Ray Alexander Bio
Ray Alexander was born in Arlington, Virginia. He began playing trumpet at age 10, and
by age 12, he was playing in the church band at First Methodist Church. He played in a
top regional band, the Rivieras, at age 15. The Rivieras° four piece horn section was used
to play behind artists such as the Temptations, Four Tops, Marvin Gaye and Tammi
Tarrell, Stevie Wonder, and Little Anthony and the Imperials among others.
After high school, Ray attended Mars Hill College for one year, the University of
Kentucky for three years, and the University of Cincinnati Music Conservatory for a
year. Upon leaving Cincinnati, he joined the Glenn Miller Orchestra. After a stint on
that band, Alexander moved to New Orleans where he free-lanced his first year there and
then played in the orchestra at the Fairmont Hotel. While at the Fairmont, Ray played
with Robert Goulet, Tony Bennett, Nancy Wilson, and many, many others. In June of
1978, he got a chance to audition for one of the lead trumpet chairs at the Stardust Hotel in
Las Vegas, Ray won the audition, gave notice at the Fairmont Hotel and moved to Vegas a
week later.
While in Las Vegas, Ray worked in the main showrooms of several hotels including the
Frontier. Desert Inn, and MGM Grand. He also played lead trumpet at the Tropicana
for two years, during which time Ray played lead trumpet on T.V. Shows such as the
Lou Rawls Parade of Stars and Joan Rivers Showtime specials.
After his time in Las Vegas, Alexander moved to Miami for one year in which time he
played shows with performers such as Tony Bennett, Julio Eglasias, Mitzi Gaynor
and several other major acts. In 1984, Ray had the pleasure to perform at the Worlds Fair
in New Orleans which included Bob Hope's 81st birthday show that was broadcast on
NBC.
Ray later moved to North Carolina to be near his two children. Since 1992, Ray has spent
most of his time contracting the horn section for the Four Tops primarily, but has had
many engagements and tours with Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, the Spinners,
Mary Wilson, and a tour of the United Kingdom with the Four Tops, Temptations,
Mary Wilson, and Edwin Starr. Currently Ray tours almost exclusively with the Four
Tops, but still contracts the horn sections for the Temptations, Mary Wilson, and the
Spinners. In addition to a short tour in Hawaii with Harry Connick, Jr, Ray has played
performances with Natalie Cole, Manhattan Transfer and Chris Murrell, the vocalist
with the Count Basie Orchestra.
Ray has been privileged enough to be the interim musical director for the Four Tops in the
last few years during which time he conducted and played lead trumpet for the T.V. Show
"Motown Live"
Ray Alexander was born in Arlington, Virginia. He began playing trumpet at age 10, and
by age 12, he was playing in the church band at First Methodist Church. He played in a
top regional band, the Rivieras, at age 15. The Rivieras° four piece horn section was used
to play behind artists such as the Temptations, Four Tops, Marvin Gaye and Tammi
Tarrell, Stevie Wonder, and Little Anthony and the Imperials among others.
After high school, Ray attended Mars Hill College for one year, the University of
Kentucky for three years, and the University of Cincinnati Music Conservatory for a
year. Upon leaving Cincinnati, he joined the Glenn Miller Orchestra. After a stint on
that band, Alexander moved to New Orleans where he free-lanced his first year there and
then played in the orchestra at the Fairmont Hotel. While at the Fairmont, Ray played
with Robert Goulet, Tony Bennett, Nancy Wilson, and many, many others. In June of
1978, he got a chance to audition for one of the lead trumpet chairs at the Stardust Hotel in
Las Vegas, Ray won the audition, gave notice at the Fairmont Hotel and moved to Vegas a
week later.
While in Las Vegas, Ray worked in the main showrooms of several hotels including the
Frontier. Desert Inn, and MGM Grand. He also played lead trumpet at the Tropicana
for two years, during which time Ray played lead trumpet on T.V. Shows such as the
Lou Rawls Parade of Stars and Joan Rivers Showtime specials.
After his time in Las Vegas, Alexander moved to Miami for one year in which time he
played shows with performers such as Tony Bennett, Julio Eglasias, Mitzi Gaynor
and several other major acts. In 1984, Ray had the pleasure to perform at the Worlds Fair
in New Orleans which included Bob Hope's 81st birthday show that was broadcast on
NBC.
Ray later moved to North Carolina to be near his two children. Since 1992, Ray has spent
most of his time contracting the horn section for the Four Tops primarily, but has had
many engagements and tours with Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, the Spinners,
Mary Wilson, and a tour of the United Kingdom with the Four Tops, Temptations,
Mary Wilson, and Edwin Starr. Currently Ray tours almost exclusively with the Four
Tops, but still contracts the horn sections for the Temptations, Mary Wilson, and the
Spinners. In addition to a short tour in Hawaii with Harry Connick, Jr, Ray has played
performances with Natalie Cole, Manhattan Transfer and Chris Murrell, the vocalist
with the Count Basie Orchestra.
Ray has been privileged enough to be the interim musical director for the Four Tops in the
last few years during which time he conducted and played lead trumpet for the T.V. Show
"Motown Live"
Trumpet Lesson Online
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