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 Andrew was born
and lives in Southsea, Hampshire with his wife Sue and two daughters.
His father Frank bought a very small Thomas Organ and later changed it for a
Lowrey. It was at this point 13 year old Andrew started to take a keen
interest in playing the Electronic Organ. In those early years Andrew did
not want to take lessons and was quite content to sit at the Organ and teach
himself.
Andrew says, "During this time I just wanted to do my own thing and I had no
idea that one day I would become a full time Professional Musician."
Although mainly self taught, Andrew did receive encouragement from his
father, and from the late Theatre Organist Eric Lord who became a good
friend of the family.
During this period of Andrew's life he went to many Organ Concerts with his
parents. Players like Brian Sharp, John Mann and German stars Franz Lambert
and Klaus Wunderlich were a big inspiration. His interest was constantly
renewed by the various organs his Father bought over the years, including
Gulbransen, Eminent and Yamaha.
After spending a number of years in the Retail Business. Andrew joined a
Trio playing the keyboards entertaining at various clubs and backing cabaret
artistes at Holiday Clubs. In 1987 Andrew got married and later that year
left the Trio.
The following year he started working at Bees Music in Chichester. Andrew
recalls at this time " It was great demonstrating the different instruments
in the shop including Thomas, Farfisa and Technics. Occasionally we had
visits from demonstrators Tony Peglar and Graeme Wright. It was a joy to
look over their shoulder and hear them play."
After 2 years Andrew was promoted to Manager of the Southampton branch, but
by this time he was itching to become a full time professional. so in 1991
he did just that.
Since then he has been playing for dancing, private functions and Organ
clubs ranging from Yorkshire to the Channel Islands, Cornwall to Norfolk.
Andrew has appeared at Organ Festivals at Shorefield, Torquay Bournemouth,
Hayling Island and Sandford Park.
At the Autumn Cavalcade Festival held at Caister in 2003, Andrew joined the
Wersi Uk Team demonstrating and performing in concert.
Andrew can also claim international status having played in Germany, Italy
and Dublin.
To date Andrew has made 15 recordings on Yamaha, Technics and Wersi
instruments and several tracks have been broadcast by BBC Radios Lancashire,
Guernsey, Devon and The Organist Entertains on Radio 2.
For concerts Andrew uses a combination of the Wersi Abacus and the Yamaha
Tyros 2. He also plays for Ballroom and
Sequence Dancing and the Tyros 2 proves to be the ideal instrument.
His latest CDs "My Way" and "The Good Life" are recorded on the Tyros and
tracks fom these have been played on Alan Ashton's Organfax programme.
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