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Elmer J. (Mousey) Alexander
Assyrian Jazz Drummer: 1922 - 1988       

Elmer "Mousey" Alexander was born on June 29, 1922 in Gary, Indiana and raised in Chicago, Illinois where he played in jazz clubs through the 1940s. In 1955, he began an association with big band leader Benny Goodman that continued through the early 1970's and included tours of South America, the Far East and Europe. He played at the Half Note club in New York with the well known tenor saxophonist Zoot Sims during 1970 and 1971 and he also performed on Sims' album "Warm Tenor" which received a Grammy nomination. He accompanied Pearl Bailey in a performance for President Richard Nixon at the White House in 1972.

After touring Europe with trumpeter Sy Oliver in 1972, he played for two years with Doc Severinsen's band on the Tonight Show. Despite a heart attack in 1973, he worked relentlessly as a studio musician and live performer in settings ranging from the Clark Terry Big Band to a jazz program of the New York Philharmonic. By 1980, he had realized a longtime dream of forming his own big band, then suffered a massive stroke. At the urging of a longtime friend and fellow drummer Don Lamond, Mousey and his wife, Lenore, moved from Long Island to Longwood in 1984 where he began a slow yet disciplinary recovery. As he returned to performing, he invited noted jazz veterans to play with him in Central Florida clubs.

Jack Simpson, the host of the Jazz on the Beach program on WUCF-FM in Florida said of Mousey, "When he came to Orlando he just revitalized the whole scene.", Jack also said of Mousey, "He never complained about any of his health problems and he was always anxious to help out anybody.". Mousey Alexander left a legacy of inspiration for younger jazz artists as a rhythm coach for the University of Central Florida Jazz Lab and a booster of upcoming young jazz players such as Larry Williams of Orlando. In a liner note for a new album by William's group, Leading Brand, Alexander wrote: " A couple of months ago I remarked to my wife, I wish the Lord would leave my ears open when I die so I could listen to music forever."
      

Alexander was jazz purist who dismissed contemporary jazz-rock fusion, he enthusiastically promoted concerts by traditionally oriented jazz musicians at Villa Nova's Class Act Lounge in Winter Park and other area clubs. He performed regularly in the months before his death in 1988, and hoped to record with a trio he had formed with bassist Ron Miller and pianist Joe Piscatelli.

Elmer J. Alexander died of a heart attack on October 9, 1988 at the age of 66. His funeral was held on Thursday, October 13, 1988 where he was interned at the Elmwood Cemetery in Norridge, just outside of Chicago. Alexander is survived by his wife, Lenore and his mother Julia Newey, his two sons Tracey and Gene and a daughter, Shirley Furfori and several grandchildren all of Chicago.

MOUSY ALEXANDER- SELECTED DISCOGRAPHY

Compiled by Gene Grisson of Gainesvile, Florida

Year Band Name Album Title Record Lable Release Date/Location
1979 Mousey Alexander Sextet The Mouse Roars Famous Door, HL 130 New York
1978 Zoot Sims Warm Tenor Pablo Records 2310-831 Sept 18, 19
1978 Ruby Braff Pretties Sonet Records 777 April 4,5,
1977 Zoot Sims If I'm Lucky Pablo Records Oct. c-7, 28
1977 Odessa Sound of Jazz (Live) Odessa, Texas Vol II Odessa,Texas
1977 Danny Stiles/Bill Waltrous One More Time Famous Door HL112 New York
1977 The New Charlie Ventura Sextet Chazz - 1977 Famous Door HL115 New York
1977 Eddie Barfield Sextet The Indestructible E.B. Famous Door HL113 New York
1976 Marky Markowitz Sextet Marky's Vibes Famous Door HL III New York
1976 Red Norvo Combo Second Time Around Famous Door HL 108 New York
1976 Phil Wilson Five Wilson, That Is All Famous Door HL 109 New York
1975 John Bunch John's Bunch Famous Door HL 107 New York
1975 Flip Phillips Choice CRS 1013 New York, Aug.
1972 Benny Goodman Sextet Design DKL4/1-2 Copenhagen - March 13
1971 Gibson Jazz Festival Gibson Jazz Festival MPS 4921699-1 Colorado Springs - Sept
1971 Lee Konitz Milestone MSP 9038 New York, March
1970 Clark Terry Big Band Carnegie Hall Concert Etoile CPRIA New York, Feb 15
1970 Clark Terry Five Music Minus One LP 671 New York
1968 Ruby Braff Blue Angel BAJC 501 Aspen, Colorado - Feb 28
1965 Joe Mooney Quintet Columbia CL 2345 CS 9145 New York, Feb 3
1964 Bud Freeman Quartet New York - June
1962 Georgie Auld Sextet Storyville Records Europe -
1962 George Romanis Big Band Modern Sketches in Jazz Coral Records New York -
1961 Nat Pierce Orchestra The Ballad of Jazz Street Zim Records 2OO3 - Mar. 23
1961 George Roamanis Big Band Double Exposure Deca records - Feb. 20
1961 Bud Freeman Trio Summa Cum Laude Trio Dot Records (?, NY)
1961 Don Goldie International Award Series A-K 192 - New York
1961 Gene Krupa Percussion King Verve MGV 5414 New York - June 5
1961 Sal Salvador Quintet Jazz Unlimited Golden Crest JAS1001 New York
1960 Buck Clayton Swingville SLP2017 Prestige P24046 New York, Dec.20,
1959 Joe Venuto Everest LPBR 5053 New Yrok -
1959 Rex Stewart New York, Feb.
1958 Rex Stewart Henderson All Stars UN Artists UAL4009 S. Bay Jazz Fest
1958 Bud Freeman Dot DLP 3166 New York - June 30, July 1
1958 Dixieland At Carnegie Hall Roulette R25038 New York - Feb 1, Dec 4
1957 Jimmy Witherspoon Acc Jay Mcshann Band Victor LPM1639,RCA
1957 Benny Goodman Perry Como TV Giants of Jazz 1010 New York - Oct.
1957 Benny Goodman Crescendo TV Show Giants of Jazz 1010 New York - Sep
1957 Benny Goodman Perry Como TV Show Giants of Jazz 1010 New York - Mar 23
1957 Benny Goodman Ed Sullivan TV Giants of Jazz 1010 New York - Feb 10
1956 Benny Goodman Benny Goodman Chess LP1440 New York - May 17
1956 Charlie Ventura Quintet Baton BLP 1202 New York -
1955 John Henry Smith Roost LP (S) 2243 New York -
1955 John Henry Smith Roost LP (S) 2237 New York - c. July 14
1955 John Henry Smith Roost RLP 2228 New York - Sept 25
1955 John Henry Smith Roost LP 2203 New York - c.Oct 22
1954 Hot Lips Page Columbia KG 3l564, CBS 67273 New York - June 24
1953 Sauter Finegan Victor 20/47 - 5947 New York - Dec.
1953 Sauter Finegan Victor 20/47 - 5506 New York - Oct 14.
1953 Sauter Finegan Victor 20/47 - 6025,5506,5826 New York - Sept 30.
1953 Sauter Finegan Victor 20/47 - 5359 New York - April 27.
1953 ** Sauter Finegan Ultra 7511 Sunset (E) 5253 New York - c.1961
1953 Hot Lips Page Brunswick records BL 54002 Port Monmouth - May 24
1952 Marian McPartland Savoy MG 15027 New York - April 21
1949 Jimmy Mepartland Design DLP 144 Chicago - c.1960
1949 Jimmy Mepartland Harmony 1007,
Swaggie 1279		 Chicago - Mar 19
1949 Jimmy Mepartland Harmony 1007 Chicago - Nov 9

Other Recordings:

Copy Rights Apply to the following Sources:    Sandy Bondorowsky - Tracy Alexander - Lenore Alexander - Modern Drummer Magazine - The Jazz Club of Sarasota - Central Flordia Jazz Society
Updated Sep 7, 1999

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