Getting Kanye West a children’s choir for his Fallon performance, and other behind-the-scenes tales of how The Roots are revolutionizing late-night TV.
Alexander (left) backstage with Questlove and other singers she hired for a performance.
Stevvi Alexander is a professional singer and contractor to The Roots. Below, some of her stories from behind the scenes of the band's residency at The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, as told to Hunter Schwarz.
I've known The Roots for years. One of my best friends used to be in the Jazzyfatnastees, which was their girl group, and I'm really good friends with James Poyser, who's the unofficial fifth Beatle to The Roots. He's in the band and we're like the oldest of friends.
When I was living in New York, James brought me in to do the John Legend-Roots shows in 2010 including the Earth Day Rally with Sting and Joss Stone at the National Mall in D.C. I called in a great group of girls and we had a pretty serious blend, so I think The Roots were like, you're on. They basically told me I was a " Root" and whenever they needed singers, I would perform with them and find others who can round out the unit.
Because I've been in this business for so long, and because I left L.A. and lived in New York, I know people on both coasts. I call people I've worked with and who I know can do the job.
Kanye West performing with Charlie Wilson, The Roots, and a choir of boys.
NBC
