Andy Summers

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Image:Andy summers.jpg Andy Summers was born Andrew James Somers on December 31, 1942 in Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire, England. He is a musician and composer best known for his work in The Police. Summers's primary instrument is the six-string electric guitar. His playing is informed by years of jazz and classical music studies, as well as his work in new age, rock, and other musical genres.

1 Recording career
2 Education
3 Discography
- 3.1 Studio
- 3.2 Compilation
4 External links

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Recording career

First playing jazz guitar as a teenager in local clubs, Summers began his recording career in the 1960s as the guitarist for Zoot Money's Big Roll Band and its subsequent psychedelic-era incarnation, Dantalian's Chariot, both popular acts on the London club scene. He also recorded with Eric Burdon and the New Animals, and spent much of the 1970s doing prolific session work for Neil Sedaka, Joan Armatrading, Kevin Ayers, Kevin Coyne, Tim Rose, and Jon Lord, to name a few.

Summers achieved international prominence as the guitarist for The Police, perhaps the most popular rock music group of the early to mid-1980s. Summers's guitar playing defined much of the Police sound, most notably on popular hits such as "Message in a Bottle," "Don't Stand So Close to Me," and "Every Breath You Take." However, Summers' own songs for the Police, such as "Omegaman" and "Mother", often received less acclaim (although his instrumental "Behind My Camel" won the Grammy for Best Rock Instrumental in 1980). It is Summer's voice which can be heard in the song "Be My Girl - Sally" (from the album "Outlandos D'Amour"), taking the part of the narrator telling - in a broad Lancashire accent - about his adventures with Sally, the inflatable doll.

Summers's diverse musical credits include motion picture film scores, his most famous assignments being Down and Out in Beverly Hills and Weekend at Bernie's. He also dabbled in late night television as the band leader and composer for actor/comic Dennis Miller's first talk show. Summers guest-starred in an episode of TV's The Hitchhiker and had a bit part in the comedy Another You, starring Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor.

As an individual artist, Summers has released numerous recordings with his own collections of musicians, including John Etheridge, Vinnie Colaiuta, Robert Fripp, Herbie Hancock, Brian Auger, Eliane Elias, Tony Levin, Ginger Baker, Deborah Harry, Q-Tip, and Sting, among others. Summers also taped a two-part guitar instructional video for Hot Licks.

In March 2003, Summers, Sting, and drummer Stewart Copeland reunited for the induction of The Police into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Later that year, Summers released his tenth solo album, Earth + Sky, which consisted of contemporary instrumental music. His most recent release is an album called The X Tracks, which is something of a retrospective of his musical efforts between 1997 and 2002. Recently, Summers has been performing at jazz clubs and other venues a few times each year.

In addition to being a musician, Summers is a published writer and photographer. His recent book with Ralph Gibson, Light Strings: Impressions of the Guitar, published by Chronicle Books, contains various passages about different types of music, guitars, and personal stories.

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Education

Before joining The Police Summers took a break from pursuing his musical career full time and attended California State University, Northridge where he earned a Bachelors Degree in Music.

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