Alexander Zonjic
Encyclopedia
Alexander Zonjic (born April 30, 1951) is a professional flutist born in Windsor, Ontario
, who performs both light jazz
and classical
compositions. Zonjic initially played guitar
at age 9, and by age 15 he was lead guitarist in a local Rhythm and blues
band. At age 21, Zonjic purchased his first flute from a street vendor asking $50. He was impressed with the potential the instrument had, and had mastered the basics of it by the year's end.
At the age of 22, Zonjic auditioned at the University of Windsor
, where he was accepted and studied the works of past masters such as Mozart and Bach
. It didn't take long for instructors to notice his gift with the flute. Upon graduation, Zonjic continued his studies under the tutelage of Ervin Monroe, principal flutist of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra
. While still active as a performing guitarist, he began teaching flute privately. Zonjic credits the music of Hubert Laws
and Herbie Mann
as early influences that helped him find his own style.
Over the years Zonjic has been a sideman with many musicians and has several solo albums to date. He has shared stages with such musicians as Earl Klugh
, Harvey Mason
, Kirk Whalum
and Angela Bofill
. Zonjic is also a member of the Bob James
' band. Zonjic has done performances at Carnegie Hall
, the Hollywood Bowl
and the Apollo Theater
in New York
and has also performed with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra
and the Windsor Symphony Orchestra
.
Since 1997, Alexander Zonjic was the morning show host of WVMV
-FM (Smooth Jazz V98.7), a smooth jazz
radio station in Detroit, Michigan
until CBS Radio ceased broadcasting smooth jazz over the airwaves on October 2, 2009. WVMV
is now airing a Top 40 (CHR) format branded as "Amp." He presently hosts a syndicated radio show called Alexander Zonjic From A to Z, which airs on Hamilton's
94.7 The Wave and on WVMV's HD2
channel.
Windsor, Ontario
Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and is located in Southwestern Ontario at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. It is within Essex County, Ontario, although administratively separated from the county government. Separated by the Detroit River, Windsor...
, who performs both light jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
and classical
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
compositions. Zonjic initially played guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
at age 9, and by age 15 he was lead guitarist in a local Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
band. At age 21, Zonjic purchased his first flute from a street vendor asking $50. He was impressed with the potential the instrument had, and had mastered the basics of it by the year's end.
At the age of 22, Zonjic auditioned at the University of Windsor
University of Windsor
The University of Windsor is a public comprehensive and research university in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's southernmost university. It has a student population of approximately 15,000 full-time and part-time undergraduate students and over 1000 graduate students...
, where he was accepted and studied the works of past masters such as Mozart and Bach
Bạch
Bạch is a Vietnamese surname. The name is transliterated as Bai in Chinese and Baek, in Korean.Bach is the anglicized variation of the surname Bạch.-Notable people with the surname Bạch:* Bạch Liêu...
. It didn't take long for instructors to notice his gift with the flute. Upon graduation, Zonjic continued his studies under the tutelage of Ervin Monroe, principal flutist of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Detroit Symphony Orchestra
The Detroit Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Detroit, Michigan. Its main performance center is Orchestra Hall at the Max M. Fisher Music Center in Detroit's Midtown neighborhood...
. While still active as a performing guitarist, he began teaching flute privately. Zonjic credits the music of Hubert Laws
Hubert Laws
Hubert Laws is an American flutist and saxophonist with a 40+ year career in jazz, classical, and other music genres. Alongside Herbie Mann, Laws is probably the most recognized and respected jazz flutist...
and Herbie Mann
Herbie Mann
Herbert Jay Solomon , better known as Herbie Mann, was a Jewish American jazz flutist and important early practitioner of world music...
as early influences that helped him find his own style.
Over the years Zonjic has been a sideman with many musicians and has several solo albums to date. He has shared stages with such musicians as Earl Klugh
Earl Klugh
Earl Klugh is an American smooth jazz/crossover jazz/jazz fusion guitarist and composer.At the age of 13, Klugh was captivated by the guitar playing of Chet Atkins when Atkins made an appearance on the Perry Como Show. Klugh was a performing guest on several of Atkins' albums...
, Harvey Mason
Harvey Mason
Harvey William Mason is an American jazz drummer. He has worked with many jazz and fusion artists such as Bob James, The Brecker Brothers, Lee Ritenour, Herbie Hancock's Headhunters and almost all the Mizell Brothers productions with Donald Byrd, Johnny Hammond, Bobbi Humphrey and Gary Bartz...
, Kirk Whalum
Kirk Whalum
Kirk Whalum is an American smooth jazz saxophonist and songwriter. He toured as Whitney Houston's opening act for several years. Whalum has also recorded a series of well received solo albums and film soundtracks, with music ranging from pop to R&B to smooth jazz...
and Angela Bofill
Angela Bofill
Angela Bofill is an American R&B vocalist and songwriter.Bofill was born to a Cuban father and a Puerto Rican mother; one of the first Latina singers to find success in the R&B market.She performed with Ricardo Marrero & the Group and Dance Theater of Harlem chorus prior to her 1978 debut album,...
. Zonjic is also a member of the Bob James
Bob James (musician)
Robert McElhiney James is a jazz keyboardist, arranger and producer.-Biography:During the 1970s, Bob James played a major role in establishing the smooth jazz genre. "Angela", the instrumental theme from the sitcom Taxi, is probably Bob James' most well-known work to date...
' band. Zonjic has done performances at Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
, the Hollywood Bowl
Hollywood Bowl
The Hollywood Bowl is a modern amphitheater in the Hollywood area of Los Angeles, California, United States that is used primarily for music performances...
and the Apollo Theater
Apollo Theater
The Apollo Theater in New York City is one of the most famous, and older, music halls in the United States, and the most famous club associated almost exclusively with Black performers...
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and has also performed with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Detroit Symphony Orchestra
The Detroit Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Detroit, Michigan. Its main performance center is Orchestra Hall at the Max M. Fisher Music Center in Detroit's Midtown neighborhood...
and the Windsor Symphony Orchestra
Windsor Symphony Orchestra
The Windsor Symphony Orchestra is a Canadian orchestra located in Windsor, Ontario. It was founded in 1941, originally as the Windsor Concert Orchestra. The name was changed to The Windsor Symphony in 1948....
.
Since 1997, Alexander Zonjic was the morning show host of WVMV
WVMV
WDZH is a radio station serving the Metropolitan Detroit area in Southeastern Michigan. WDZH broadcasts a CHR format at 98.7 MHz. The station's transmitter is located near Livernois and West Davison in the City of Detroit...
-FM (Smooth Jazz V98.7), a smooth jazz
Smooth jazz
Smooth jazz is a genre of music that grew out of jazz fusion and is influenced by R&B, funk, rock, and pop music styles ....
radio station in Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
until CBS Radio ceased broadcasting smooth jazz over the airwaves on October 2, 2009. WVMV
WVMV
WDZH is a radio station serving the Metropolitan Detroit area in Southeastern Michigan. WDZH broadcasts a CHR format at 98.7 MHz. The station's transmitter is located near Livernois and West Davison in the City of Detroit...
is now airing a Top 40 (CHR) format branded as "Amp." He presently hosts a syndicated radio show called Alexander Zonjic From A to Z, which airs on Hamilton's
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
94.7 The Wave and on WVMV's HD2
HD Radio
HD Radio, which originally stood for "Hybrid Digital", is the trademark for iBiquity's in-band on-channel digital radio technology used by AM and FM radio stations to transmit audio and data via a digital signal in conjunction with their analog signals...
channel.
Discography
- Doin' The D (Heads Up InternationalHeads Up InternationalHeads Up International is an independent jazz and contemporary instrumental label located in Cleveland, Ohio.Founded in 1990 by Dave Love, Heads Up International has gained international recognition for its contribution to the world of contemporary instrumental music...
/2009) - Seldom Blues (Heads Up International/2004)
- Reach for the Sky (Heads Up International/2001)
- Pipers Holiday (Hi-Falutin Music/1995)
- Passion (Repris/1993)
- Neon (Repris/1991)
- Elegant Evening (Inner City RecordsInner City RecordsInner City Records, an American jazz record label now based in Elmsford, New York, was founded in 1976 by Irv Kratka, owner of Music Minus One, and Eric Kriss, an independent producer. Affiliated labels included Guitar World and Classic Jazz...
/1988) - Romance With You (Optimism Records/1988)
- When Is It Real? (1987)
- The Classical Album (1981)
- Alexander Zonjic (1978)
External links
- Official website Requires Macromedia Flash.