About Andy
Andy Collier is a modest, friendly, courteous,reliable and humorous guy who is a live entertainer and songster who sings and performs vintage songs from the past - to people who love to hear them. Audiences from theatres, village halls and care homes across Beds, Herts, Bucks, Northants, Oxford, Cambridge and South Leicestershire have been thrilled by Andy’s enthusiastic performances of old favourite songs mostly from both World Wars which he is now preparing for 2010 after temporarily abandoning them to concentrate on his xmas song programme which he has now finished but do book him not only for early 2010 but also for late nov and dec 2010 as well!
He also sings songs from shows and songs from the fifties, sixties and seventies, As mentioned his xmas song programme is full of the very best festive songs which will be a bit different for 2010 with even more variety than his xmas gig for 2009!
He can also create a special tailored gig programme for you from his various standard programmes
Andy is a trained bass – baritone and accompanies himself on his keyboard and also uses his own sound equipment in larger venues such as theatres, hotels and outside venues.
Andy gives private and public performances to a variety of audiences in Care Homes, Clubs and Community Centres as well as theatres and preserved railway centres.and stations. He has created a competitive fee for any one of his gigs and likes to give good value as he loves to perform and prefers to bring a smile and a warm heart to older folk across the area who love to hear the old songs sung properly again. The older songs would also be interesting and educational to much younger people as well. For instance, the national curriculum social history has plenty on the two world wars for older school pupils as well as the canals and waterways.
From Trainer to Entertainer
Andy has a wealth of experience as a singer studying 'singing'’ at the Royal College of Music and subsequently using his voice many times in a career working with children and teenagers that lasted over twenty five years, Since retiring from that work that he loved, Andy has brought the entertainment ‘factor’ into his rich and bright bass – baritone voice coupled with his keyboard playing and his whole act is designed to bring a mixture of tradition and fun at his performances.
Andy loves relating to people in his audiences and can adapt his style depending on which song programme he is offering
Experienced Career as a Singer, Teacher and Writer
As an experienced show pianist Andy is able to create simple accompaniments in any key that blends well with his singing. He believes that he can create more variety in his performances with his own accompaniments (either played or recorded as his own track) than he would be able to do using backing tracks.
With a Korg PA 500 keyboard and a suitable costume, Andy is ready to perform with enthusiasm which he can do at a moments notice depending on availability The added facility in using a korg keyboard is now available without there being any extra charge
Andy has had a wide and varied musical career but one that has always focussed on singing and performing. He has taught music in state amd private schools, and has also run several youth and childrens musical theatre groups for over twenty years. This has enabled him to put together his own musicals which can be viewed on the sub show page and more recently his different singing programmes; (see Shows) He is still a singing tutor on occasions and always enjoys building confidence in a students voice!
As a writer of fifteen different shows, Andy has used them extensively in a long youth and childrens theatre career lasting well over twenty years and these can be seen on the sub page 'andy's theatre shows' off the 'shows' page. Andy is gradually beginning to use them as alternative song programmes, which increase the variety of choice of such. .
Andy’s other interests
Andy has also many varied interests. In line with his canal and railway interests,
He was a confident club cricketer and loves following many of the sports especially test cricket and grand slam tennis which both of these he often follows with great enthusiasm!. He loves most types of music and particularly the songs of the shows. As mentioned he has a love of the canals which came from the days when he and his brother Tim drove their own working narrow boats up and down the Grand Union Canal carrying camping parties and also retail loads of coal mostly during the winter months. He now enjoys walks in the countryside near his home near Bedford.
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