JetBlue salutes Jamaican songwriter Vision Alexander

June 19, 2024, will go down as one of the happiest days of Vision Alexander’s life. The Jamaica-born songwriter and recording artiste was recognised by his former employer, American airline, JetBlue Airways, for his contribution to the Grammy winning album Colors of Royal by Julian Marley and Alexx Antaeus.

Vision Alexander has song-writing credits on six of the album’s tracks.

An official function to celebrate Vision Alexander’s achievements, took place at JetBlue’s hub at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Florida.

In an interview with Observer Online, Vision Alexander spoke about the recognition by JetBlue.

“It felt like a homecoming celebration after winning the Grammy. I used to work on the ramp at JetBlue for eight years and it was there while loading the planes on the tarmac that I wrote songs that were placed on Jesse Royal sophomore project which got me my first Grammy nomination in 2021. So, returning and seeing many of my coworkers and management was really humbling. And being able to share with them my Grammy experience was really heartfelt for me to see a well-respected company such as JetBlue embrace reggae music on this special day in America’s history,” said Vision Alexander.

The special day Vision Alexander referred to is Juneteenth, which is celebrated in the United States each year on June 19.

Vision Alexander said he was contacted by a JetBlue representative shortly after the Grammy win, and an invitation was extended to him to participate in the company’s celebration of Juneteenth.

“I was contacted after we won the Grammy in January of this year. Lucinette Martinez from JetBlue reached out to me to be a part of the company’s annual Juneteenth event. They wanted to ask me questions about my beginnings as a songwriter and my determination to be able to balance working long hours and still being able to fulfill my dreams in the music industry.  I was so honoured when I was asked to return and speak to everyone there. I owe JetBlue so much in my early days and I wouldn’t have missed it for anything. You have to respect where you’re coming from in life, in order to know where you’re going in your future. And the reality is I was a blue collar worker in the airline industry for the best airline company and I’m proud to be a part of the JetBlue family,” Vision Alexander disclosed.

When he worked at JetBlue, Vision Alexander was a ground operations agent with the responsibility of overseeing the luggage/cargo for the safety of the aircraft and passengers before take-off and after landing.

He said his superiors at the airline were always supportive of his musical pursuits.

“My supervisors were always supportive of my career back then. One of the many great things about JetBlue is that as a company overall they really care about their employees. They want to see us reach our full potential in whatever field it is. There’s also further learning opportunities that they provide at JetBlue’s university in Orlando. That gives employees the opportunity to further their career with the company in the aviation industry.  I’ve seen ramp agents like myself become pilots and in leadership roles in the company and they have had long successful careers,” Vision Alexander shared.

He went on to speak about upcoming musical projects.

“I’m still and forever will continue to keep working in reggae music with many of our nation’s top acts. But as of right now I’ve been approached to take my songwriting talents into the Reggaeton Industry where I can help merge our industries as one musically world power across the globe. Reggae and Reggaeton are one family along with afrobeats. So, I’m really enjoying this new journey. My son Isaiah is half Puerto Rican and Jamaican so it feels right to embrace all Latin countries with my songwriting abilities and melodies. Hopefully my music can represent my son and his family from Puerto Rico and show my love, respect, and admiration for all Latinos across the globe. And I pray they will if not remember my name but remember my son Isaiah. As both part of Latino and Jamaican, which makes us one blood,” he said.

Born and raised in Kingston, Alexander attended St George’s College, after which he received a football scholarship to attend Post University in Waterbury, Connecticut. He now resides in South Florida.

The first song he wrote was Jammin, his collaboration with Morgan Heritage member Mojo Morgan, which was produced by Warren Blouse.

Vision Alexander wrote the reggae-inspired Bad, which is featured on R&B singer Teyana Taylor’s chart-topping 2020 release called The Album. Bad was co-produced by Alaric and MIXX (real name Baruch Nembhard, born in Florida to Jamaican parents).

He has also written songs for Jo Mersa Marley, Jaz Elise, G Whizz, and Romain Virgo.

On Jesse Royal’s album Royal, Alexander was credited as a songwriter on Lion Order, Dirty Money, Natty Pablo, Differences, Natty Dread, and Rich Foreva.