ALEX
WILSON grew up in a family of talented musicians. Alex's grandmother,
Rosa Saviano was a renowned professional jazz singer in Chicago in the
1940's and 50's. Tom Wilson, Alex's father, is a multi-faceted musician
who has had the distinct pleasure of accompanying nearly every blues
performer to pass through the Milwaukee/Chicago music scene in the last
thirty years. Marc Wilson, Alex's uncle and drummer, is one of the most
sought after drummers in the country. He's played with
B.B.King,
Stevie Ray Vaughn, Anson Funderburg,
Marcia Ball, and Ronnie Earl to name but a few. Alex picked up the
guitar at five years old and never put it down. Immersed in the
Milwaukee blues scene, Alex was surrounded, and influenced by such local
luminaries as Stokes, Lee Gates, Jim Liban and Milwaukee Slim. Alex
formed his own garage band at thirteen. By seventeen he began to dig
deep into the blues, learning the songs and styles of masters such as
Muddy Waters,
Howlin' Wolf,
Little Walter,
Buddy Guy,
Jimi Hendrix and Magic Sam. At
seventeen Alex began playing professionally and by twenty-one he had
joined Milwaukee's Blue Rubies and was performing regionally while still
playing part-time with his own band. Playing up to 25 gigs a month,
Wilson honed and sharpened his skills as a singer/songwriter, guitar
player and over all entertainer. In '05 and '06 Alex began to focus
solely on his own project, booking shows, finding his own sound and the
right players from the mid-west music scene to take his show on the
road. With Alex's uncle Marc Wilson on the drums, and Alex's brother
Matthew singing harmonies and playing bass, Alex is running with one of
the toughest bands on the scene today. It's no surprise that they were
nominated for and won the 2007 WAMI (Wisconsin Area Music Industry)
Award for blues group/artist of the year. A versatile musician, Alex
effortlessly switches between genres. He plays everything from sweet
Beale Street blues to West coast swing. From hard Texas grinders to
stone cold Chicago grooves with a feeling that's said to be timeless.
Alex's style and tasty originals matched with his undeniable stage
presence and unmistakable guitar style will drive you to the dance
floor. His long-awaited debut CD, Tell Me Why, is being released on
Rathskeller Records. To say that Alex Wilson is one to look out for down
the road is an understatement. Taking the Midwest by storm, this young
musician is a force to be reckoned with. |
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