Alex Otey facts for kids

Alex Otey is a talented musician from the United States. He plays the trumpet and piano, and he is also a singer, songwriter, and music producer. He has worked with many famous musicians, including jazz artists like Richie Cole and Lew Soloff. In 1979, he even recorded with Grover Washington Jr. on his album Skylarkin'.

Alex Otey is well-known for his work with children's music. He has produced and helped write five albums for the children's singer-songwriter Miss Amy. Two of these albums, Fitness Rock & Roll and Healthy Food For Thought: Good Enough To Eat, were nominated for a Grammy Award. He also appears on the Grammy-winning album All About Bullies... Big And Small.

He often performs with Miss Amy & Her Big Kids Band. In 2013, he released an album called Angels Riding Shotgun with his Americana rock band, Off the Map. Alex Otey also performs jazz music by himself and with The Alex Otey Trio.

Early Life and Music Training

Alex V. Otey was born in the United States in 1959. His mother is Pat Wood. His father, Orlando Otey, was a Mexican-American concert pianist and composer. Alex grew up with music all around him. His father was the director of the Wilmington Music School in Wilmington, Delaware. This helped Alex get early music lessons. He started learning classical trumpet and percussion when he was just 7 years old.

As a teenager, Alex began playing piano and singing. He performed with the Wilmington Symphony and entered music competitions. He studied trumpet with Seymor Rosenfeld, who was part of the Philadelphia Orchestra.

In high school, he started playing "piano man" style songs. He has said that singer-songwriters like Billy Joel and Elton John influenced his music. Alex also found inspiration from Harry Connick Jr., Frank Sinatra's ballads, jazz songs, and hits from the Beatles, Van Morrison, and Sting. He graduated from Friends' Central School in Philadelphia in 1978.

When he was a teenager and young adult, Alex formed small music groups like the APO Jazz Trio. They performed around Philadelphia. He played with jazz musicians like Richie Cole and Lew Soloff. He also recorded with Grover Washington Jr. on the Skylarkin' album in 1979. In 1984, he graduated from Drexel University in Philadelphia. He earned a degree in Physics and Atmospheric Science. He has also worked as a computer engineer.

Music Career Highlights

Working with Miss Amy

Alex Otey met his wife, Miss Amy, who is also a singer-songwriter. They started playing in jazz, folk, and rock bands together. After their son was born in the mid-1990s, they moved to New Jersey. Miss Amy then began to focus on children's music, especially songs that help kids move and exercise.

Alex Otey produced and helped write Miss Amy's first album, Swimming. He also plays trumpet, keyboard, and sings backup vocals in Miss Amy & Her Big Kids Band. This band was started in 2004. Alex and the band performed at the White House Egg Roll event in 2010. Other performers there included Justin Bieber and the cast from Glee. They also headlined Kidstock in 2010.

He has produced five albums with Miss Amy since 2004. For example, on the 2011 album Miss Amy's Fitness Rock and Roll, he helped with arranging, engineering, production, keyboard, trumpet, and backup vocals. This album mixed jazz, rock, pop, Broadway, and lullabies.

Fitness Rock & Roll was released on Alex's own music label, Ionian Productions. In November 2011, the album was nominated for a 54th Grammy Award for "Best Children's Album." That same year, Alex also contributed the song "Keep Your Chin Up" to the Grammy-winning album All About Bullies... Big And Small.

Ionian Productions Music Company

Alex Otey is the founder and president of Ionian Productions. This company produces audio and video. The company has released albums like A Gift To Be Free and many albums by Miss Amy. They also released The Chopin of Mexico Plays Chopin 1&2. Other artists on this label include pianist Leonardo Le San, Sue Tally, Pedro Ledezma, and Leticia Gómez-Tagle.

In August 2012, Ionian Productions released Tenochtitlan 1325. This album features piano pieces composed by Alex's father, Orlando Otey. The album was well-received. Critics said Orlando Otey played with great skill and passion. His compositions showed a true talent, blending different musical styles.

Recent Music Activities

Alex Otey continues to perform by himself in central New Jersey and Philadelphia. He also plays with bands based in West Trenton. One of these is the Americana and rock group Off The Map. Alex formed this band with the same musicians from Miss Amy The Big Kids Band. Their first album, Angels Riding Shotgun, was produced by Alex and released on Ionian Productions. Alex also plays classic songs, pop, and jazz with The Alex Otey Trio. He performs at events with The Wild Rice Band too.

Music Albums and Awards

Albums Alex Otey Contributed To

Compilation Albums

• WXPN Kids Corner 20th Anniversary Compilation (2008)
• Wildflower Compilation (2010)
• Healthy Food For Thought, Good Enough to Eat (2010)
• All About Bullies... Big And Small Compilation (2011)
• Move This World (2013)

Grammy Award Nominations and Wins

See also

• Miss Amy