Joey Alexander facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Joey Alexander
Alexander in 2017
Background information
Birth name	Josiah Alexander Sila
Born	(2003-06-25) 25 June 2003 (age 22) Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia
Genres	Jazz
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instruments	Piano
Years active	2012–present
Labels	Motéma, Verve, Mack Avenue Records

Joey Alexander (born Josiah Alexander Sila on June 25, 2003) is an amazing jazz pianist from Indonesia. He made history as the first Indonesian musician to play at the famous Grammy Awards. His album My Favorite Things also became a hit, reaching number 59 on the Billboard 200 chart.

Many people see Joey as a musical genius. His dad taught him a lot about jazz piano. When he was just nine years old, Joey won a big music competition called the Master-Jam Fest in 2013.

In 2014, a famous jazz trumpeter named Wynton Marsalis invited Joey to play at Jazz at Lincoln Center. Joey's first album, My Favorite Things, came out in 2015 when he was 11. He has also performed at major festivals like the Montreal and Newport Jazz Festivals. Joey has even played for important people like Herbie Hancock, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama.

Joey's Early Life and Music Journey

Growing Up in Bali

Joey Alexander was born in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia. His parents, Denny Sila and Farah Leonora Urbach, used to run a travel business. Joey's dad was a musician who loved jazz, especially music by Louis Armstrong. Joey also has famous relatives: his aunt is rock singer Nafa Urbach, and his uncle is musician Alam Urbach.

Learning to Play Piano

Joey learned about jazz by listening to classic albums his dad shared with him. When he was six, he taught himself to play the piano. He used a small electric keyboard his dad brought home. Joey learned songs by ear, like "Well, You Needn't" by Thelonious Monk. He felt that playing music came naturally to him, calling it "a gift from God." He looks up to many jazz legends, including John Coltrane, Herbie Hancock, and Miles Davis.

Moving to New York City

Because there wasn't much jazz education in Bali, Joey started playing at jam sessions in Bali and Jakarta. His family even moved to Jakarta so he could be closer to top Indonesian jazz musicians. When he was eight, he played for Herbie Hancock in Jakarta. Hancock told Joey he believed in him, and Joey later said that moment made him decide to dedicate his childhood to jazz. In 2013, at age nine, he won the Grand Prix at the Master-Jam Fest in Ukraine. In 2014, Joey and his family moved to New York City to help him follow his music dreams.

Joey's Amazing Career

First Big Performances

Wynton Marsalis, a famous jazz trumpeter, saw a video of Joey playing jazz songs online. Marsalis was so impressed that he called Joey "my hero" and invited him to play at a special event in May 2014. This was Joey's first time performing in the United States. He was only 10 years old. People loved his performance, especially his solo version of the song "'Round Midnight." The New York Times newspaper said he became an "overnight sensation." Marsalis said, "There has never been anyone that you can think of who could play like that at his age."

Joey also played for former U.S. President Bill Clinton at a gala event. A kind person named Gordon Uehling III even let Joey and his family stay at his home in Alpine, New Jersey.

More Performances and Albums

Joey performed at the Apollo Theater in New York City, honoring Herbie Hancock. A video of his performance at the University of the District of Columbia became very popular online, getting over 500,000 views. He also played a concert with students from the Juilliard School to help fund his stay in New York. This concert got national attention and helped him get a special visa for people with "extraordinary ability." In 2014, he also played at the Copenhagen Jazz Festival and the Java Jazz Festival in Jakarta.

Debut Album: My Favorite Things

Joey's first album, My Favorite Things, was released on May 12, 2015. He was 11 years old when it came out. He arranged all the songs on the album, which included famous jazz tunes like "'Round Midnight" and "Giant Steps." The album also had an original song by Joey called "Ma Blues."

In February 2016, Joey was nominated for two Grammy Awards: Best Jazz Instrumental Album (for My Favorite Things) and Best Improvised Jazz Solo (for "Giant Steps"). He even performed live at the Grammy Awards ceremony!

Later Albums and Achievements

In September 2016, Joey released his second album, Countdown. His third album, Joey. Monk. Live!, came out in September 2017. This album featured seven songs by Thelonious Monk recorded live. His fourth album, Eclipse, was released in May 2018.

On August 18, 2018, Joey performed at the opening ceremony of the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia.

In 2020, Joey released Warna, his fifth album. His sixth album, Origin, came out on May 20, 2022. This album was special because it was Joey's first album with all original songs. His most recent album, Continuance, was released in 2023.

Joey's Music Albums

As the Main Artist

• My Favorite Things (2015)
• Countdown (2016)
• Joey.Monk.Live! (2017)
• Eclipse (2018)
• Warna (2020)
• Origin (2022)
• Continuance (2023)

Awards and Nominations

Grammy Awards

Panasonic Gobel Awards

Anugerah Musik Indonesia

Libera Awards