{{short description|American singer-songwriter}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Alex York | image = AlexYorkCMJ.jpg | caption = Alex York performing live <br /> at the 2011 CMJ Music Marathon | alias = | birth_date = | birth_place = New York City, New York, United States | instrument = | genre = Pop, Glam rock | occupation = Singer-songwriter, media personality, author | years_active = 2010–present | label = | website = {{URL|http://alexyork.com/}} }}
'''Alex York''' is an American writer, musician, and Japanese media personality. He writes and sings in English and Japanese.<ref name="cmj">[http://schedule.cmj.com/event/d12d1cf1993c91e6927fc77905bb15af "Alex York,"]{{Dead link|date=October 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} CMJ.com, October 20, 2011.</ref>
==Biography==
===Personal life=== Born and raised in New York City, where he currently resides. York is fluent in Japanese.<ref>Iman Lababedi, {{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20120908045740/http://www.rocknycliveandrecorded.com/2011/11/alex-york-at-the-studio-at-webster-hall-friday-november-25th-2011-reviewe.html "Alex York at the studio at Webster Hall, Friday, November 25, 2011, reviewed,"]}} Rock NYC, November 28, 2011.</ref> He began studying Japanese as a self-study while at the Collegiate School and majored in Japanese literature at Yale University.<ref name="nonstop">Fuji Television ''Nonstop!'' Aired November 28, 2012.</ref>
===Music=== As a musician, York is known for his lively, theatrical shows, where he and his band members wear colorful stage outfits and accoutrements.<ref>[http://blog.camplified.com/2010/08/camp-crew-blog-on-the-road-with-alex-york/ "Camp Crew Blog: On The Road With Alex York,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110916034009/http://blog.camplified.com/2010/08/camp-crew-blog-on-the-road-with-alex-york/ |date=2011-09-16 }} Camplified.com, August 14, 2010.</ref> "I draw a lot from Japan," York has said, "from the tradition of putting on masks, putting on kimonos, wearing swords, to engender a sort of theatrical persona that the audience will enjoy."<ref name="sins">Henry Sins, {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20111209045202/http://www.rocknycliveandrecorded.com/2011/12/alex-york-%E2%80%9Cinternational-rock-theatric%E2%80%9D.html "Alex York: 'International, Rock, Theatric',"]}} Rock NYC, December 6, 2011.</ref>
He was called a "rock star in the making" by ''Time Out New York'' in November 2010.<ref>''Time Out New York'', [http://www.facebook.com/timeoutnewyork/posts/164897976882603 official Facebook page], November 27, 2010. Accessed February 16, 2012.</ref>
In 2011, his album ''Tokyo Heartbreak'' was released. The title track was nominated for the 2011 Hollywood Music in Media award for Pop Song of the Year.<ref>[http://www.hmmawards.org/?page_id=587%20 "2011 Music Genre Nominees,"] Hollywood Music in Media, October 10, 2011. Accessed February 16, 2012.</ref>
Also in 2011, he performed at New York's CMJ Music Marathon & Film Festival,<ref name="cmj"/> as well as at The Bamboozle, a three-day music festival held annually in New Jersey. Nearly 100,000 people attended that year's festival, which featured around 200 acts.<ref>Tris McCall, [http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/05/bamboozle_weekend_attracts_nea.html "Fans, artists bond as Bamboozle weekend attracts nearly 100k to Meadowlands,"] ''The Star-Ledger'', May 2, 2011.</ref> York was singled out in ''The Star-Ledger'''s review of the festival, where he was praised for being "on the rise" and playing "a spirited set of glam-influenced pop" to an "enthusiastic crowd."<ref>Tris McCall, [http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/05/bamboozle_music_festival_in_ea.html "Bamboozle music festival in East Rutherford bolstered by powerhouse pop lineup,"] ''The Star-Ledger'', May 1, 2011.</ref>
Since launching in 2010, York has gathered in excess of 80,000 Instagram followers, 60,000 Twitter followers, and 90,000 Facebook fans. He has received a YouTube Honor for being the #43 all-time most subscribed musician among Japanese viewers (as of February 2012).<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/alexyorkmusic AlexYorkMusic - Honors section]. Accessed February 21, 2012.</ref>
York donates a portion of his profits to Japan disaster relief from the 2011 tsunami.<ref name="sins"/>
In 2012, York released the single "Change", sung primarily in Japanese, about his hope for a swift recovery from the disaster. The song ranked #19 on the iTunes Japan pop chart and #2 on the Amazon Japan pop chart.<ref name="zip">NTV ''Zip!'' Aired December 3, 2012.</ref> As of April 2013, its music video on YouTube has been viewed over 750,000 times.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlQvyy2jChE Alex York - "Change"]. Accessed April 3, 2013.</ref>
In the same year, he released the single "American Boy", based on his travel experiences in Japan. "American Boy" reached #8 on the iTunes Japan pop chart and #1 on the Amazon Japan pop chart.<ref name="nonstop" /> The music video for the song has attained over 2,000,000 views on YouTube as of December 2013.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcAscMMScc4 Alex York - "American Boy"]. Accessed December 7, 2013.</ref>
York appeared as the finale act at a charity concert for the "TOMODACHI Summer 2012 Celebration", sponsored by the United States government and the US-Japan Council, in September 2012. He performed songs in Japanese and English for the audience, which included then-Foreign Minister of Japan Kōichirō Genba and students from the 2011 tsunami disaster afflicted region of Tōhoku.<ref>[http://usjapantomodachi.org/2012/09/173/ "TOMODACHI Summer 2012 Celebration,"] USJapanTomodachi.com, September 22, 2012.</ref>
As of January 2013, York is ranked #9 on New York pop charts on ReverbNation.<ref>[http://www.reverbnation.com/main/charts?geo=Local&country=US&state=NY&city=New+York&postal_code=&genre=pop&page=1&use_postal_code=0 "Top Pop Artists (Local),"] ReverbNation.com. Retrieved January 13, 2013.</ref>
At the 2013 Hollywood Media in Music Awards (HMMA), York's rock ballad "I Don't Care" was nominated for Alternative Song of the Year, and his dance pop number "Push and Pull" received a nomination for Best Pop Song of the Year.<ref>[http://www.hmmawards.org/july-2013-hmma-music-genre-nominees/ "July 2013 HMMA Music Genre Nominees"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021233855/http://www.hmmawards.org/july-2013-hmma-music-genre-nominees/ |date=2013-10-21 }} Hollywood Music in Media Awards, August 12, 2013. Accessed October 9, 2013.</ref>
===Theater=== At an event at The Copacabana celebrating ''Hair'' co-author James Rado’s 80th birthday, York was selected to be a part of the cast performing excerpts from Rado's latest musical, ''American Soldier''.<ref>[http://broadwayworld.com/article/Photo-Flash-James-Rado-Celebrates-80th-Birthday-20120125 "Photo Flash: James Rado Celebrates 80th Birthday!"] BroadwayWorld.com, January 25, 2012.</ref>
===Television=== York appears regularly on Japanese television news programs ''FCI Morning Eye'' and ''FCI News Catch!'', broadcast by Fujisankei Communications Group on its American branch, FCI. Speaking in Japanese as well as English, he hosts segments relating to music, travel, and food.<ref>[http://www.fujisankei.com/video_library/interview/yashiro-aki.php "'Queen of Enka' Aki Yashiro, Sings Jazz in NYC"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130811155043/http://www.fujisankei.com/video_library/interview/yashiro-aki.php |date=2013-08-11 }} Fujisankei.com. Accessed August 1, 2013.</ref><ref>[http://www.fujisankei.com/video_library/interview/Cyndi-Lauper-Kinky-Boots.php "Alex Interviews Cyndi Lauper!"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130426080926/http://www.fujisankei.com/video_library/interview/Cyndi-Lauper-Kinky-Boots.php |date=2013-04-26 }} Fujisankei.com. Accessed April 6, 2013.</ref><ref>[http://www.fujisankei.com/video_library/event/comiccon.php "Alex Interviews William Shatner; Star Trek! Titans! NY Comic Con"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021011949/http://www.fujisankei.com/video_library/event/comiccon.php |date=2013-10-21 }} Fujisankei.com. Accessed October 21, 2013.</ref> York's music is featured in the soundtracks of his programs.<ref>[http://www.fujisankei.com/video_library/ramen/ny-ramen-files-17.php "At Authentic Japanese Restaurant 'Wasan', Special Limited Ramen Noodles"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130408081252/http://www.fujisankei.com/video_library/ramen/ny-ramen-files-17.php |date=2013-04-08 }} Fujisankei.com. Accessed April 6, 2013.</ref>
===Writings=== From 2019 to 2020, York contributed a series of articles published on the official website of MTV Japan, where he taught English through his music.<ref>[https://x.com/MTV_JAPAN/status/1245925107559583749 MTV Japan Official Account]. Accessed September 3, 2024.</ref>
In September 2020, he released the English education book ''Momotarō wo Utau dake de Eigo ga Hanaseru'' (''Sing Momotaro, Speak English''), published by Kadokawa.<ref>[https://www.kadokawa.co.jp/product/321904000763/ "Momotarō wo Utau dake de Eigo ga Hanaseru CD Bukku" ], Kadokawa. Accessed September 3, 2024.</ref>
In June 2023, York's writing and English education techniques were featured in a special edition of Japanese magazine ''President Family''.<ref>[https://presidentstore.jp/item/008208.html "Kodomo Eigo Daihyakka 2023 Kanzen Hozon-ban"], President Family. Accessed September 3, 2024.</ref>
==Discography==
===Albums=== * ''Tokyo Heartbreak'' (released November 14, 2011)
===Singles=== * "American Boy" (2012) * "Change" (2012) * "Tokyo Heartbreak" (2011)
==Bibliography==
* "Alex York no Wanpointo Eikaiwa: Dai-1 kai Momotarō no Uta Pāto 1" ("Alex York's One Point English Conversation: Episode 1, Momotaro's Song, Part 1"). ''MTV Japan''. (2019) * "Alex York no Wanpointo Eikaiwa: Dai-2 kai Momotarō no Uta Pāto 2" ("Alex York's One Point English Conversation: Episode 2, Momotaro's Song, Part 2"). ''MTV Japan''. (2019) * "Alex York no Wanpointo Eikaiwa: Dai-3 kai Momotarō no Uta Pāto 3" ("Alex York's One Point English Conversation: Episode 3, Momotaro's Song, Part 3"). ''MTV Japan''. (2019) * "Alex York no Wanpointo Eikaiwa: Dai-4 kai Momotarō no Uta Pāto 4" ("Alex York's One Point English Conversation: Episode 4, Momotaro's Song, Part 4"). ''MTV Japan''. (2020) * ''Momotarō wo Utau dake de Eigo ga Hanaseru'' (''Sing Momotaro, Speak English''). (2020) * "Yēru Daigakusotsu Arekkusu to YouTuber Daijirō ga Oshieru Maru de Neitibu Hatsuon! Gaikokujin to Nakayoku Nareru Furēzu" ("Yale Grad Alex and YouTuber Daijirō Teach Native Pronunciation! Phrases to Make Friends with Foreigners"). ''President Family''. (2023)
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [http://alexyork.com/ Official website]
{{DEFAULTSORT:York, Alex}} Category:Living people Category:American male singer-songwriters Category:American male pop singers Category:Singers from New York City Category:Yale College alumni Category:Collegiate School (New York) alumni Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Singer-songwriters from New York (state)