Today we’d like to introduce you to Josue Alvarez.
Hi Josue, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
Hi Voyage Dallas! I am really excited to share a little bit about myself. My hope is that my story can motivate others to pursue their dreams and goals. My name is Josue Daniel Alvarez (also known as Josh Alvarez) I was born and raised in Long Island, NY. My parents are from El Salvador and Guatemala I am the 2nd out of 3 children.
At a very young age, I’ve always loved music and I was always curious about how people create content that will attract people. My parents are not a musician, but they enjoyed listening and singing along to some tunes they would play on the radio at home. I already knew from there it wasn’t their passion or something they wanted to pursue as a career. It was more seen as a hobby. My parents couldn’t afford video games. So, most of the time, my siblings and I would just play in our backyard. Until my grandmother bought a Casio piano for my older brother. She wanted my brother to try out a new hobby. But my brother only wanted to play drums. The piano was collecting dust so one day I decided to clean the piano and started to learn basic chords. I wasn’t sure if the piano was the main instrument I wanted to master.
By the age of 10, I mentioned to my parents, “I want to be an Electric Guitar Player,” my father was about to launch a church. The Music Director at that time heard I wanted to be a Guitar Player and he said “No… we need a drummer.” So, I learned drums, but then the bass player from the church had to move to Pennsylvania. So, my father said to me, “I will take you to a friend’s house to show you how to play bass guitar.” I told my dad I really wanted to be a guitar player lol…. nope that still didn’t happen. I took 2 lessons from my dad’s friend, but then he had to move to Miami, FL. Although I only took 2 lessons, he gave me VHS video and music books to learn on my own. We didn’t have YouTube 25 years ago. It was either you went to your local music store and bought books, or you had a private instructor.
From all the material that my instructor gave me, I started to read the back of the books and VHS videos of the names of these bass players: Marcus Miller, Abraham Laboriel, Victor Wooten, Stanley Clarke, James Jamerson, Jaco Pastorius, Emmanuel Espinosa (RoJO), Nathan East, and many more. Eventually, I was able to save up money to purchase more VHS/Books. I would get excited after school to just watch videos and learn how to play bass. From that moment, I knew Bass Guitar was the instrument I wanted to pursue. I was grateful that I learned some piano chords because that helped me to understand how to read music sheets.
One of my early breakthroughs came while I was a member of a local band named A.M.O. My 1st concert was on April 29 in a local venue in Brentwood, NY. At that event, A.M.O was going to open for Lakewood Church Spanish Worship Leader and Latin Grammy Nominee Coalo Zamorano. Since that day, I set it to be my anniversary. So, every year on April 29, I celebrate another year of being a musician. A.M.O recorded an album called “Un Latir.” and we began to tour all over the East Coast of the United States, Central & South America as well as The Caribbean. The album was recorded to economically support the Cross-Transcultural Mission. While A.M.O was on tour, the band also helped promote and perform with some Latin Grammy Award-winning Artists from CanZion Group, Vastago Production, Vida Music, and Integrity Music Latin.
In 2006, I became the Music Director for the Ex-Menudo singer Ralphy Rodriguez from Puerto Rico. Ralphy has been a huge teacher and support in my career as a musician. I am very grateful for the mentorship and coaching that he has given to me. 5 years later band separated, and I continued as an independent bass player traveling and touring with many other artists such as:
Alejandra Alberti, Danilo Montero, Samuel Hernandez, Ralphy Rodriguez, Milton Valle, Micheal Rodriguez, Vicente Montaño, Alan Villatoro, Ericson Alexander Molano, Bani Muñoz, Marco Barrientos, Marcos Brunet, Miel San Marcos, Christine D’Clario, Roger Hudson (Background vocalist of Yuri, Alejandra Guzman, Christian Castro, David Bisbal, and Emmanuel), Alex Campos, Daniel Calveti, Coro Tabernaculo Cristiano From Santa Ana California and New York, Juan Carlos Alvarado, Nyack Graduate School Choir, Hector (El Father) Delgado Ramon and many more both Secular and CCM.
I’ve participated in 2 Live recording DVDs and a few local albums.
- 2010 Journey to Experience with CT Records Journey To Experience took place at the Theater at Madison Square Garden and in Roseland Ballroom in New York City on May 29, 2010. with over 10,000 attending that evening. I recorded Acoustic Guitar for Tabernaculo Cristiano Choir in Santa Ana California.
- 2011 Journey to Experience with CT Records Journey To Experience took place at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California on August 13, 2011. Over 12,000 attendees were at the event. I participated in Bass Guitar for Vee Reyes and Acoustic Guitar for Coro Tabernaculo Cristiano Santa Ana California.
In 2011, I was asked by Jason Abel Aguilar, who has written and produced over 10 albums under his own independent record label (CT Records Base in Santa Ana, California). to become Music Director at CTNY in Wantagh, NY. From there I started my own recording studio JA Studios and started networking with many musicians from different parts of the USA and Latin America.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No, it has not been a smooth road; I would say any musician would tell you that it isn’t easy. There are many struggles you can face, including depression, loneliness, sacrifice in a relationship, and money. But with hard work and dedication, you will get there.
I have struggled not having a teacher to show me how to play my instrument correctly in my first 5 years of playing bass. By the time I got to Middle School/High School, I finally took music theory classes and I started to practice the simple chords I used to play on the Casio piano my grandmother brought. Which I am very grateful for because helped me so much. I would also say trying to get connected to people in the music industry was very tough.
Most musicians start out as being “The Roadie” who picked up cables, mics, stands, and amps, I hated it, but I knew that I had to experience this to get somewhere. I remember one of my 1st few roadie trips. I told the touring manager, “My band can perform with the Artist with live music!” We did not ask for money or anything; it was just our opportunity to branch out as musicians. The coordinator said, “OK, you have 2 weeks to learn 15 songs.” The night of the event, we were prepared to play with the artist. As the band started to walk up to the stage with the main act. The coordinator for the night said, “You guys will not perform with the artist.” My band was heartbroken; we’ve worked hard to rehearse 15-30 songs. That is something that I will never forget. There are other struggles that are worse than that event. But these things happen, and they are events that made me stronger. At times felt like just giving up, but I didn’t stop dreaming.
Thanks – So, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Mostly everyone will know me as Josh Alvarez the Bass Player. But I can do more than just play bass. I am also a Music Instructor and Teacher. I love to teach people how to play music. I also help set up lights, sounds, and audio for some events in DFW. But I think what sets me apart from others is I love to give an opportunity to others not just musicians. And the reason for that is I wish when I was growing up someone could have done that to me.
In my music career, I was able to network with many people in the music industry. I attended NAMM Shows to branch out to network with other musicians. From there, I would get called to play Bass, Guitar, Piano, or even Record, Arrange, Music Direct, and even teach music. But I also started helping in my local community by making jingle work, networking with local businesses, and using music to help promote their business.
I am currently studying at UTA to finish my degree in Music Education. One of the new things I love to do is coach, encourage, and lift people’s spirits up.
I am a huge fan of supporting people to reach their dreams and goals.
I didn’t get support very music in my music career. So, when I hear people saying, “I want to be a dentist, barber, hairstylist, teacher, or supervisor.” I will encourage and tell them to “Do it, … You have my support 100%!” and I feel that is something people tend to forget. Sometimes we just want to feel support. Not financially but more like encouragement and faith that all things are possible. So, I encourage everyone whether you were born in the US or not… “Just keep dreaming… and dream big!!!
What was your favorite childhood memory?
I will be honest I really don’t recall having a favorite childhood memory. But If I had to say my best childhood memory is enjoying listening to music from Portable CD Player or Tape Player. There is a difference in the quality of sound on MP3 audio. Most people would say Thanksgiving meals or opening gifts on Christmas Day.
From the age of 10-15, I was always distant from people because at that time I felt that no one really understood me. My parents had 2 boys and 1 girl, and I am 2nd out of 3rd. Usually, most of the attention went to the 1st and last child. Nothing against my siblings but I remember people who knew my parents would say I wasn’t going to achieve anything, and that I was lazy, they would point at me and sometimes laugh.
Sometimes deep down inside, I even felt my parents almost believed what others would say. There have been moments when my own friends would ask, “Are you adopted?” I knew they were joking, but it was hard to ignore it.
Now for those who know me, I am a huge fan of Batman. Whether it is reading DC Comic, watching movies, or collecting posters. Batman is my all-time favorite superhero and still is today.
Why may you ask?
Batman has no superpowers,
-He always has a plan
-He embraces fear which makes him courageous
-He is inspiring and smart
The list can go on. But Batman is human, and he is not afraid to give up even in his darkest moments. He will get back up again, again and again.
When I was in middle school, I would tell my friends, “When I grow up, I want to be a musician.” I was told, “Choose a better career…music is a hobby.” So those remarks and comments hurt me while growing up. Which is why is hard to say what was my favorite childhood memory. Sometimes I felt discouraged but, in the end, music makes me happy. I have been doing it for over 25 years. And just like Batman, I have not given up even from my worst childhood experiences.
That is how I see music; I may fail in some events, gigs, or rehearsals… but to be the best you must keep pushing yourself again, again, and again to get somewhere. It doesn’t matter what other people say. You just do it.
Contact Info:
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/joshuadalvarez1
- Other: https://about.me/josuealvarez
- Instagram:https://
instagram.com/josue.alvarez
