TNS African-Americans In Country Music Week- Big Al Downing

Big Al spent his early childhood tending to horses and cattle his family raised, and singing with two of his brothers, his father, and a sister in a Gospel group. He spent his early years listening to Country music and saw no reason why a black man couldn't achieve success as a Country musician. He told the Boston Herald in 1998, "I grew up in Oklahoma hauling hay, riding horses and doing all the things country folk do. So how can anyone say Country music is white?" By the age of 14, he was performing at community functions and high school proms. His greatest influence early on was Fats Domino, and it was his impression of his idol singing “Blueberry Hill” that won him first prize at the local Coffeyville, Kansas radio station. After the contest, Bobby Poe, a local singer who heard him play in the contest, asked him to join his band. Big Al forfeited a basketball scholarship to Kansas State University and accepted Poe’s offer. They played locally in Kansas and Oklahoma, in VFW halls and Country beer joints. At the age of 17 he became a professional entertainer with the Bobby Poe and the Poe Cats making $2-$5 a night. This was the beginning of his 52 year career.

Big Al’s big break came when Country entertainer Wanda Jackson needed a back-up singer to tour with her and contacted Poe’s band. While touring with Wanda, Big Al performed in all the West and Midwestern states opening for Marty Robbins, Bobby Bare, Red Sovine, Pete Drake and Don Gibson. In California he played piano on one of Wanda’s biggest recordings, “Let’s Have a Party”, released in 1960, with back-up provided by Gene Vincent’s Blue Caps. The single was an enormous hit in Japan and Europe, reaching No. 32 in the U.K. and the Top 40 on the U.S. Pop charts.

Big Al had one of the most chequered careers in show business, with stardom always slightly out of reach. However, he is one of a few black performers to foray across the musical spectrum of Disco, Pop, Rhythm and Blues, Rock 'n' Roll, Gospel and Country. He became one of the country's most prominent African American country artists, along with Charley Pride and Stoney Edwards. He had 15 songs that made Billboard's Top 100 country music chart, including three that reached the Top 20, and he appeared on hundreds of records. Big Al's impact on the country genre is far-reaching as his music, a soul-based "True" country sound, won this veteran songwriter, musician and performer fans around the globe. He appeared several times on Hee Haw and was a favorite on Nashville Now. He performed frequently at the Grand Ole Opry and has been inducted into several music hall-of-fames, most notable the Rockabilly Hall of Fame in 2000 and the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame. A beloved entertainer, Big Al would perform over 75 key dates per year, and appeared at Ontario's prestigious Havelock Country Jamboree with Kenny Rogers and Roy Clark.

He passed away on July 4th, 2005 at the age of 65 from acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.