Al Alvarado

I was born in Havana Cuba 1959. My parents got me out of the country via Jamaica in the midst of the Castro revolution. After a year of trying to obtain legal visa’s to get into the USA, we arrived at JFK in New York City in September of 1961.

I grew up in a little town in Southern New Jersey called Paulsboro. It’s situated on the banks of the Delaware river across from Philadelphia PA (Go EAGLES!)

I didn’t learn to speak fluent English until I started grade school. I was in the 4th grade in 1968 when I started playing Alto Sax on an old Bundy in the basement of this old colonial brick school with about a dozen other new sax players. I gigged on that horn until 1981!

My parents would ALWAYS play music at our house and encourage me to play along with it. At a very early age, I started to pick things up with my ear and it became a very natural way for me to learn new music, albeit much to the dismay of my band director!

By the time I was 13 or 14, my dad would put on display for anyone who’s ear he could grab. I ultimately landed a gig with a wedding band at 14…learning all the cliche’ standards and putting in the time. All through High School, while my buddy’s where flipping burgers, I would be gigging on weekends making money!

After graduating high school in 1977, I entered the US Air Force. Got married, had two amazing sons, and just celebrated our 31st wedding anniversary! I retired from the USAF after serving as a Jet Engine Mechanic for 18.5 years.

Form my first assignment to my retirement as a Master Sergeant in 1996 at Eglin AFB Florida, I always gigged on weekends with numerous bands around the world.

Once out of the Air Force, I focused my direct attention to the business of music and how I could make a living with it. I spent 21 years as the sax player for the regionally renown band ‘Jones & Company’

I am now performing live both as a solo act as well as with numerous musicians along Florida’s Emerald Coast.
– First Call Studio Artist
– Was an integral member of the group ‘Jones & Company’, performing from New Orleans to Nashville.
– Won ‘Best of the Emerald Coast’ for 3 consecutive years
– Won ‘Best of Show’ Air Force Worldwide Talent Competition
– Voted ‘Best Horn Player’ Beachcomber Music Awards 2011
– Performed one-on-one with legendary broadway star Ben Vreen