Woodwind artist John Alexander, a native of Gastonia, NC, received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from Erskine College, and his Master of Music degree in Jazz Pedagogy from the University of Miami (FL). His military service includes tours of duty with the 282nd Army Band at Fort Jackson, SC, and the 8th Army Band in Seoul, South Korea. John has performed with Ira Sullivan, Louis Bellson, Curtis Fuller, Gap Mangione, Matt "Guitar" Murphy, Jack Jones, Woody Herman, Eddis Higgins, Astrud Gilberto, The Spinners, The Four Tops, K.C. and the Sunshine Band, and Lou Rawls. He has appeared at the North Carolina Jazz Showcase on two occasions, the Mammoth (CA) Jazz Festival, as the season opener for the Gastonia (NC) Community Concerts Association, Jazz Charlotte, the Charlotte Symphony, in Okinawa, Japan, and in Gotha, Germany. John's CD credits include contributing his original composition "Stargazer" to drummer Les Demerle's On Fire recording for Pablo Records; the title tune for Atlantean Driftwood's Melts In Your Mouth recording; compositions, arrangements, and performance on Ira Sullivan: With Strings Attached; Atlantic Blue for Earth Songs; Out Of Nowhere by vocalist Toshiko Watabe; and Brothers with pianist Gary Marcus. His latest recording is titled You Need 'Dis, released in December of 2001 and including all original compositions. John makes his home with his wife and two daughters in Gastonia, NC.