Chicago native, Alvino began playing drums at the age of 10 with the William Penn Elementary School drum and bugle corps. Soon after, he was keeping rhythm for various local bands, and by the age of 14 Alvino began traveling the country, working the club circuit. At 17, he was spotted and approached to play with blues legend KoKo Taylor. Around the same time, Alvino had opportunities to play with many other blues and R&B luminaries like Willie Dixon, Muddy Waters, Cash McCall, and Mighty Joe Young, just to name a few.

In 1974, Alvino was asked to tour with the late great songstress, Minnie Riperton. Touring with Riperton opened the doors for many other projects, including working with leading Motown artists, Stevie Wonder, The Four Tops, Mary Wells and Motown’s best kept secret, The Originals.

Alvino hit on one of the biggest projects of his career in 1978 when he joined the million-unit selling R&B band, “L.T.D.”. Alvino’s awesome reputation spread, and he became a highly sought after drummer, having stints with music legends like Cheryl Lynn, Chaka Khan, Kenny Loggins, Patrice Rushen, Little Richard, Bo Diddley, Bryan Ferry, Robin Trower, Sheena Easton, Slash, the infamous guitarists from Guns n’ Roses, … and many more.

Alvino produces other artists as well, artist the likes of Jonathan McCuen (Son of John McCuen of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band), an up-and-coming young Blues phenom Anthony Cullins, as well writing and producing his own Album.

Alvino and Billy have been performing and recording together for many years and are a formidable anchor for the Billy Haynes Band and the other projects that they work on.