Andráe Lamont Alexander, also credited professionally as Andrae Alexander, is a Los Angeles-based musician, educator and author. A Black composer working across commercial music, his practice includes recordings, film and live productions.
Andráe Alexander is a Grammy Award-winning composer, musician, and professor. Originally from Maryland, he moved to Los Angeles in 2009. He is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Navy Band in Washington, D.C. His songwriting work on Jon Batiste’s We Are earned the 2022 Album of the Year Grammy.
His career spans recording, performance, film, television, and consulting, including work on Empire, Detroit, and The Birth of a Nation soundtrack. He has traveled to more than 40 countries as a musician and clinician, sharing expertise in music business, music for film and television, and music production.
An Assistant Professor of Practice in Music Industry Studies at USC Thornton, Alexander previously taught at the Los Angeles Film School. His research examines how social media influencers affect consumer behavior in the music industry. He is the author of Build Your Music Career from Scratch and Guide to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Music Industry.
Ph.D., Leadership Studies, business-strategy concentration | 2024
University of the Cumberlands
M.A., Music Industry Administration | 2019
California State University, Northridge
B.A., Music | 2017
Thomas Edison State University
Certificate Program in Agentic AI (in progress) | Expected 2027
Johns Hopkins University
Certificate Program in AI and Agentic AI Engineering (in progress) | Expected 2027
Johns Hopkins University
Post-Graduate Program in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning: Business Applications | 2025
University of Texas at Austin
Social & Behavioral Research training | 2023
CITI Program
Accelerated Online Teaching Intensive | 2021
USC Center for Excellence in Teaching
Military musician training | 2000
Armed Forces School of Music, Little Creek, Virginia
I am a long-standing member of Thornton’s Graduate Advisory Committee. I also co-chair an AI advisory committee at Thornton. My academic service has included the development of the Doctor of Musical Arts entrance examination.
I serve on the board of Songwriters of North America. My service there includes work with its education and steering committees. I also serve on the Mechanical Licensing Collective’s Unclaimed Royalties Oversight Committee.
My consulting work has included technology and music-industry businesses, artists, songwriters, and entrepreneurs. I bring professional music experience and doctoral training in leadership and business strategy to this work. My approach also draws on applied study in artificial intelligence and machine learning.
My international professional exchange experience includes work with organizations, artists, educators, and creative-industry professionals across multiple countries. Selected examples include U.S. Department of State International Visitor Leadership Program exchanges and ICDLA-organized programming with participants from Iraq, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Azerbaijan, Côte d’Ivoire, and other countries. These examples represent part of my broader international experience, which also includes work with organizations outside Department of State programs.
Israel Boyd · Thomas Dekker · Andra Day · Yola · Leoni England
Alice Randall · Jacob (The Gabriels) · Art of Elysium · Autumn Rowe · Nikka Costa · Mason Alexander Park · The World According to Allee Willis — featured participant
America’s Got Talent · 82nd Airborne Chorus
Michelle Lewis · Lukas Graham
Jon Batiste — FREEDOM / We Are (2022 Grammy recognition)
Savannah Cristina · Nevaeh Jolie · Nnena · Bruce Waynne · Dr. Cornel West
Rebecca Crews
Rebecca Crews · blackbear — Coachella string arrangements (reported set guests across the festival weekends: DVBBS, Ne-Yo, Tinashe and Mike Posner) · JoJo · Jessie J · UnCabaret · Julia Sweeney · Patton Oswalt · Jill Soloway · Bob Odenkirk · Rebecca Corry · Byron Bowers · Alex Edelman · Sandra Bernhard · Greg Behrendt · Laura Kightlinger · Maria Bamford · Scott Thompson · Andy Kindler · Swae Lee
George Drakoulias · Leon Thomas · Algee Smith · Melissa Etheridge · Detroit the Movie
Jesse “Corparal” Wilson · Ne-Yo · Priscilla Renea · K. Michelle · Aloe Blacc · Keith Sweat · Kelly Rowland · FOX’s Empire · La’Porsha Renae · Rodney Jerkins · Cruz Beckham · David Tutera · Meek Mill · Pusha T · Recorded in Hollywood — arrangements
Verdine White · Greg Phillinganes · Leon Ware · Mary Wilson · Lamont Dozier · The D project participants: Mayer Hawthorne · Wayne Kramer
Kelly Price · Michel’le · Claudette Ortiz · Dawn Robinson · Chanté Moore · Allee Willis · Michigan Opera Theatre · Motown Museum Studio · The D project participants: Telma Hopkins
Kim Coles · Tim Bagley · The D project participants: Martha Reeves · Lily Tomlin · Freda Payne · Scherrie Payne · Joyce and Pam Vincent · Ray Parker Jr. · Brandon Victor Dixon · Narada Michael Walden · William “Mickey” Stevenson
No I.D. · Estelle · Common
Princess Cruises
Debbie Allen · Wendy Raquel Robinson
GLC · Kanye West
Blue Note, New York
Cotton Club, Japan · Vanessa Hudgens · The Salvation Army — piano recording
Raheem DeVaughn · The Salvation Army — piano recording
Chrisette Michele
Ledisi
Kennedy Center
Selected credits and milestones across recording, performance, theatre, film and television. Project dates and release dates are identified separately where they differ.
2018
String arrangements for blackbear at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Indio, California.
Reported guests across the festival’s two weekends included DVBBS, Ne-Yo, Tinashe and Mike Posner. Guest appearances identify the set context.
2021 release · 2022 Grammy
Songwriting on FREEDOM from We Are (2021); Album of the Year GRAMMY recognition in 2022.
2018
Background vocals on This Christmas Day, including Jingle Bell Rock, This Christmas Day and White Christmas.
2007 collaboration · 2008 release
Piano on Last Night from Identified, released in 2008; collaboration dated 2007.
2006 & 2007
2006 — Piano, Salvation Army recording project, Silver Spring, Maryland. 2007 — Piano, Salvation Army recording project, Silver Spring, Maryland.
2024
Featured participant / musical collaborator in The World According to Allee Willis.
2013–2017 project · continuing collaboration
Co-writer and musical collaborator on The D; longtime music director for Allee Willis.
January 16, 2015
Verdine White (Earth, Wind & Fire) — bass on The D; project session documented January 16, 2015.
2016
Music arrangements for the updated 2016 production of Recorded in Hollywood, the musical about John Dolphin. Arrangements credited alongside Kevin Toney.
Screen appearance
Trumpet-player appearance in Black Monday, starring Don Cheadle.
2009
Piano performance in the Big Screens music video by GLC featuring Kanye West.
Piano consulting
Piano consulting for Swae Lee’s Christmas single.
2003–2007 Navy Band service
Selected venue during U.S. Navy Band service in Washington, D.C.
The D names below identify participants in the shared project with Allee Willis. Gallery dates refer to documented project sessions or appearances.
Approximately seven years
Musical director at Wendy Raquel Robinson’s Los Angeles conservatory.
2016–2018
Recording work on projects involving Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, including background vocals on selected tracks from Jessie J’s This Christmas Day.
2016 release
Composition on Black Moses, featuring Priscilla Renea, from The Birth of a Nation: The Inspired By Album.
2016
Priscilla Renea (now known as Muni Long), on the Black Moses project.
2017 release
Recording contribution to It Ain’t Fair on the Detroit soundtrack; vocal consulting for the film.
2018 release
I Want to Know, released with Omer Fedi.
2003–2007
Pianist, keyboardist and vocalist, United States Navy Band, Washington, D.C.
1999–2003
Pianist, Quantico Marine Corps Band, United States Marine Corps.
Circa 2007–2008
Performed with artists on Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Circa 2007–2008
Performed with artists on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, approximately 2008.
Circa 2007–2008
Performed with artists on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
Circa 2007–2008
Performed with artists on TODAY.
Circa 2007–2008
Performed with artists on BET Presents, approximately 2007–2008.
2016 collaboration · 2018 release
Songwriting on Boomerang, featuring Candace Price, released on Playing for Keeps in 2018.
2006 collaboration · 2010 release
Composition and piano on Super Hero from The Love & War MasterPeace.
2016
Music contribution to Queen from The Birth of a Nation: The Inspired By Album.
2016 release
Composition, lyrics and production on My Own Thang, featuring Jussie Smollett and Bre-Z, from Empire.
2018–2019
Recording work with REGINA MADRE (Rebecca King-Crews), including Never Be the Same and Reachin’ for the Top.
Selected performance history
Performed with Patti LaBelle.
Selected performance history
Performed with Jill Scott.
Selected performance history
Performed with Erykah Badu.
Selected performance history
Performed with Johnny Gill.
Recording work
Recording work with Cam Meekins.
Television work
Television work on R&B Divas: LA.
1998
Performance at the Kennedy Center.
September 12, 2013
The D recording at Motown Museum / Hitsville U.S.A.
2013–2016 project period
Grouped project locations including Fisher Theatre / Building, Michigan Opera Theatre, Wayne State, Detroit Historical Society, Masonic Temple rooftop, Ford Piquette Plant, and United Sound.
September 21, 2014
Co-writer / musical partner helping assemble 15-piece band for Allee Willis’s live Detroit show.
2013–2014
The D Thanksgiving television / parade work with Allee Willis.
October 26, 2015; premiere September 28, 2017
The D sing-along project stop at DIA; later project premiere at DIA.
May 15–16, 2018
Music-direction work with Allee Willis on Allee Willis Loves Detroit at City Theatre.
September 11, 2013
Martha Reeves — participant in The D, co-written and musically developed by Andráe Alexander and Allee Willis.
September 27, 2013
John Sinclair — participant in The D, co-written and musically developed by Andráe Alexander and Allee Willis.
August 11, 2013
Lily Tomlin — participant in The D, co-written and musically developed by Andráe Alexander and Allee Willis.
August 13, 2013
Freda Payne — participant in The D, co-written and musically developed by Andráe Alexander and Allee Willis.
August 13, 2013
Scherrie Payne — participant in The D, co-written and musically developed by Andráe Alexander and Allee Willis.
August 13, 2013
Joyce and Pam Vincent — participant in The D, co-written and musically developed by Andráe Alexander and Allee Willis.
August 13, 2013
Angela V. Shelton — participant in The D, co-written and musically developed by Andráe Alexander and Allee Willis.
August 15, 2013
Marcella Detroit — participant in The D, co-written and musically developed by Andráe Alexander and Allee Willis.
August 27, 2013
Diane Steinberg-Lewis — participant in The D, co-written and musically developed by Andráe Alexander and Allee Willis.
August 27, 2013
Reggie McBride — participant in The D, co-written and musically developed by Andráe Alexander and Allee Willis.
September 4, 2013
Brandon Victor Dixon — participant in The D, co-written and musically developed by Andráe Alexander and Allee Willis.
September 4, 2013
Ray Parker Jr. — participant in The D, co-written and musically developed by Andráe Alexander and Allee Willis.
September 4, 2013
Bruce Miller — participant in The D, co-written and musically developed by Andráe Alexander and Allee Willis.
August 16, 2013
William “Mickey” Stevenson — participant in The D, co-written and musically developed by Andráe Alexander and Allee Willis.
November 4, 2013
Narada Michael Walden — participant in The D, co-written and musically developed by Andráe Alexander and Allee Willis.
May 7, 2015
Maejor — participant in The D, co-written and musically developed by Andráe Alexander and Allee Willis.
June 22, 2015
Mayer Hawthorne — participant in The D, co-written and musically developed by Andráe Alexander and Allee Willis.
September 17, 2014
Telma Hopkins — participant in The D, co-written and musically developed by Andráe Alexander and Allee Willis.
June 26, 2015
Wayne Kramer — participant in The D, co-written and musically developed by Andráe Alexander and Allee Willis.
August 15, 2013
Greg Phillinganes — participant in The D, co-written and musically developed by Andráe Alexander and Allee Willis.
August 27, 2013
Mary Wilson — participant in The D, co-written and musically developed by Andráe Alexander and Allee Willis.
August 27, 2013
Lamont Dozier — participant in The D, co-written and musically developed by Andráe Alexander and Allee Willis.
September 6, 2013
Leon Ware — participant in The D, co-written and musically developed by Andráe Alexander and Allee Willis.
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1998 | Smithsonian student performance reported in The Washington Post. |
| 1999-2003 | U.S. Marine Corps music service. |
| 2000 | Armed Forces School of Music training in Virginia. |
| 2003-2007 | U.S. Navy Band, Washington, D.C. |
| 2018 | String arrangements for blackbear at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Indio, California. |
| 2018 | Second edition of Build Your Music Career from Scratch; Steven J. Finkel Service Excellence Scholarship. |
| 2019 | Joined USC Thornton; "Boomerang" reached No. 1 on Billboard's Adult R&B chart. |
| 2022 | Album of the Year Grammy; appointment as Assistant Professor of Practice. |
| 2024 | Ph.D. completed; Sage announced Music Industry Series editorial appointment. |
| 2025 | Guide to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Music Industry published by Sage. |
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