Description
His offbeat, happy go lucky style has
made an indelible mark on the entertainment scene and helped many an
energetic entertainer on the path to fame and fortune and has travelled
thousands of miles in this area critically watching all his attractions.
Among the many acts Andy is
pushing at the moment are The Untouchables & Triple XXX , the all
girl band, on the solo front, Sean Murray is a one off. He rates Ritz
and Palm Springs, who, when they perform together, create what Andy
says is a "Cracking" night with both music and comedy.
He guided Egremont based "It Bites"
on the road to fame.. only parting company three months before their
hit, "Calling all the Heroes" gave them their big break.
Andy's life and soul of the party
career came out of a tragic accident which landed him in hospital for
ten months and a further six months recuperating in plaster after a
horrific fall from cliffs at Rockcliffe. He went into hospital as a
sports mad 16-year-old and left an ardent pop music fan after hours
tuned into Radio's Caroline and Luxembourg as his injuries healed.
His first booking was in the 1960's
when Rockcliffe Youth Club wanted a band. Andy saw the Diamonds play at
Carlisle's Kings Hall, booked them for the event and struck up a
lifetime friendship with Bob Fish who still croons in Johnny and the
Roccos, managed by Andy for several years.
This could have been
his one and only success in the business because he followed up with a
mammoth boob compering bands at the Market Hall. He still cringes at
the memory of introducing the youthful 1960's line up of "The Who" as
the Kinks.
Andy says. "I decided to start an
agency when Carlisle State Management was sold off. I thought all the
pubs would want live entertainment but I was wrong and it was hard
making a living for about three years. Then came the Twisted Wheel in
the early 1970's. It had live entertainment five nights a week. At that
time you could go out every night of the week within a one-mile radius
of Carlisle City Centre and see a different band. I remember booking
The Bay City Rollers for The Wheel for £35 on their way to London. I
have been very lucky. I'm a Motown fan and the people here like this
type of music".
"Andy cites Jimmy James and the
Vagabonds as his favourite band radiating charisma and an electric
atmosphere from their stage show. He says -
"You have got to match the acts with
the venues. It's a wonderful feeling when you get it right and that is
total job satisfaction for me."
Andy works with national promoters to book a wide range of top attractions
He concludes "I am often asked about
booking bands and would advise any club secretary to ask for at least
three references if they are approached by a group for work. One bad
night can kill a club for months"!
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