Dave Alexander RIP

From Bob Corritore

• RIP Dave Alexander AKA Omar Shariff - March 10, 1938 to January 8, 2012. Not to be confused with the famous actor of the same name, Omar Shariff was a Louisiana born, Texas raised blues piano player. He was found dead at his Sacramento home on Jan 8 of self inflicted gunshot wounds. He was 73. A brilliant songwriter, a stirring vocalist, and articulate jazz-spiced blues piano player, Shariff had s persona that was serious and intense. He recorded a series of acclaimed CDs on the World Pacific, Arhoolie, and Have Mercy labels. He first recorded under the name Dave Alexander but would later record as Omar Shariff. His music often had a dark, haunting quality to it. To read the obit in the Longview, Texas News Journal, click here http://www.news-journal.com/news/local/boogie-woogie-legend-dies/article_7b0ba07b-def7-5e8a-bdc6-3eaed15e7c62.html?mode=story. To hear him perform his song "The Raven" click http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvQPKk2JUpA
  
  
  
  
  UPDATE from Bob Corritore
  

  • Correction to Omar Shariff Obit. Bay Area blues promoter Thomas Mazzolini sends this correction and his personal insight to our Dave Alexander AKA Omar Shariff obit; "Dave Alexander shot himself in Marshall, Texas. He had moved there from California in 2011.  I cannot understand why he would take his own life given that he had embarked on a new career and location where he appeared to be working more often and was appreciated for his skills and legacy. The only thing that I could think of was depression. Perhaps a moment of utter despair. I was sickened over the news upon hearing it early Monday morning. While in Sacramento we had often spoken and of course I booked him many times especially in the early years".