Al Dexter, born Clarence Albert Poindexter on May 4, 1905, was an American country musician and songwriter, renowned for his significant contributions to the country genre during the 1930s and 1940s. Hailing from Jacksonville, Texas, Dexter found fame with a style that blended traditional country with Western swing, and he is often credited with helping to popularize what would become known as honky-tonk music. His career took a decisive turn in 1940 when he signed with Okeh Records, where his music found a wide audience.

Dexter's most enduring legacy lies in his knack for songwriting, with his most famous song, "Pistol Packin' Mama," released in 1943, becoming a nationwide hit and later being covered by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters. Throughout his career, he accumulated a series of hits, including tracks like "Guitar Polka" and "Rosie the Riveter," which captured the zeitgeist of World War II America. His influence on country music was recognized when he was posthumously inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1971. Although Al Dexter passed away on January 28, 1984, his music lives on, as evidenced by collections such as "Golden Country: Best Of Al Dexter," "Al Dexter's Found Masters Vol. 1," and "Presenting Al Dexter," which continue to celebrate his enduring musical legacy.