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Alex Rivera

lex Rivera hails from a musical family. His stepfather, Danny Hollis, was a local jazz musician who played piano and trombone with the late Tommy Loy's Upper Dallas Jazz Band. It was at an early age that Alex became interested in music. He wanted to play trombone like his dad but his arms were too short, so he ended up starting on cornet. He continued to play it until he was 13, when Mr. Loy gave him a Getzen Doc Severinsen as his first trumpet. Later, he was able to study with local professionals and educators such as Rodney Booth, Lyman Brodie, and Luis Martinez. As much as he focused on the classical end of trumpet playing, it was during high school that he started to develop a taste for jazz. In 1992, he led a quartet, under the direction of his father, to the Booker T. Washington Jazz Festival, where he earned the festival's award for top High School jazz soloist.

After graduation from Hillcrest High School, Alex attended Southern Methodist University as a History major but was active in the SMU Mustang Band and the Meadows Jazz Ensemble. However, after leaving school, Alex took time off the trumpet and focused on his post-college life. It wasn't until a rather inspirational lesson with trumpet great Marvin Stamm that he decided to focus on performance again. Thus began a brief time where Alex was able to study with Bert Truax, former trumpeter with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. He also started to develop a friendship with local singer, Glennda Hill, which allowed him to perform with her group on many occasions. After having spent time playing as sideman to Glennda and performing as an original member of the Singapore Slingers, it was in 2011 that Alex decided he wanted to form his own group.

After having gone through a few different combinations, Alex was able to settle on a core group of musicians featuring Mike Garvey on piano, Alex Camp on bass and Chris Holmes on drums. In addition to his performing around town, Alex uses his talents to help support various charitable causes. Some of the beneficiaries over the years include The Wilkinson Center, Genesis Women's Shelter and The North Texas Pet Food Pantry. Over the years, Alex has had the opportunity to share the stage with such fine musicians as Shelley Carrol, Brad Leali, Dave Zoller, the late Genie Grant, the Marchel Ivery, Bernard Wright, Jennifer Martin, Tatiana Mayfield and others.

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