Born in San Francisco, June 18, 1948, and descended from early Californio aristocracy, Alex's family heritage includes two Governors of California;  Jose Dario Arguello, the prominent and influential commandante of Santa Barbara and San Francisco and Governor of California under Spanish rule from 1814 to 1815, and Luis Antonio Arguello, commandante of the San Francisco Presidio and first Governor of California under Mexican rule from 1822 to 1825.  Arguello Boulevard  in San Francisco is named for the family.  Alex's father, Alex L. Arguello II, was a respected attorney and his mother, Marty Links, was a  well-known artist and cartoonist of the comic strips, Bobby Sox and Emmy Lou, which were nationally syndicated from the early 1950s until 1979. 

Alex grew up in San Francisco during the heady days of the '60s music explosion.  He played guitar and wrote songs for a variety of bands.  After graduating from the University of the Pacific, Alex settled in the Monterey Bay area where he taught high school, but he continued to compose songs and to perform with local musicians.  Alex was a beloved teacher who brought his enthusiasm for music to his students, to his friends, and to his audiences. 

An Arguello gathering induced even the most musically challenged guests to wield a rhythm instrument or to take a turn at the microphone.  Alex's sharp wit and engaging smile combined with a gentle and honest manner to make him a charismatic figure.   Known for his robust appetite for life as well as his charm, Alex left us all too soon on January 24, 2003.