Johnny Alegre facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Johnny Alegre
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Alegre in 2011
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| Born |
Juan Bautista Alegre y Hernaez
June 4, 1955 Pasay, Rizal, Philippines
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| Nationality | Filipino |
| Alma mater | University of the Philippines |
| Spouse(s) | Jocelyn Albao Alegre |
| Parents |
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| Relatives | Juan B. Alegre (grandfather) Amanda Sargent (grandmother) |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | Jazz, World Fusion |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, Guitarist-Composer |
| Instruments | Guitar, Keyboards |
| Years active | 1981–present |
| Labels | Candid, MCA |
Juan Bautista H. Alegre III (born June 4, 1955), known as Johnny Alegre, is a talented jazz guitarist and composer from Manila, Philippines. He is famous for leading two music groups: Johnny Alegre Affinity, which plays jazz music, and Humanfolk, which focuses on world music.
Contents
About Johnny Alegre's Music Journey
Early Life and Training
Johnny Alegre studied music composition at the University of the Philippines in the late 1970s. He was one of the first members of the U.P. Jazz Ensemble. He also attended special workshops with famous musicians like Erhard Karkoschka and Ike Isaacs.
Forming the Johnny Alegre Affinity Band
In May 2002, Johnny Alegre started his jazz band, Johnny Alegre Affinity. The original members included Colby de la Calzada on bass, Koko Bermejo on drums, Elhmir Saison on piano, and Tots Tolentino on saxophone. Their first song, "Stones of Intramuros," was written by Alegre. It was featured in a special Philippine jazz collection called Adobo Jazz.
Albums and Performances
The band's first album, Johnny Alegre Affinity, came out in the Philippines in 2005. Later that year, it was released in England as Jazzhound for listeners worldwide. They even performed at the famous PizzaExpress Jazz Club in London.
Between 2006 and 2007, Alegre and his band worked on another album called Eastern Skies. This album featured original songs with the Global Studio Orchestra. In 2009, MCA released Johnny Alegre 3, a trio album with well-known musicians Ron McClure on bass and Billy Hart on drums. Johnny Alegre was the first jazz artist from the Philippines to be signed by MCA. In 2014, MCA released Stories, which was a collection of his best songs.
The Humanfolk Project
In 2008, Alegre started a new band and album called Humanfolk. He worked with percussionist Susie Ibarra, drummer Roberto Juan Rodriguez, Cynthia Alexander, and Malek Lopez. For Humanfolk, he wrote the song "Para Sa Tao", which was inspired by the ancient Baybayin writing system of the Tagalog language.
Recognitions and Legacy
Johnny Alegre's work is recognized in important books like The Great Jazz Guitarists by Scott Yanow. He is also featured in the Cultural Center of the Philippines Encyclopedia of Philippine Art. In November 2023, his urban folk songs from Humanfolk were highlighted in a special concert at the Ayala Museum. His music is available through The Orchard, which is part of Sony Music Entertainment.
Johnny Alegre's Family Background
Johnny Alegre is the youngest grandchild of Senator Juan Bautista Alegre y Levantino. His grandfather was a senator who represented the Philippines's 6th senatorial district in the Philippine Legislature. Johnny Alegre's family history includes ancestors from Spain who moved to the Philippines and married Filipinos. His grandmother, Amanda Sargent, came from an old family in New England.
Other Activities and Contributions
Johnny Alegre is a member of FILSCAP, an organization for composers and authors. He also works as a consultant for the Philippine International Jazz and Arts Festival. He is an active supporter of Wikimedia projects, including WikiProject Jazz. As Juan Bautista H. Alegre, he was a past president of the Rotary Club of Makati Rockwell and received a Paul Harris fellowship for his community service.
Johnny Alegre's Music Albums
| Album | Label | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Stones of Intramuros (single) | IndiRa | 2002 |
| Johnny Alegre AFFINITY | Candid | 2005 |
| Jazzhound (UK release) | Candid | 2005 |
| Jazzhound (radio edit, single) | WWF | 2006 |
| Eastern Skies | Candid | 2007 |
| Johnny Alegre 3 | MCA | 2009 |
| Mammals | PH AFFINITY Productions | 2010 |
| Humanfolk | MCA | 2011 |
| Stories | MCA | 2014 |
| "ILWY" (vinyl) | Hourglass | 2020 |
| Johnny Alegre AFFINITY (2LP) | Backspacer | 2022 |
| Johnny Alegre 3 (2LP) | Backspacer | 2024 |
Music Videos
Johnny Alegre Affinity Videos
| Title | Musicians | Year | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jazz in Time: Commemorative Concert XII | Johnny Alegre, guitar ♦ Colby dela Calzada, contrabass ♦ Koko Bermejo, drums ♦ Elhmir Saison, piano ♦ Tots Tolentino, alto sax | 2003 | U.P. Theater |
| Jazzhound official music video | Johnny Alegre, guitar ♦ Colby dela Calzada, contrabass ♦ Koko Bermejo, drums ♦ Elhmir Saison, piano ♦ Tots Tolentino, alto sax | 2005 | Mowelfund |
| 3rd Manila Jazz Festival | Johnny Alegre, guitar ♦ Simon Tan, contrabass ♦ Koko Bermejo, drums ♦ Elhmir Saison, piano ♦ Tots Tolentino, alto sax | 2005 | Greenbelt Theater |
| Pinoy Jazz: The Story of Jazz in the Philippines | Johnny Alegre, guitar ♦ Colby dela Calzada, contrabass ♦ Koko Bermejo, drums ♦ Elhmir Saison, piano ♦ Tots Tolentino, alto sax | 2006 | U.P. Theater |
| Fête de la Musique 2011 | Johnny Alegre, guitar ♦ Colby dela Calzada, electric bass ♦ Mar Dizon, drums | 2011 | The Fort BGC, Taguig |
| Tiendesitas Super Jazz Weekend | Johnny Alegre, guitar ♦ Yuna Reguerra, electric bass ♦ Wendell Garcia, drums ♦ Elhmir Saison, keyboards | 2014 | Tiendesitas |
| Beacon Call | Johnny Alegre, guitar ♦ Colby dela Calzada, contrabass ♦ Koko Bermejo, drums ♦ Joey Quirino, piano ♦ Ria Villena-Osorio, orchestration ♦ Gerard Salonga, conductor | 2014 | MCA Music Philippines |
| Manila Jazz | Interviews with Johnny Alegre, Tots Tolentino, Elhmir Saison, Mar Dizon, (seen: Colby dela Calzada) | 2013 | Greater Manila Area |
Humanfolk Videos
| Title | Musicians | Year | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Para Sa Tao | Abby Clutario, vocals, keyboards & Chapman Stick ♦ Johnny Alegre, acoustic guitar ♦ Cynthia Alexander, bass ♦ Malek Lopez, electronics | 2011 | Greater Manila Area |
| Hexagram II | Abby Clutario, keyboards & vocals ♦ Johnny Alegre, guitars & percussion ♦ Rodney Vidanes, bass ♦ Zach Lucero, drums ♦ Frances Escapé, percussion | 2013 | Perthman Studios, San Juan, Manila |
| Himig Ng Pasko | Abby Clutario, keyboards & vocals ♦ Johnny Alegre, guitars & percussion ♦ Rodney Vidanes, bass ♦ Zach Lucero, drums | 2014 | Infinitif Studios |
| Naglalarong Ilaw | Kris Gorra Dancel, vocals & rhythm guitar ♦ Johnny Alegre, guitars ♦ Abby Clutario, keyboards & harmonies ♦ Rodney Vidanes, bass ♦ Zach Lucero, drums ♦ Deej Rodriguez, percussion | 2015 | Infinitif Studios |
| Indiemand | Johnny Alegre, guitars ♦ Abby Clutario, keyboards & vocals ♦ Deej Rodriguez, percussion | 2019 | Pasig City Wildlife Reserve |
Awards and Honors
| Year | Award |
|---|---|
| 1974 | Don Carlos Palanca Awards for Literature, One-Act Play (English) Division, 2nd Place |
| 1982 | Foremost Exponent of Jazz awarded by the Philippine Ministry of Tourism |
| 2006 | Award Of Excellence for Exemplary Musicianship by WWF Philippines |
| 2010 | Plaque of Appreciation for his musical support of the Climate Change advocacy |
| 2012 | Awit Awards, Best World Music Recording, Humanfolk |
| 2013 | Icon Award, 8th Philippine International Jazz and Arts Festival |
| Best Performer Award, Kansai Music Conference | |
| 2014 | Aliw Awards, Best Instrumentalist |
| Living the Credo Award, Upsilon Sigma Phi Alumni Association | |
| 2016 | Outstanding Professional Award, Superbrands Philippines Council |
| 2019 | Inspiring Leadership Award, Rotary International District 3830 |
| Paul Harris Fellow, The Rotary Foundation |
Images for kids
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Historical emblem of the Alegre family of Villarroya de los Pinares
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Johnny Alegre at his mother's corporate retirement, with the Zobel family
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Johnny Alegre at the 2015 Wikimedia Conference in Berlin
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Johnny Alegre at the 2014 Waray Wikipedia, 11th Sunrise Festival
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Johnny Alegre's maiden HUMANFOLK project
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Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales and Johnny Alegre pose for a photo in Wikimania 2023, Singapore
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See also
In Spanish: Johnny Alegre para niños
