Alex “King Alex” Littlejohn

King-Alex was born July 29, 1934 and passed away March 15, 2008. He was a career musician and performed at local venues, regional and national blues and jazz festivals. He performed with the late Tommy Soul, Lester “Wizard” King, Albert Collins, B.B. King, Jerry Lee Lewis, Lawrence Wright and the Outlets, Leon Estelle, “Little-Joe” Robinson and Claude “Fiddler” Williams – just to name a few.
Williams and formal training at UMKC’s Conservatory of Music helped Alex refine his ability to play the bass. He was the first African-American bassist to play an electric bass in Kansas City through the Conservatory. Provine “Little” Hatch, George Jackson and many others performed with King-Alex at area venues to include Club Paradox, Mack’s Tavern, Kansas City Blues and Jazz Festival, and the Epicurean. He has several recordings to his credit to include Hot as a Coffee Pot, Huchia-Cuthia Lovin’ Man (Circa 1963), Sweet Banana Pie, Little Girl from New Orleans, and Grinding Stone. Littlejohn was inducted into the Elder Statesmen of Kansas City Jazz in 2002 along with former employer and life-long friend Richard “Dick” Berkley.