SOUTHERN UTAH — While many musicians dream of what is usually a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to perform at New York’s Carnegie Hall, Utah-based musician Alex Boyé has performed there three times, all in 2015 — with the Piano Guys in March, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in July and as part of Tim Janis’ 10th annual “The American Christmas Carol” in December.
Boyé has been entertaining audiences worldwide for more than 20 years. Born in London, England, and raised by his mother who is of Nigerian descent, he has had top 10 hits in more than 15 countries, selling more than half a million albums. His current hit song entitled “Lemonade” was picked up by Radio Disney for their playlist. For more than eight years, he performed as one of the principal soloists of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, although he has since retired from the choir.
He has wowed judges on “America’s Got Talent” and on “X-Factor” across the Atlantic in Britain and was recognized in 2014 as YouTube’s Cover Artist of the Year with more than 200 million hits and still climbing. Boyé’s list of achievements is vast and his list of upcoming events is impressive for the musician who spent his childhood in the rough Tottenham area of North London.
Yet, despite his challenging start in life, Boyé has maintained a heart of gold as evidenced by his Facebook posting where he expressed his desire to give back to small town Utah by organizing the “Alex Boyé 2016 Small Town Tour.”
“I have been living in Utah for 16 years. I love being here,” Boyé said. “This is my home … Everywhere I go, I’m greeted with hospitality and warm smiling faces … I want to do a series of concerts in your town to celebrate … I’m talking about your small towns where nobody ever comes.”
Boyé solicited online voting, tallied the responses and made plans this month and next to visit the communities with the most requests. These include Kanab, St. George, Monticello, Heber City, Vernal — and possibly one more venue.
Boyé said:
I want to give back to the people of Utah. They have supported me all throughout my music career, uplifted me, encouraged me, and I want to show them the same love they’ve shown me since I arrived in this country. I especially want to visit the small towns that may not get a lot of musical acts visiting them. They are just as important to me and are pivotal in helping to shape my musical success. I want them to be exposed to concerts in their very town, as remote as they may be, just as much as those of us living in the more populated cities.
The highlight of his life was marrying his wife, Julie, in the Salt Lake City Temple. They now have four children under age 6, with number five coming in April, and he wants them to enjoy being on the road with him when he performs.
“It takes a bit of planning around their little preschool lives and nap times,” Boyé said, “but at the end of the day, they are all very supportive of my career choice and understand that sometimes Daddy has to travel to be able to pay for diapers, gymnastics lessons and girls’ night out events for Julie.”
Boyé said his ultimate joy is to lift people with a few moments of entertainment.
Boyé will appear at Kanab High School, Jan. 22 and 23 at 7 p.m., with a 2 p.m. matinee Jan. 23; Desert Hills High School in St. George, Feb. 5 at 8:30 p.m. and Feb. 6 at 7 p.m.; Monticello High School, Feb. 8 at 7 p.m.; Heber City High School, Feb. 19 at 7 p.m. and the Uintah Conference Center in Vernal, Feb. 26 at 7 p.m.
Tickets for “Alex Boyé’s 2016 Small Town Tour” may be purchased online.
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