Alec’s earliest musical influences were the Grateful Dead and John Prine-artists he still holds close to his heart today. As a kid, he was initially drawn to the drums, but his parents had some concerns about the volume. A few friends suggested he try bass and piano instead, and for his 14th birthday, Alec received his first bass guitar and began taking lessons soon after. At the time, his bass instructor helped broaden his musical horizons, introducing him to artists such as The Meters and Béla Fleck and the Flecktones, sparking a lasting appreciation for a wide range of genres. In high school, he began learning guitar through his school’s music program. He spent much of his free time attending concerts and music festivals, where he fell in love with live performance—and started performing himself. After graduation, he pursued his passion further by studying music business and classical guitar at the University of South Alabama. Since completing his degree, Alec has been actively performing with various artists and teaching music. He especially enjoys playing funk, rock, and country, although he’s always excited to be part of any creative project! His favorite part about teaching is helping his students find the joy in music overall, no matter the instrument.