Blues Search Engine: Linsey Alexander

Born in Mississippi and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, Linsey Alexander discovered on Chicago's south side a down to earth city that truly understands and appreciates music. In much the same way as many great blues artists before him, he grew up in a poor but honest and hard working family, learning early on that music has the power to lift the spirit and comfort the soul. In Linsey Alexander's own words, "Blues music is not hard - it's just a documentary about life." His first guitar - a gift from a family friend who played on the front stoop of Linsey Alexander's home in Memphis - was never retrieved from the pawn shop where he left it almost 50 years ago. Using the money to help pay his way to Chicago, he now plays a variety of Gibson and Epiphone guitars, and since 1959, Linsey Alexander has been perfecting the art of entertainment blues for the sheer and simple pleasure of it. His easy smile and unpretentious personality define a charismatic entertainer who loves to perform; and perform he does! Although having played with B.B. King, Bobby Rush, Buddy Guy, Little Milton, Magic Slim, Johnnie Taylor, A.C. Reed, and other great blues performers, Linsey Alexander has remained resolutely true to his own style. His current release, Someone’s Cookin' In My Kitchen, is a compilation of original Blues and R&B tunes. Linsey Alexander is thankful for the good things in his life, and now at last, seems willing to realize that the friends who encouraged him to keep playing over the years may have known a thing or two about talent. Maybe, just maybe, he's ready to believe.