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Big Al Downing

 


Big Al Downing | RCS | tc145

Musician, record producer, song writer and entertainer Alexander Downing was born in Lenapah, Oklahoma, on January 9, 1940.  He was also known as Big Al Downing. Enjoying a long musical career, he began in the group Bobby Poe and the Poe Kats in the mid 1950s. He is understood to have played piano on a rock and roll record, “Lets have a party” by Wanda Jackson, in 1960. He also had considerable success as a record producer and as a song writer, and was able to adapt as musical styles changed. His songs have been sung by Fats Domino, Bobby Blue Bland and others. He was recording for Chess in the mid 1970s. 

Al Downing died following chemotheraphy treatment for leukemia in Massachusetts on July 4, 2005.

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