Contrary to widespread belief, James Alexander's relationship, which produced his son Phalon, was not with R&B and gospel singer Deniece "Niecy" Williams, but rather with another woman (herself an experienced singer) named Denise Williams.
[3] James Alexander was the bassist for the Bar-Kays when four of the six band members, including Phalon Jones, were killed in the same plane crash that claimed the life of soul singer Otis Redding.
[citation needed] Alexander had the task of identifying the bodies of his bandmates, as well as that of Redding.
[citation needed] After the crash, Ben Cauley, the sole survivor among those who were aboard the plane, worked with Alexander to reform the band.
[1] Subsequent work included the soundtrack recording of the Academy Award-winning theme song from the 1971 feature film Shaft, on which Alexander played bass guitar.