As a young, budding pianist in Bistrita, Romania, Alex Kilroy experienced a shift in his musical trajectory at age 12 when he watched a DVD of Stevie Ray Vaughan’s passionate 1985 performance at the Montreux Jazz Festival. The disc had been left in a car his dad had bought in Michigan and shipped overseas to Transylvania.
That pivotal moment caused Kilroy to fall in love with the blues and switch from tickling the ivories to shredding a guitar.
He convinced his parents to buy him a Fender Stratocaster electric guitar but there was one condition. He had to learn three Stevie Ray Vaughan songs by the end of summer before he could change his musical focus from playing the piano to guitar in school. Kilroy practiced for eight hours a day and successfully learned the three tunes, and the rest is history.
“Stevie Ray Vaughan was in total bliss during his Montreux Jazz Festival performance,” said Kilroy. “His guitar playing was fantastic and so flashy. I had never seen anything like it.”
Kilroy’s other influences include classical music, film scores, Buddy Guy, Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Santana, Sting and The Doors.
He dreamed of living in the United States and performing blues music.
Kilroy’s wish was fulfilled when he was awarded a partial scholarship to attend a summer guitar program at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts.
He wanted to continue studying at Berklee but needed funds to pay for his tuition. Kilroy decided to return to Transylvania and audition for “The Voice Romania.” He was selected to be a contestant and placed second but only the champion received monies for winning the competition.
Fans and friends organized a fundraiser after “The Voice Romania” finale so he could continue his studies at Berklee. Unfortunately, there were not enough monies raised for his musical education. The funds, however, helped him to return to the U.S. with his student visa and continue playing the blues.
Before returning to the U.S., Kilroy cold-called talent buyer Mark Maddox, who booked acts at Buddy Guy’s Legends blues club in Chicago, and posed as his manager to pitch himself. Maddox was impressed with his press kit he had received from Kilroy and booked him as Trombone Shorty’s opening act at the blues icon’s music venue in August 2015. He is a big Buddy Guy fan and was honored to play in his blues haven.
He had an opportunity to meet Guy, who provided him with a recommendation letter for his artist visa.
Kilroy relocated to Nashville and jammed with bands and formed his own group while performing in the city’s historic Broadway district for six years. He had opportunities to record and tour with country musicians Pam Tillis, Keith Burns of Trick Pony and John Schneider, who portrayed Bo on “The Dukes of Hazzard” TV sitcom.
Now based in Orlando, Kilroy connected with music-industry executive Clyde Harris and veteran Pat Armstrong, who discovered Lynyrd Skynyrd. They helped him develop a plan to bring his blues music to a larger audience.
His debut album, “Break My Chains,” was recorded in Florida with Nashville-based music producer Tres Sasser and his On1 Band and released in May.
Kilroy met and became acquainted with country legend Vince Gill when he lived in Nashville. Gill graciously accepted his invitation to perform a guitar solo on the song, “Let the Good Times Roll.”
Kilroy also performs a duet with his fiancée, Sophia Medina, on “Angel.”
His record is being considered for a Grammy Award. The 69th Annual Grammy Award nominees will be announced on Monday, Nov. 16.
“My album has a cinematic feel and features blues, country, R&B and orchestral influences all captured in a bottle,” explained Kilroy.
Kilroy is also releasing his EP, “New Shade of Blue,” on Friday, Oct. 23.
Watch Kilroy and his On1 Band perform at The Imperial on Park in downtown Winter Park during a residency, presented by the Modern Music Movement. Admission is free.
“The audience can expect to hear songs from the new album, covers, loud guitars and rock ‘n’ roll,” said Kilroy. “We’re going to have a good time and go on a journey together.”
