Distinguished conga player and percussionist.

While studying biochemistry in Boston, Alias met Tony Williams and Chick Corea and played bass in a Latin jazz group with them. His first professional engagement was with the Eartha Kitt dance troupe performing with the Dizzy Gillespie Big Band of 1957.

He learned most of his craft on the streets of New York associating with other percussionists who studied Afro-Cuban drumming.

He joined Nina Simone and became the musical director during the last of his 3 years with her group. In the band was bassist Gene Perla who he later went on with to co-lead the group Stone Alliance. His association with Miles Davis came during the Bitches Brew recordings during 1969-70, after which he went on the road with Davis for a year.

During his long and varied career, Alias has played trap drums with Blood, Sweat & Tears and Mongo Santamaria, and has been percussionist with Joni Mitchell, Sting and all of Jaco Pastorius' live recordings.

He died in March 2006 at his home in New York.