Alex Preston Philbrick (born May 6, 1993), better known as Alex Preston, is an American singer from

Mont Vernon, New Hampshire Mont Vernon is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 2,584 at the 2020 census, up from 2,409 at the 2010 census. It is not clear why it is spelled differently from the many other towns in the United St ...

, who was a finalist on the thirteenth season of ''

American Idol ''American Idol'' is an American singing competition television series created by Simon Fuller, produced by Fremantle North America and 19 Entertainment, and distributed by Fremantle North America. It aired on Fox from June 11, 2002, to Ap ...

'', coming in third place. On July 21, 2015, he released his self-titled debut album. His second album, ''A Work in Progress'', was released in 2018.

Early life

Alex Preston was born and raised in Mont Vernon, New Hampshire. He wrote his first song called "Fish Food" when he was 12. He attended Souhegan High School in

Amherst, New Hampshire Amherst is a town in Hillsborough County in the state of New Hampshire, United States. The population was 11,753 at the 2020 census. Amherst is home to Ponemah Bog Wildlife Sanctuary, Hodgman State Forest, the Joe English Reservation and Baboosi ...

where he played the guitar in a jazz band, and in the percussion section in concert and a marching band. He also formed a band with friends, Dustin Newhouse, Josh Brackett and Tucker Brown, called Undertow. He graduated from high school in 2011, and studied at the University of New Hampshire. Preston has written songs with his cousin

Jo Dee Messina Jo Dee Marie Messina (born August 25, 1970) is an American country music artist. She has charted six number-one singles on the ''Billboard'' country music charts. She has been honored by the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country ...

, the rock band

Framing Hanley Framing Hanley is an American rock band formed in Nashville, Tennessee in 2005. They released their first studio album in August 2007, titled ''The Moment''. History Formation and ''The Moment'' (2005–2009) Lead singer & songwriter Kenn ...

, and Aria Summer. His song was used in the CD "Voices for Heroes," a benefit for

Sandy Hook Sandy Hook is a barrier spit in Middletown Township, Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. The barrier spit, approximately in length and varying from wide, is located at the north end of the Jersey Shore. It encloses the southern en ...

. He won the "Open For MixFest" competition organized by a radio station to open for acts such as

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Gavin DeGraw Gavin Shane DeGraw (born February 4, 1977) is an American singer-songwriter. DeGraw rose to fame with his song "I Don't Want to Be" from his debut album '' Chariot'' (2003); the song became the main theme song for The WB drama series ''One Tree ...

and

Of Monsters and Men Of Monsters and Men is an Icelandic indie folk/rock band formed in Reykjavík in 2010. The members are lead singer and guitarist Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir, singer and guitarist Ragnar "Raggi" Þórhallsson, lead guitarist Brynjar Leifsson ...

. His single "The Light Was Already Here" was released in September 2013.

''American Idol''

2014–2019: ''Alex Preston'' album and ''A Work in Progress''

His debut, self-titled album was recorded in a cabin in

Lone Pine, California Lone Pine is a census-designated place (CDP) in Inyo County, California, United States. Lone Pine is located south-southeast of Independence, at an elevation of . The population was 2,035 at the 2010 census, up from 1,655 at the 2000 census. T ...

and was released in 2015. His second album, ''A Work in Progress,'' was released in 2018. In 2019, he won a

New England Emmy Award New England Emmy Awards are a division of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. The division was founded in 1977 and in addition to granting the New England Emmy Awards, it recognizes awards scholarships, honors industry veterans ...

in the Special Event Coverage category for the program ''NH Chronicle Presents New Hampshire Idol''.

Discography

Albums

* ''Alex Preston'' (2015) # "Break My Heart" # "You" # "Fairytales" # "The Light Was Already Here" # "Close to You" # "200 Miles" # "The Author" # "Get Up, Get Down" # "Love Letters" * ''A Work in Progress'' (2018)

Digital singles

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Preston, Alex American Idol participants Living people 21st-century American singers People from Mont Vernon, New Hampshire Singers from New Hampshire 1993 births 21st-century American male singers id:Alex Preston