Andy Hamilton grew up in Jamaica listening to the original sounds of the 1920s’ Jazz Age on American radio broadcasts. He made his first ‘sax’ out of bamboo and got hold of his first real saxophone through hiring the instrument from a local gambler.
With such a long musical career it is not surprising that Andy has a lot of stories to tell. Playing in an exclusive Jamaican hotel in the 1940s Andy caught the eye of Hollywood star Errol Flynn and subsequently spent two years working with the actor and playing on the famous Zaka yacht. Having sailed for England in 1949 and ended up in Birmingham, Andy lost his front teeth when he was assaulted by a group of Oswald Mosley’s fascists at one of the concerts he organised.
At the age of 72 Andy was offered a recording contract by World Circuit Records and his debut album with the Blue Notes, ‘Slivershine’, was the biggest selling jazz album of 1991. In 2007 his career was recognised by the Queen when he was made an MBE for services to music in the city of Birmingham.
