Page 110 - ION Indie Magazine November December 2019 Issue

Hendrix then signed with Pike Records in Bakersfield and cut four more sides at Gold Star. Of these, "Monkey
Bite" and "For Sentimental Reasons" were released in 1962. "Monkey Bite" got great reviews but limited
distribution because the lyrics were too sexually descriptive. The Pike session produced two more tracks,
"Jumpin' Johnny" and "Fooling Around," which remained unissued until 1985 when White Label in Holland
released them.

During these years, Al played all over the Los Angeles area at county fairs, shopping centers, clubs, and military
bases in Southern California. He also appeared on the Bakersfield television shows hosted by Jimmy Thomason.
One of his bands was Al and The Country Mixers, which performed on radio, TV, and at entertainment centers
in the area.

The sudden death of his publisher and hospitalization of his manager interrupted plans for bigger shows. But in
1971, Al released two more songs on LaGree, "Georgia Kate" and “Wait Until You Get a Whiff of My After Shave
Lotion" (also called "Mixing Fun" and "Shaving Lotion").

Music fans didn't hear much from Al Hendrix for a few years, but in 2006, he got together with producer and
engineer Jimmi Accardi to make a CD of old and new material. Al went back into the studio with great enthusiasm
and the same vibrant singing voice. "Good Girl I Ain't Got,” "When I'm Loving You,” "Rainbow's End,” "Diabetic
Man,” "The DJ,” "I Can Tell,” "Cock Fighter,” and "The Answer To It All" are some of the new recordings he made.
That project spurred a renewed interest in Al and his music, taking him on tours throughout Europe. Al's original
45 rpm records are now highly sought after for collectors of Rockabilly. Al continued recording with Accardi at
the producer's helm, releasing a Christmas CD plus an album of standards titled "Heart and Soul.” The success
of those projects prompted Al to pay tribute to one of his biggest influences, the great Hank Williams.

Pictured: Al Hendrix and Jimmi Accardi on stage