Alexander Briley, born on April 12, 1951, is an American singer with a storied career as the original "G.I." in the iconic disco recording group Village People.
Growing up in Harlem, New York City, and later in Mount Vernon, New York, Briley was raised in a family of faith, with his father serving as a Christian minister. He began singing in church at a young age and later honed his vocal skills at the University of Hartford.
Briley's early life was marked by the presence of his two brothers, Timothy and Jonathan, who would later become an integral part of his life's work.
Introduced to producer and composer Jacques Morali by fellow Village People member Victor Willis, Briley took on the role of a soldier for the group's album Cruisin' in 1978, and later appeared as a sailor when they recorded In the Navy in 1979.
Tragedy struck in 2001 when Briley's younger brother, Jonathan, an audio engineer at Windows on the World on the 106th floor of the World Trade Center, lost his life in the terrorist attacks on September 11. Jonathan's fate was shrouded in mystery, with some speculating that he was the figure depicted in a famous photo of a man falling to his death from the North Tower.
This devastating event had a profound impact on Briley, who has since become an advocate for 9/11 victims and their families.
