4 Lon Dirion, Abergele, Conwy, LL22 8PX
- Mon - Sat
- -
- Sunday
- Closed
music in early life
Hello, and welcome to Murtagh Music! My name is Andy, and I have been teaching piano for over 30 years. I was born in Birmingham, where I grew up in Handsworth Wood in a house that was always full of music. My dad had a keen musical interest and was self taught on the chromatic harmonica. He also had an encyclopaedic knowledge of classical music which I studied as a child. I also started to get into jazz - some of my influences include Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea and Oscar Peterson, who my dad took me to see at the Birmingham Town Hall when I was 12 years old.
When I was 17 I gained a scholarship to attend a jazz course in Wavendon hosted by Johnny Dankworth and Cleo Laine. During my teens I played keyboards in several bands covering many diverse styles; rock, funk, soul and reggae. The most successful of these was a band called The Nightcatchers. We had a TV appearance on Peter Powell’s Oxford Road Show in 1984 and signed to RCA the following year. During this time we worked with Level 42’s front man and bassist Mark King who produced our single I Can’t Believe.
After The Nightcatchers disbanded, I became self-employed with the help of the Prince’s Youth Business Trust. I also teamed up with vocalist, drummer and song writer Phil Middleton, with whom I set up a
recording studio in Yardley. I also worked as a session musician recording with former Steel Pulse guitarist, Basil Gabbidon and performing live with soul legend Edwin Starr and rock and roll star Alvin Stardust.
teaching music
In 1999 I started working for Access To Music in Birmingham, where I taught keyboards, music technology, and recording. I also accompanied many of the vocalists on the course and assisted many of the bands. In 2003, I was voted tutor of the year. I also reunited with Basil Gabbidon and performed with his band at Symphony Hall.
In 2008 I moved to North Wales where I now teach and run a small studio from home. In the past few years I’ve teamed up with my brother Vin producing 3 albums as The Beaten Track - Colwyn Skyline, Whiskey Priests & Lovers, and Ackie One Two Three, all of which are available on iTunes. I’ve also started working with a local singer, Wendy Eastwood. We are known as Almost Blue and do covers of jazz standards, blues and bossa novas.
If you're considering learning guitar, piano, keyboard, flute, or another instrument, choose Murtagh Music in Abergele. Please email andy@murtaghmusic.com for details.
Contact Me
Contact me to start booking your music lessons or recording sessions:
07932 575882
ANDY@MURTAGHMUSIC.COM
