Jules Alexander

Alexander was an optical technician in the navy based in Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, 1962,[1] when he met salesman Terry Kirkman. The two became friends and promised to meet up when Alexander was discharged.

A year later, Alexander discharged, and they started a band called the Inner Tubes, that played at the Troubadour nightclub in West Hollywood.[1] The band's personnel constantly changed, with some of its members including Cass Elliot (later of the Mamas & the Papas) and David Crosby (later of the Byrds and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young).[1]

By late 1964/early 1965, the Inner Tubes would slowly shift from a small folk ensemble into a 13-piece folk group called the Men. When the Men broke up, the two and four other members formed the Association. Before his career took off, Alexander was a bouncer at a nightclub, and often rode to work in a motorcycle owned by Steppenwolf frontman John Kay.[1]

The Association signed to Valiant Records in 1966 and their first album, And Then... Along Comes the Association, was produced. A second album, Renaissance, was released a bit after. On all releases from 1966 to 1967, he was credited as Gary Alexander (his middle name), but would use the name Jules from 1969 onwards.

Alexander in 1966

The Association quickly grew in popularity when their singles "Cherish" and "Along Comes Mary", charted in the Top 10. Alexander was a key songwriter for the group, along with Kirkman and Yester. Alexander’s most notable songs he co-wrote were “Changes”, “Looking Glass”, and “Pandora’s Golden Heebie Jeebies”. Alexander was the main arranger in the band.

Alexander left in 1967 to study meditation in India, and was replaced by Larry Ramos (previously of the New Christy Minstrels fame). Whilst in India, Alexander converted to Buddhism and still follows the religion. During the 1967-69 period Alexander was absent with the band, they achieved higher commercial success with appearances on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and The Ed Sullivan Show, and the million-selling songs "Windy", "Never My Love", and "Everything That Touches You".

After a short stint with Joshua Fox, Alexander returned to the Association in 1969.

The Association were main contributors to the soundtrack of the 1969 film Goodbye, Columbus, and in addition, sang the title theme. They were nominated for an Golden Globe Award for Best Song for Motion Picture.[2]

Alexander remained until 1974, when he left to form a short-lived band called Bijou. They were nearly signed to A&M Records, but the deal fell through.[1]

Alexander wrote the music for the 1974 sci-fi movie UFO: Target Earth and recorded the music for it in Ike Turner’s studio.[1]

Alexander returned to the Association for a third tenure from 1979 to 1989. During this time, he briefly played bass guitar.

In September 2003, the Association was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. Alexander joined other members at the induction ceremony in Niles, Ohio.[3] A year later, Alexander and the then-surviving members of the 1960s lineup briefly reunited for the taping of a PBS 1960s rock music special '60s Experience on December 9, 2004.

Alexander returned to the Association in January 2012, and has remained a member since. Alexander was a data wrangler prior to rejoining in 2012 in Texas.[4]

During the Coronavirus pandemic lockdown, Alexander announced he was working on a solo album in his home studio.[1]

Alexander lives in Texas with is wife of over 30 years.[1]