Jules Alexander & The Association

Jules Alexander (born September 25th, 1943, Chattanooga, Tennessee), an original member of the group The Association (vocals, lead guitar), used his middle name Gary on the group's first 2 albums. In 1967 Jules Alexander left the group to study meditation in India, returning to the group he had helped found in early 1969. He continued recording & touring with the group until leaving the group in early 1989. In September 2003, when the group was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, he joined former members at the induction ceremony in Niles, Ohio. He again rejoined the others for the taping of a PBS 60s rock music special 60's Experience on December 9th, 2004.
Once upon a time, The Association owned a large chunk of the pop-rock landscape.
During the late 1960s, the group charted numerous radio-friendly hits such as “Cherish,” “Never My Love,” “Windy” and “Along Comes Mary.”
Fifty years later, those classic songs have sustained the group who maintain a loyal following.
“It’s just amazing to see these 70-year-old people turn back into kids when we play those songs,” says Jules Alexander, lead guitarist, vocalist and co-founder member of The Association. “We have a shared body of experience with our audience and it’s so much fun to play for them.”
The Association is also sharing an experience with five other headline artists of the ’60s and ’70s when The Happy Together Tour returns to Phoenix’s Celebrity Theater at 8 p.m. Friday, July 21.
The acclaimed summer tour is back and will feature 53 Billboard hits and some of the biggest songs of the era. In addition to the Association, the lineup includes The Turtles featuring Flo & Eddie, The Box Tops, The Cowsills, Chuck Negron formerly of Three Dog Night and The Archies’ Ron Dante.
The Association is one of the most popular and successful bands to have come out of the ’60s. They have sold millions of records and have seven Grammy Award nominations, and kicked off the historic Monterey Pop Festival in 1967.
“It was a magical time and I remember having a great talk with Janis Joplin that weekend,” Alexander says. “We were backstage and just started talking about this, that and the other. It was the coolest thing.”
He also thinks being a part of The Happy Together tour is cool, too.
“I’ve known some of these folks and maintained a relationship with them for more than 50 years and then we’ve made some new friends, like the Cowsills, who are the funniest and most interesting people I think I’ve ever met in the music business,” Alexander says.
Alexander says he also likes the format of the show, which allots each band 20 minutes to play its greatest hits.
“We’d always want to play more but it’s fun to go out there and go petal to the metal,” Alexander says. “If you’re doing 30 songs, you have to pace yourself. On this tour, we don’t have to worry about it.”

[@thequarantinecatholic]

Jules is one of the most humble intelligent people I have ever met! Such a kind man!!!!

[@dchanson55]

Great songs, GREAT VOCALS/HARMONIES! I'm going to learn Cherish!

[@gillysmusic]

I love Jules. I recently heard Dubuque Blues and him singing lead on Alone Comes Mary, fantastic!

[@ronwells5624]

Thanks Rick, in this great interview Jules Alexander tells the story of The Association! The group's music is classic!

[@randyfreeze789]

Thank God I found this interview! My favorite band of all time! Always wanted to know inspiration for "Dubuque Blues". Have to go there now. Beautiful song! Also have to try Goose Island.

[@gillysmusic]

Also, check out Jules singing Along Comes Mary, a kick-ass version of the original ;)

[@randyfreeze789]

@@gillysmusic will do!!

[@lenpey]

Dylan had Hwy 61 Revisited in 65. The Byrds first album was the same year. The Association would not debut until a year later. So I don't know about the first folk-rock claims. But, I tell you what, Along Comes Mary has a strong jazz accent to it. That might be the first jazz-rock song, years ahead of time.

[@bohall]

Wrecking creew did the backing group

[@PlateOshrimp499]

Yes and no. Some albums were just the lads, including of course 1970's Live album, as well as their second album Renaissance and their eponymous 5th album. Their first album, which contained 2 of their biggest hits featured the band playing along with the aid of studio musicians, which actually weren't the Wrecking Crew. However, you're certainly right that the Wrecking Crew did the playing on their Birthday and Insight Out among others, which resulted in some monster hits!

[@tantraman10]

Saw them SEVERAL times live. Record companies, often insisted that the Wrecking Crew augment and sometimes replace groups' instrumentation. HOWEVER, I can attest to how well the Association played in concert with NO NEED for augmentation!!!

[@tubularbill]

Russ looks like Ned Flanders