Chalmers Alford

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Chalmers Edward "Spanky" Alford (May 22, 1955 – March 24, 2008)^[1] was an American jazz guitarist. Alford was born in Philadelphia. He was well known for his playing style and use of arpeggiations. He had an illustrious career as a gospel quartet guitar player in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s with groups such as the Mighty Clouds of Joy.

Later in life, he found a new career in the neo-soul movement of the 1990s and 2000s, most notably contributing to the sounds of D'Angelo and Tony Toni Toné. Alford played guitar as part of The Soultronics (D'angelo's band for his 2000 "Voodoo" tour), alongside Questlove, James Poyser, Pino Palladino, and Anthony Hamilton. He was a teacher, and was credited with teaching Raphael Saadiq among others to play guitar. He played on several albums with artists such as Joss Stone, John Mayer, Mary J. Blige, Raphael Saadiq, D'Angelo and Roy Hargrove.^[2]

Though he retired from touring years prior, Alford made a rare public appearance performing with the John Mayer Trio as a surprise guest on September 26, 2005, during their stop in Nashville, Tennessee. It is his last known public performance. Audio from the show eventually ended up on the Trio's only official release, a compilation of performances from the tour called Try!, appearing on the title track at the end of the album.

Alford died in March 2008, at the age of 52, in Huntsville, Alabama due to complications from diabetes.^[3]

Discography[]

As sideman/guest

• Stan Jones, Out of the Shadows
• D'Angelo, Voodoo
• D'Angelo, Black Messiah
• The Roots, Illadelph Halflife, Things Fall Apart
• Joss Stone, Introducing Joss Stone
• Vikter Duplaix, Bold and Beautiful
• John Mayer, Continuum
• John Mayer Trio, Try!
• Vick Allen, Simply Soul
• Evelyn Turrentine-Agee, Call Jesus
• Evelyn Turrentine-Agee, Go Through
• Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Shaheedullah and Stereotypes
• A Tribe Called Quest, The Love Movement
• Roy Hargrove, Strength
• Norman Brown, West Coast Coolin'
• The Canton Spirituals, New Life: Live in Harvey, IL
• Rhian Benson, Gold Coast
• Roy Hargrove, Hard Groove
• Angie Stone, Black Diamond
• Raphael Saadiq, Instant Vintage
• Anthony Hamilton
• Bee Gees, Still Waters
• 2Pac, Until the End of Time
• Al Green, Lay It Down
• The Mighty Clouds of Joy, Pray for Me
• D'Angelo and the Vanguard, Black Messiah

References[]