Professor Alex Bradford was born in Bessemer, AL in 1927. He attended Snow Hill Institute in Snow Hill, AL. After leaving Bessemer due to a racial incident, he relocated to Chicago, IL. He later formed various gospel groups and recorded “Too Close To Heaven” in 1954, which sold over one million copies. He also served as director of the gospel division of Specialty Records during the 1950s. Bradford played a role in shaping the styles of Little Richard, Ray Charles, and even Sam Cooke, all of whose work reflects careful study of his aptitudes and antics. He died in 1979 of a stroke at age 51.
