Cliff Alexis is a native of Trinidad and Tobago, who first came to the U.S. in 1964 as a member of the National Steel Band of Trinidad and Tobago. He has since performed all over the world with this group and as leader of his own groups. In addition to his formidable skill as a pan builder and tuner, Cliff is an outstanding composer, arranger and performer. He was commissioned by the Percussive Arts Society to compose and arrange all the music for the massed steel band concert organized for the 1987 International Convention in St. Louis. In 1985 he joined the staff of the Northern Illinois University School of Music, and in addition to his responsibilities for maintaining and upgrading the school's large inventory of pans, Cliff co-directs the NIU Steel Band with G. Allan O'Connor.
Cliff is in great demand as a builder, tuner, clinician, composer and arranger.