Ray Alexander
piano

www.rayalexandermusic.com

Ray Alexander bought his first keyboard with money he saved from his paper route when he was 12.

Ray has played with many great names and has traveled to many countries playing piano, including Monaco, Italy, Sweden, France and Denmark-as well as Bermuda where he lived for a year with his family. Ray has arranged and played off-Broadway musicals such as Jesus Christ Superstar, Side by Side by Sondheim, and a Matter of Opinion, among others. Some of the "fun" gigs have been playing for Mario Cuomo's campaign, a jam session in Tivoli Gardens, Denmark, and playing Dixieland in New Orleans. Under the guidance of the Director of Carnegie Hall, Julius Bloom, Ray coordinated a musical concert series that was broadcast live by WQXR radio station in New York. One of his guests was a then-young and now famous cellist, Yo-Yo Ma. For the last 20 years Ray has been the church organist at the Diamond Point Community Church in Diamond Point NY and most recently the accompanist at the Lake George Junior and Senior High School Choruses. Ray would like to acknowledge and thank the late Lennie Tristano, Margaret Neuman, Garry Dial, and Booker T. Gibson for their influence and inspiration.

He lives in Queensbury, New York with his wife and the last of 3 sons where he has a successful teaching practice in addition to his performance schedule.

The Ray Alexander Trio is Ray's main ensemble. He has been performing with them at the Sagamore Resort in Bolton Landing regularly since 1985 and at many other events including the Lake George Jazz Weekend. It is at the Sagamore that he is given the title "The Versatile and Ever Popular Ray Alexander". The main ensemble consists of Ray Alexander on Piano, Greg Brown on Bass, and Ted Mackenzie on Drums. The Trio's music can be heard on their album "On the Veranda".

Ray's band Island Storm, often popular for dancing, consists of the rhythm section, a singer, and the option of horns and/or guitar.