like the Free Pentecostal Church of God and Tuley Road Pentecostal Church.
Far Far Away is Alexander’s first album and got released on Harp Records. It’s rightfully called a country/bluegrass gospel masterpiece and therefore hard to find, either on vinyl or on the internet. But not any longer.
I was born in Jackson County, Kentucky. Started playing guitar at the age of 14, playing at Renfro Valley and other radio stations in Kentucky. I moved to Ohio in 1954 and in 1961 the Lord saved me. Since that time he has called me into the ministry. The children help me on this record; Dallas Jr., Elsie, Ronald, and Linda, age 7, does the recitation on two songs. I have two other children, Darroll, age 5, and Peggy, age 4. I am privileged to have the Happyland Trio with me on this album. Ron Caddell of Norwood, Ohio, plays the 5 string banjo, Albert Fox of Norwood, Ohio, plays the violin and Charlie Chamberlin plays guitar and sings tenor. Charlie has been with me 3 years. All of these boys were born in Kentucky. I sincerely hope God will bless each and everyone who listens to this record.
Dallas Alexander
The album has three of Alexander’s own songs on, like “Far Far Away”, “Give me Faith” and “Preach the Gospel” but also the Louvin Brothers classic “Satan is Real” and the Stanley Brothers tune “Let Me Walk, Lord, by Your Side” in a much superior version than the original.
If it’s appropriate to characterize this music with contemporary terms like Wall-of-Sound or Psychedelia (which typically refers to a mind-altering or immersive musical experience), then the track “Let Me Walk, Lord, by Your Side” and other songs on this album can be attributed with this quality. The fiddle and banjo accompaniment create a rich, layered sound with the typical phrasing and syncopation known from Appalachian mountain music.
Alexander published his second album with Russel McGuire of whom I own an album with his daughter and Alexander and his kids played with Ernest C. Martin, another well-known name in the bluegrass gospel scene, on the album “What have you gained”. I’m sure that Dallas was helping out other groups in the Hamilton area, but I couldn’t find any other clues.