Alex learned to play guitar at 12 years old and later joined the school chorus and a garage band. At 16, he started gigging and skipped college to pursue music. When music wasn’t paying the bills, he explored his interest in reptiles and began snake breeding. With some money in his pocket, he spent a year doing a 44-state tour playing music around the country. After returning home, he was cast as a singer in a commercial for American Family Insurance. As part of the commercial, Jennifer Hudson surprised Alex and sang with him. Hudson encouraged Alex to take his talents to “The Voice.”