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About Gerald Albright ...
A native Californian, Gerald Albright grew up in South Central Los
Angeles. After high school, he attended the University of Redlands where
he received a B.S. degree in Business Management, minoring in Music.
Immediately after college,
Albright began to master his talent by working extensively in the studio
with such artists as Patrice Rushen, Anita Baker, Ray Parker, Jr., Lola
Folana, Atlantic Starr, The Winans, Olivia Newton-John, The Temptations,
and Maurice White. He also toured with Les McCann, Rodney Franklin, Jeff
Lorber, Teena Marie, Marlene Shaw, Debra and Eloise Laws, Quincy Jones,
Whitney Houston, Phil Collins, and many others. In addition to numerous
appearances at clubs and jazz festivals, Albright had also been a part of
the popular Jazz Explosion tours, which saw him teaming up with
contemporary jazz stars like Will Downing, Jonathan Butler, Hugh Masekela,
Chaka Khan, and Rachelle Ferrell, to name a few.
Gerald Albright has also
branched out as a TV Star to his already substantial resume. The saxman
has appeared on numerous shows, such as “A Different World,” “Melrose
Place,” Channels 2 and 5 “Morning News Shows,” “BET” jazz segments as well
as piloting a show in Las Vegas with “Designing Women” star Meshach
Taylor.
Albright's contemporary and
straight-ahead collections have established the Los Angeles-based musician
as one of the most prominent artists. Indeed, Albright was one of the ten
featured saxophonists who performed at President Clinton’s inauguration.
He was also featured at the Presidential Summit, as well as several
private functions for the President.
Albright had sold over
1,000,000 albums in the U.S. alone. His self-produced music features him
on bass guitar, keyboards, flutes, drum programming, and background
vocals. Gerald has definitely earned the reputation as the “musician’s
musician.”
Besides music, Albright is
also a family man. He is married to his junior high school sweetheart,
Glynis, and has two children, Selina and Brandon. He believes in giving
back to the community. He has participated in numerous fund-raisers for
the NAACP, The American Cancer Society, and The Institute for Black
Parenting. As a member of
Alpha Phi
Alpha Fraternity,
he constantly donates his talents to raise funds to promote academic
excellence nationwide.
Whether he is playing
contemporary or straight-ahead jazz, Albright stands in a class all by
himself. He is known for his swiftness on stage, his unique round sound
which is percussive yet soulful. He has the ability to surprise the
audience with something out of the ordinary. Albright gives his audience
what they come for - a great show!
Born in Los Angeles,
Albright began piano lessons at an early age, even though he professed no
great interest in the instrument. His love of music picked up considerably
when he was given a saxophone that belonged to his piano teacher. It was
further reinforced when he attended Locke High School, a breeding ground
for many young West Coast musicians, where his peers at the time included
Patrice Rushen and Ndugu.
Already a polished
saxophonist by the time he enrolled at the University of Redlands,
Albright suddenly switched to bass guitar after he saw Louis Johnson in
concert A few months after graduating from college, Gerald joined Patrice
Rushen, who was in the process of forming her own band, in which he played
the saxophone. Later, when the bass player left in the middle of a tour,
Albright replaced him and finished the tour on bass guitar. From then on,
he often performed on both instruments.
Soon, Albright began to make
a name for himself as a sideman of great insight and musicianship, playing
on albums by a wide variety of artists -- including Anita Baker, Ray
Parker, Lola Folana, Atlantic Starr, Olivia Newton-John, the Temptations
and Maurice White. He also toured extensively with Les McCann, Rodney
Franklin, Jeff Lorber, Teena Marie, the Winans, Marlena Shaw, Debra and
Eloise Laws, Quincy Jones, Whitney Houston, Phil Collins, and many others.
With 9 CD’s under his belt
and one collaboration CD, Albright has definitely gained his place in the
music world as a player, songwriter and producer.
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