Alex Harvey

1941–2020 · American country singer-songwriter · Capitol Records

Thomas Alexander Harvey was born in Haywood County, Tennessee in 1941 and took a master’s degree in music from Murray State before making his name as a Nashville songwriter. His songs travelled far further than his own records did — Kenny Rogers alone cut eighteen of them, and “Reuben James” and “Delta Dawn” became standards. He recorded “Delta Dawn” himself for his debut Capitol album in 1971, and later acted in Dallas, The Dukes of Hazzard and Walker, Texas Ranger. He died on 4 April 2020.

Who recorded it

Songs Alex Harvey recorded first

Delta Dawn

Recorded it first — now often credited to Helen Reddy

Did they really say it?

Thought Alex Harvey said something else?

Type a quote you think Alex Harvey said — we’ll tell you what we know, or point you to the best sources.