Mike Holbrook: I’m just gonna give you some thoughts on Ursula. We met in 1969. At the time she was working in advertising. I was playing in the Hampton grease band and working pretty regularly at the 12th gate. We were living together and she was a regular there.
She always thought the 12th gate should be more than an Atlanta coffee house. She started a relationship with robin feld who was helping run the 12th gate at the time. Ursula’s goal was to expose Atlanta to music that was important, vital and had something to say . she had the people smart ability to raise the money needed for a beer and wine license. It was endless work. 7 days a week.
The first major jazz artist to perform was McCoy tyner. That first night , I think, changed Atlantas musical consciousness. She had a great Relationship with the musicians. When rashan Roland Kirk performed there , it was magic. He led the entire audience out of the club playing flute, they sang and danced up 10th st to west Peachtree and back. Kirk played there 3 nights. He called ursula “ miss Ann”, Gave her a bird whistle from his vest.
The list goes on. Elvin jones, little feat, weather report. Weather report , invited to our apartment for dinner. Urusla made an entire meal for the band. The great bill evans. Not in the best of health at the time. She spent Hours making him feel comfortable and at home.
The club was small. Between paying the musicians and beer and wine politics with the city it was a constant struggle that couldn’t survive. But it definitely changed Atlanta and its musical attitude.
She worked just as hard at the great southeast music hall. I always knew when Martin mull was in town Or Tom waits because I had to load up basically part of our living room For stage set up. They liked a comfortable chair, a lamp , end table and various rugs.
She made a difference in Atlanta. She made a difference in LA and New York. She certainly made a difference in my life.
Bio: Born April 24, 1947, Ursula Alexander was the daughter of the late Ursula Kes Alexander and Colonel J. Paul Alexander, Jr. She lived the life of a military officer’s child in Japan in the 1950s, returning to the American South in her teenage years and early 20s. Having lived in Atlanta and the suburbs of the city in the 1970s she is remembered there for finding talent and producing shows on the Strip such as 12th Gate and Great Southeast Music Hall.
Ursula Alexander died in Charleston, South Carolina on July 8, 2022. She is survived by one child, Lucy Alexander of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Club Work in Atlanta
12th Gate
Great Southeast Music Hall
Movie and Television CreditsGreased Lightning (1977) Location Manager
The Displaced Person (1977)
(TV Movie) – Assistant To Producer
The Great Bank Hoax (1977)
Unit Production Manager
Summer of my German Soldier (1978) Unit Manager
Better Late Than Never (1979)Production Associate
Shirley (1979)
(TV Series) – Assistant To Producer (1 episode, 1979)
Visions of Christmas Past (Dec 28, 1979) Season 1, Episode 10 – Assistant To Producer
Rivkin: Bounty Hunter (1981) Associate Producer
The Phoenix (1982)
(TV Series) – Production Coordinator (1 episode, 1982)
One of Them (Apr 2, 1982) Season 1, Episode 2 – Production Coordinator
Dynasty (1982-88) Co-producer
This Girl for Hire (1983)
(TV Movie) – Production Coordinator
The Proposal (1985) Assistant Producer
The Colbys (1986) Associate Producer
Dead End (1987) Associate Producer
Diabetes: A Positive Approach to Life and Financial Success (Well, Life Anyway) (1989)
(Video) – Producer