SANDRA BEVIN
Sandra Alexis-Bivens started her singing career as a child. Her father and brothers and sisters would sing old songs and harmonize around the dining room table, while her mother played the piano. At the age of 14, while she was attending Academy of Our Lady high school though the, Music Director, discovered she had a singing talent of four ranges. She was the lead soprano during her high school years and her mother also enrolled her in Roosevelt University Saturday voice program. At 18 she began singing at the Lutheran Church of the Holy Sprit with music director King Fleming whom became her coach and began to introduce her to the professional performance world of Jazz. Ms. Bivens performed with King Fleming at many of his engagements in Chicago. Through the process she met Red Saunders and Joan Henderson. She began performing with Red Saunders band and Ms. Henderson became her mentor. She has performed with Otis Clay, Ken Chaney, Vince Willis, Oscar Brown Jr and other great artist.
Ms. Bivens has been influenced by artist such as Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Barbara Streisand, Nancy Wilson and her brother Simon Edward Alexis Jr. Her brother, though much older, worked with Miles Davis and other great musicians and played the Saxophone on Gene Ammons, 1960’s 45 recording of Angel Eyes. Over the years she has performed in many Chicago clubs and events. She was a member of the Black Heritage Players under the direction of Rev. Spencer Jackson and Ella Pearl Jackson. She toured the country with this group singing and performing in plays. Ms. Bivens was also a member of the Black Theatre Alliance under the leadership of Jackie Taylor and Abena Joan Brown. She graduated from Roosevelt University with a Major in Communication and a minor in Music. Currently she is the producer and director of the Bronzeville Jazz/Music Festival and the Brown Derby Jazz Revue. Ms. Bivens focus is on promoting local artist and the historic Jazz history of Bronzeville and Chicago Black community.
