Big Al spent his early childhood tending to horses and cattle his family raised, and singing with two of his brothers, his father, and a sister in a Gospel group. He spent his early years listening to Country music and saw no reason why a black man couldn't achieve success as a Country musician. He told the Boston Herald in 1998, "I grew up in Oklahoma hauling hay, riding horses and doing all the things country folk do.  So how can anyone say Country music is white?" By the age of 14, he was performing at community functions and high school proms. His greatest influence early on was Fats Domino, and it was his impression of his idol singing “Blueberry Hill” that won him first prize at the local Coffeyville, Kansas radio station. After the contest, Bobby Poe, a local singer who heard him play in the contest, asked him to join his band.  Big Al forfeited a basketball scholarship to Kansas State University and accepted Poe’s offer. They played locally in Kansas and Oklahoma, in VFW halls and Country beer joints. At the age of 17 he became a professional entertainer with the Bobby Poe and the Poe Cats making $2-$5 a night. This was the beginning of his 52 year career.

Big Al’s big break came when Country entertainer Wanda Jackson needed a back-up singer to tour with her and contacted Poe’s band. While touring with Wanda, Big Al performed in all the West and Midwestern states opening for Marty Robbins, Bobby Bare, Red Sovine, Pete Drake and Don Gibson. In California he played piano on one of Wanda’s biggest recordings, “Let’s Have a Party”, released in 1960, with back-up provided by Gene Vincent’s Blue Caps. The single was an enormous hit in Japan and Europe, reaching No. 32 in the U.K. and the Top 40 on the U.S. Pop charts.