Primary Instrument: Vocal
From childhood in Toronto, Andy was mostly moved by classical music and powerful orchestrations; especially of film soundtracks. Jazz found him in his teens; then the crooners. He once heard a a famous singer say: “you wanna learn how to sing, listen to Frank”.
Although being only slightly aware of that part of music world Andy nevertheless fell quickly in love with classic American pop music from the 1940s, 50s and 60s. He absorbed daily doses of the recordings from Columbia, Capitol and Reprise and found himself fascinated by the complex big band and orchestra arrangements behind the lyrics. To this day, that is what really moves and inspires him.
After his time in University, in England, Andy began performing regularly at the local jazz venues and restaurants. To this day, the greatest compliment he received was at one of those early gigs. The venue owner – a big Old Blue Eyes fan - told Andy: “I’ll never listen to Sinatra the same way again”.
In the following 4 years, Andy moved back to Portugal and sang with one of the country’s top swing bands and on television.
Andy decided to move to Canada in 2004, he had to start over again, beginning at the local Toronto jazz and swing venues. Since then it has been the usual uphill battle that more often seems downhill thanks to music!
Andy lives in Toronto with his wife Carol and two children Nat and Christina.
