Joe Tex--I Gotcha (1972)

    In 1972, it looked as if the career of Joe Tex was beginning to wind down. His last big hit was five years before, and his unique style of spoken morality songs and humorous R&B was out of vogue. He had teamed with Nashville producer Buddy Killen in 1965 and found a formula that put him all over the charts from 65-67.

     Tex had a song he had written for King Floyd in the late 60's called, "I Gotcha", but Floyd never recorded it. Instead, Joe recorded it himself, but shelved it for a couple of years. Finally it was put as the "B" side of "A Mother's Prayer". It didn't take long for DJ's to flip it over and it shot up to #2 on the top 100 and #1 on the R& B charts. It was not only his biggest hit in five years, it was his biggest hit ever.

     Tex had converted to Islam in the late 60's and after his success alternated between touring as a spiritual lecturer and recording, with another top 20 hit in 1975. He died in 1982 of a heart attack at the age of 49.