“Ivory” Joe Hunter was born in Kirbyville, Texas, and moved to Port Arthur at an early age. He came from a large, musically gifted family—his father was a guitarist and preacher, and his mother sang spirituals. After losing both parents while still young, he lived with various relatives. At thirteen, Hunter began learning piano mostly by ear until his godmother arranged for formal lessons. He continued playing throughout grade school and at Lincoln High School in Port Arthur, where he also sang with the local Albert Church choir and several gospel quartets. Word of his powerful solos spread quickly, drawing listeners from across Texas. At sixteen, Hunter was recorded for the Library of Congress by noted folklorist Alan Lomax.

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Hunter performed solo until about 1935, when he formed a band with his brother Lee. They played clubs across Beaumont, Port Arthur, Orange, and Houston. During this time, Hunter expanded beyond gospel into blues and other secular styles and began writing his own songs. In 1943, he released his first record, “Blues at Sunrise,” on his own Oakland-based Ivory Records—one of the earliest Black-owned recording studios. Although the label was short-lived, the song was a regional success. Hunter later moved to Berkeley and co-founded Pacific Records with three KER Radio deejays, writing and recording numerous national hits. His compositions were widely covered, most famously by Elvis Presley, who reached No. 1 with “Ain’t That Loving You Baby” and “My Wish Came True.”

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By 1950, Hunter successfully crossed over from rhythm and blues to pop, hitting his career peak with MGM Records. He regularly charted in the R&B Top 10 with songs like “Landlord Blues” and “I Need You So.” His biggest hit, “I Almost Lost My Mind,” reached No. 1 on the R&B charts and became a bestseller in both England and Europe. Although his momentum slowed and MGM did not renew his contract, he returned to the Top 10 in the mid-1950s with Atlantic Records and the hit “Since I Met You Baby,” earning a gold record presented on The Ed Sullivan Show. Hunter wrote tirelessly throughout his life, eventually amassing an astonishing catalog of 7,000 songs by 1972.

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Shortly before his death from cancer in 1974, Hunter received a tribute at the Grand Ole Opry for his recordings of Hank Williams’ songs and was honored with a BMI Songwriter Award. After his passing, the Texas Legislature issued a resolution recognizing his immense contributions to music in Texas and worldwide. He was laid to rest in his hometown of Kirbyville. Known onstage as “The Baron of the Boogie” and “The Happiest Man Alive,” Ivory Joe Hunter left a legacy that crossed genres, generations, and audiences.