Alvin M. Songwriting, Piano New York, NY

My bio:

Alvin is an accomplished songwriter, with more than 200 songs written. His professional goal is to bring these compositions to a global audience by collaborating with singers and producers across a wide range of genres, primarily in R&B and Pop, but also Hip Hop, Gospel, and even Rock and Country.

As a musician, his instrument of choice is the keyboard (piano and organ), but over the years he has enjoyed playing strings as well as brass – viola, cello, baritone horn, and valve trombone. And while he studied piano with several instructors, Alvin realized early on that experience would be his greatest teacher. His first love is gospel, and like many great musicians and songwriters, Alvin has served as a director of music for several different churches from Johnstown, PA to New York, NY over the past twenty years.

Alvin’s wide-ranging musical talents, however, would eventually shine brightest through secular genres: R&B and Pop. He wrote his first love song at the tender age of 14 on the brand new piano from his father. Not long after that, his interest in Bach quickly gave way to a desire to follow in Lionel Richie’s pop footsteps. Alvin gave up the lessons, bought a book of chord structures, and began putting music with lyrics to create original works of his own.

Many of these works express Alvin’s deepest views and feelings about relationships, and through song he breathes life into an entire spectrum of emotion – from bliss to heartache, from deception to rage, and finally to healing, love, and peace. His catalog offers all kinds of listeners a compelling, and ultimately hopeful message, about the very human process of falling in and out of love.

As he continues to write, Alvin’s primary objective is to find the right producer who can help not only bring his words and music to life, but also bring his sound and message to lovers of music everywhere.

Education

Greater Johnstown High School – Vocal leader, Drum Major

University of Pittsburgh – Piano Theory Fundamentals (4.0)

Experience

Pleasant Hill Baptist Church Youth Music Director – 1985 to 1991

Shiloh Baptist Church Youth Music Director – 1988 to 1992

Mt. Olive Baptist Church Minister of Music – 1994 to Present

Musical Theatre

Among the Best – Original Score, Composer 1992

Songwriter/Composer for Patrice Bates Lyle – Gospel singer/songwriter

Keyboardist – Ellis Island

Keyboardist – Corey Andrew

Keyboardist – Ronell Mark

Keyboardist – Ronnie Jordan – Off the Record (“No Pay, No Play)

Mac Ray Music, Inc., President/Songwriter

I specialize in teaching young people very basic piano skills, the fundamentals of theory and performance. As a former keyboardist for several musical groups as well as a professional actor, I will instill in young talented individuals that theory is very important and that these fundamental skills will remain part of their musical vocabulary forever.

R&B, POP, Gospel

Songwriting, Piano