Biography

Alan Mark Lightner generates excitement through his energetic, charismatic, and highly skilled approach to playing and teaching music. His unique style, vast knowledge, and kind hearted spirit have wooed audiences and classrooms around the world. During his studies in the music program at the University of California at Berkeley, Lightner also pursued private instruction from masters in his fields of interest. Those fields included Afro-Caribbean music with an emphasis on the art of playing and arranging for steel pans and the vast world of Afro-Cuban rhythms and instruments, Afro-Brazilian percussion, West African music, European classical percussion and the Afro-American art form of jazz. After receiving his B.A. in music in 1991, Lightner became a master faculty member at the East Bay Center for Performing Arts where he served as the director of the steel pans and drum set departments. Within his eight years as director/arranger for the advanced steel pan performing ensemble, he and the band received numerous accolades including the honor of being requested to perform for then Vice President Al Gore during one of his visits to the Bay Area. Lightner has been a featured guest on “The Osgood File”, Charles Osgood’s nationally syndicated radio news program, to discuss Lightner’s success with teaching inner-city students. He has been the subject of numerous magazine articles and was included in the sixth edition of Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, 2000. Alan Lightner has been equally successful as a performer. He has performed and/or recorded with Will Smith, Roy Ayers, Andy Narell, Pharell Williams, Lady Antebellum, Aloe Blacc and Barrington Levy just to name a few. Lightner has toured the world with acts such as “Game of Thrones Live Concert Experience”, De La Soul and David Rudder. He has appeared on and contributed to the soundtracks of numerous films and television shows - including Captain Phillips, Neighbors, The Voice and Little Big Shots. Lightner compositions can be heard on various commercial jingles and numerous steel band recordings including his own group Pan Ramajay’s three releases. Los Angeles based band, Pan Dulce features Lightner penned tunes exclusively on their self titled release. Alan Lightner now juggles most of his time between composing, arranging and traveling internationally as a performer and clinician.