TreyAlexanderBand

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2006
Trey Alexander Performance - Winner
Trey Alexander has always had a love for music, but he never expected the guitar would completely change and inspire his life. The first guitar he played was a decorative picked up by his father for their home. The old guitar provoked curiosity, and he picked it up and began to play. It didn't take long before he started playing melodies—as well as for his parents to realize he had a natural ear for music. Alexander entered his first guitar competition a few months later, and won first place.

A few years later, Alexander's father died unexpectedly. He truly believed his son would be a great guitar player. Although life would no longer be the same, Alexander realized he needed to continue living his dream, and carry on the legacy of his greatest influence and supporter—his father.

Alexander put all his energy into his group—the Trey Alexander Band—which released its first album in 2000. He also established a more fusion based progressive band, Sonic Lux-a project that is heavily influenced by Steve Vai, Chick Corea, and Béla Fleck.

Alexander currently teaches guitar, and is in the studio working on his next full-length album. His dream is to reach the entire world with his devotion and enthusiasm for music. - Guitar Player Magazine

TREY ALEXANDER - Trey Alexander picked up his first guitar at age 15. It was an antique acoustic model that his parents used as a decorative piece in their home. Although he had always loved music, this was Alexander’s first instrument and he began practicing so much that he wore the winding off of the strings. This is when Alexander’s dad, his biggest fan and inspiration, realized that his son was more than a curious teenager with an old guitar. Within a few weeks of discovering this instrument, Alexander began playing regularly at open mics and jam sessions and won his first guitar competition. When Alexander was 18, he saw Steve Vai perform live in concert, an experience he describes as "awe-inspiring." He stayed up all night describing the experience to his father, who listened to him play for hours. His father told him, "You will be one of the best guitar players who has ever lived." Those words were his father’s last as he died of a brain hemorrhage that night. Alexander realized that he needed to live his dream, to be a musician, and carry on his father’s legacy.

With his father’s words fresh in his mind, Alexander put all of his energy into music. His band, The Trey Alexander Band, practiced everyday for the following few years and released a self-titled album in 2000.

In 2002, Alexander started the band, Sonic Lux, a pop fusion jam band with whom he plays presently. Along with bassist, singer and keyboardist, Hassan Ali and drummer Woody Campbell, Sonic Lux plays regularly at venues in southeastern Pennsylvania and along the east coast. They released a four-song EP in 2004 and plan to release an album in fall 2007.

In 2006, came the fulfillment of Alexander’s dream and his father’s words. Alexander entered Guitar Player Magazine’s Guitar Hero competition in San Francisco, CA. After competing against the other nine finalists and in front of judges such as Joe Satriani, Steve Lukather and Richie Kotzen, he was named Guitar Hero 2006. He has since appeared in Guitar Player Magazine seven times.

As a result of his win, Alexander was invited to play at Muriel Anderson’s All Star Guitar Night at the NAMM Show in January 2007. Alexander also has many endorsements including: Peavey, Ernie Ball, DiMarzio, Radial/Tone Bone, Tom Anderson Guitar Works, George L, Buddha, Tremol-No, Keeley Electronics, Suhr and Guitar Player Magazine.

Alexander is currently employed at Manor Music Mansion in Millersville, PA as a guitar teacher. He has about eighty students each week and enjoys teaching because he values his role as a mentor and motivator to the students. He has even created a forum on his website for the students so they always have a place to go for advice outside their lessons. Alexander has studied with Dave Weiner, a 7-year member of the Steve Vai Band and continues his studies with Greg Howe.

Trey is currently working on instruction guitar videos that will be released through TrueFire. You can also catch Alexander teaching master guitar classes at the Premier Guitar Show in September in Boston where he will also perform with Stu Hamm.

While Alexander’s accomplishments are numerous and impressive, his musical vision and career are far from complete. Joe Satriani said of Alexander’s performance, Alexander "put on a well-paced performance that showed me he had good technique, tone and his own sense of style… he didn’t buckle under the pressure. He appeared sincere and communicated well with the band…toward the end of his performance, he really let loose and showed us the showman lurking in his otherwise mellow character; it was really a stroke of genius the way he played the crowd…I have a feeling we will be hearing great things from Trey to come." - Muriel Anderson

Trey kindly shares his competition secrets
What competitions have you been involved in?
I was the winner of Guitar Player’s 2006 Guitar Hero Competition.

How long have you been playing?
Ten years

Who are some of your biggest influences?
Steve Vai, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Bela Fleck, Stevie Wonder, Guthrie Govan and Greg Howe.

What gear makes up your favorite rig?
For guitars, it’s a Peavey HP Special, Tom Anderson Drop Classic, Jeff Beck Stratocaster, and an Ibanez Jem. For effects, I like a Radial Tone Bone Classic, Keeley Compressor, TS-9 DX Flexi 4x2, Boss DS-1 Ultra Mod, Budda Wah and a T-Rex Replica Delay. Occasionally, I run a TC-Electronics G-Force processor. My amps are a Hot Rod Deluxe and a Mesa Boogie Roadster.

What sets you apart from other guitarists?
I think that music is an art form and that we should all be so lucky to even get the chance to be involved in music. I have been so fortunate in my life to have good friends and family that music is just the icing on the cake! I just hope I can do something for the world to make it a better place. I remember my dad once telling me to be passionate about whatever I choose to do. I just hope that I can make music that can ignite an interest in other people the way my first influences did for me. I want as many people as possible to enjoy the wonderful gift that is music!

Tell us an interesting story from your competition experience.
I would have to say that night backstage at the American Music Hall in San Francisco for the Guitar Hero competition would have to be one of the most surreal moments of my life. I had never been to California, let alone to a big competition. It was unbelievable. As I sat down beside my wife backstage for dinner I stared down the hall and happened to see Richie Kotzen – what a guitar god. This guy has the whole package, an unbelievable voice, great presence and is one of the best guitar players in the world. I had listened to him for quite sometime so to actually get to meet him was really ridiculous! Then right after that Steve Lukather and Joe Satriani walked down the hall. I thought for sure I was going to wake up soon – you know how it goes, as soon as the dream gets good you wake up – but this time I didn’t wake up. It was really a dream come true!

When I first arrived I got to meet the people from Guitar Player magazine who ended up being some of the nicest people I have ever met. I had been reading the magazine since I was a kid, and I feel like I met a group of really great friends out there.

After being announced as the 2006 Guitar Hero I stood on stage with nine of the best guitarists in the country. I could not stop smiling – I felt so lucky just to be there. To have even made the bracket was unreal. All of the emotions over the last ten years just flooded out of me. I just didn’t have words for the feelings I had in my heart. When I was 18 my father passed away. He was one of the greatest people I have ever known and his biggest dream was to watch me succeed in music. He put all of his extra time and effort supporting me. So to finally give my father that dream it was like I got to see him one more time and tell him I loved him.

Can you give PG readers three tips for competitions?
1) Be thankful! I always try and remember how fortunate I am to be alive, healthy, and to have had all of the wonderful people in my life. I also try and remember my influences. Jason Becker is one of the finest musicians in the world today and at the age of 18 was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease and he is still composing beautiful music. I am just happy to wake up and play let alone be invited to these wonderful events.

2) One thing I always try and remember is that doing drugs can severely hinder your progression as a musician. I remember a great mentor told me once. “I am as high as I ever want to be when I am playing music!” I feel the same way. I have so much excitement for music that I would hate to have any of that changed. Drugs are a waste of time and energy. I have seen a lot of people including some really great friends and musicians ruin their lives due to drugs. There is no way you can perform at your peak level if your brain is running a couple of cylinders short. Stay sober and you are bound to perform better!

3) Be passionate. Enjoy every minute that you are involved in something so special. Remember it might be your last moment to enjoy this wonderful journey. Play every note and enjoy every beautiful sound that comes out of your best friend – the six string! Kenny Werner says, “There are no wrong notes!” and “Humans make this stuff up!” And he is right, so play every note with the same love and passion as the last.

What is a no-no at a competition?
No drinking or staying up late! Musicians have a habit for partying all night and sleeping all day. Competitions are an extreme amount of work so you want to make sure you are mentally prepared as well as physically prepared. There is no substitute for sleeping well; I hate sleeping, but a couple weeks before the competition I would set a certain bed time so that I would get a good 7 to 8 hours of quality sleep. I also had a workout regiment every day and practiced any where from 10 to 15 hours a day. It is really good for your mind to have a good routine.

What is next on your horizon?
I am recording a full-length album with the band Sonic Lux. I have been very lucky to hook up with two really talented individuals, Hassan Ali (Bass and Vocals) and Woody Campbell (Drums). These guys are superb musicians and composers. I am so excited to finish up the album and set up a tour for next year. I also have two instructional videos coming out next year through TrueFire.

How can PG readers find more out about you?
We have a website for the band and I also have a personal website:
https://www.treyalexander.net
https://www.soniclux.net
https://www.myspace.com/treyalexander1
https://www.myspace.com/soniclux - Premier Guitar

"You will be the best guitar player who has ever lived."

Morris Conley Alexander II uttered those words to his son one night in November 1999.

A few hours later, he suffered a fatal brain hemorrhage.

At the time of his father's death, Trey Alexander was 18 and learning to master the instrument that helped him forge a close bond with his father.

And then his dad - his biggest fan - was gone.

On Sept. 23, Alexander unleashed years of guitar lessons, open mics, jam sessions and memories of his father on a stage in San Francisco.

His inspired performance was enough to beat nine competitors from around the world to take the title of Guitar Player magazine's Guitar Hero 2006.


Trey Alexander, right, and Joe Satriani, one of the Guitar Hero judges
The win earned Alexander two guitars, an amplifier and a feature story in Guitar Player, but it gave him much more.

"(The judges) gave me something I'll never be able to repay ... and that's the dream of my father," Alexander said.

"I was lucky to have an incredible dad, and every day I wake up, that's all I can think about."

'I just closed my eyes'
The competition was judged by some of the top guitarists in the world: Joe Satriani, who counts Steve Vai among his pupils; Steve Lukather of Toto; and Richie Kotzen, who played with Poison and Mr. Big.

The other judges were Rafael Moreira, lead guitarist for the CBS series "Rock Star"; Shredmistress Rynata, who runs Go-Girl Records and FemMuse, an online musician network geared toward female artists; and Steve Read, head of artists'to relations at Musician's Friends.

Alexander played an original tune, "The Modern Equivalent."

"I don't really remember much of playing the song," he said. "I just closed my eyes and hoped everything went OK.

"I could feel (the crowd's) energy."

So could the judges.

In an e-mail, Satriani said Alexander "put on a well-paced performance that showed me he had good technique, tone and his own sense of style.

"He didn't buckle under the pressure. He appeared sincere and communicated well with the band," Satriani wrote.

"Toward the end of his performance, he really let loose and showed us the showman lurking in his otherwise mellow character; it was really a stroke of genius the way he played the crowd.


"I have a feeling we will be hearing great things from Trey for years to come."

Biggest supporter
Alexander came across his first guitar at age 15. His parents ran an antiques shop, and his father had picked up an old guitar as a decorative piece for their home.

Although he had never played before, Trey took to the instrument.


Trey Alexander plays his guitar with Mike O'Hara (not pictured) in Alexander's lesson room at Music Mansion in Millersville.
ANDY BLACKBURN | Staff Photographer
Once his parents realized he had a natural ear for music, his father bought Alexander a better guitar and found him a music teacher.

Alexander soon entered his first guitar competition and won first place.

Alexander's father became his biggest supporter, booking his son's first gig and taking him to every open mic and jam session he could find.

Trey Alexadner
Trey Alexander and his Jeff Beck Fender Stratocaster in this photo from 2002.
CHRIS KNIGHT | LNP File Photo
In November 1999, after returning home from a Steve Vai concert, an excited Alexander shared his experience with his father and then played for him for hours.

Before going to bed, Morris hugged his son and whispered the words of encouragement that would be the last thing he ever said to Trey.

'I felt my dad there'
Since his father's death, Alexander has made it a point to "carry on the legacy of the greatest influence in my life."

Although he's still on an emotional high from winning the competition, Alexander has managed to return to his daily routine.

He teaches guitar at Manor Music Mansion in Lancaster and also teaches his craft through Music Virtuosity, an online Web cam music lessons community venture.

Always looking to improve his skills, Alexander takes lessons from Greg Howe, the innovative, critically acclaimed guitarist who has released several solo albums and worked with Michael Jackson, Enrique Iglesias and Justin Timberlake.

Alexander's band, The Trey Alexander Band, is working on a new album.

"It was the most amazing thing I've ever been involved in," Alexander said of his Guitar Hero experience. "It's hard to believe; I bawled like a baby when they (chose) me."

In addition to the feature article in Guitar Player, the win earned Alexander one of only two GH06 collector's-edition guitars from First Act valued at $2,000, a Fender Stratocaster signed by the judges worth $1,000 and a $3,000 Roadster Mesa/Boogie amp.

Alexander was accompanied at the competition by his fiancée, Talia Drennen, but he mentioned the presence of one other person.

"I felt my dad there," he said. "(The judges) basically put me in touch with my father once again." - Lancaster Online