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***John Fowler R.I.P, I miss my friend so badly and the pain in my chest kills me! My tears will never stop for you. I miss you & I FUCKIN LOVE YOU JOHNNY!!
Andy was born in Bridgeport CT on Feb 28th 1969. Andy started playing in his early teens, after being exposed to music at an early age by his mother, who often played classical piano for him. He dedicated his teenage years to practicing his instrument for sometimes 16 hours a day, while studying theory, eartraining, composition and improvisation with Linc Chamberland, Ted Greene and Chris Risola. Andy says, "I would skip school a lot and play guitar over my friends house, in his garage. Then my mother found out and she was really cool about it. She started to write me notes, to get me out of school as long as long as I passed. She knew I loved music at a totally different level then anyone could imagine".
As a teenager, Andy didn’t have many friends and realized that the few he did have were true friends and totally supportive of his dreams. His passion for the instrument intensified as Andy began supporting himself soon after by teaching others. Andy states "I couldn’t get enough guitar in my life, and I heard so much in my minds ear, it was the only way for me to escape the heartache and pain of my mother being terminal with cancer since I was 10 years old. I had something to say, but I had no one to say it to, so I said it through music. It’s crazy, to this day I hear music when I see the sunset, watch children play, when I see leaves blow down the street, gaze upon the midnight stars or when I stare at the Pacific Ocean. I hear music all the time and I write music with no instrument in front of me."
One day Andy came up with his technique by watching his mother (Grace) use boths hands on the piano. And adapted this style so he could play the melody, chords and bass all at the same time. Andy exhibited his technique to his mother one day and they started to play duets together. He would literally see the sunrise, trying to perfect his technique. Andy calls this technique "Table-Top Guitar".
Andy went on the road, touring the world right out of high school, knowing his mother was lying on her death-bed. She encouraged him to continue touring and not to stop for her or anything. On Nov 18th 1991 Andy’s mother died in his arms when he was home from touring. Andy states " It was about 7:50 pm, my mother asked me to play some piano for her that night, that’s when I knew she was leaving this world. I know the last thing she wanted to hear was music and my voice. When I was done playing for her, I sat next to her holding her in my arms, I felt her heartbeat diminish and I said a few words....... I will never forget the feeling of my mother dying in my arms; it was so cold, dark and lonely. I had no one to turn to or share my passion with, but I realized that when my mother died in my arms , she put me in touch with heaven".
Andy’s compositions come from within. They tell a story, sonically (programic concertos). He considers harmonic contents a part of his soul and a building block for what he calls "Melodic Instrumental Anger Music, with emphasis on Rock, featuring Two-Handed Tapping Technique".
Andy has a wellspring of ability on the fingerboard, his melodic phrasing is a touch of heaven and his technique is the work of a demon. His compositions exhibit depth, taste and original expression with a wealth of harmonic content. In his compositions, one can hear influences from such greats as Steve Vai, Vivaldi, Joe Satriani, Yngwie Malmsteen, Eric Johnson, Brahms, and Larry Carlton.
After spending the last few years touring world wide, Andy currently resides in Los Angeles CA, where he continues to compose, record, teach and perform. Since his relocation to Los Angeles, Andy has written the first ever Seven String instructional aide titled "Seven String Guitar." Seven String Guitar is quoted by good friend Steve Vai and is currently breaking all instructional aide sales records according to the publisher Hal Leonard Corporation.
Andy’s latest publication called "The Guitar Arpeggio Encyclopedia", which is published by Mel Bay publications and quoted by guitar legend Ted Greene. Has soared to Mel Bay’s "Hot List" and "Best Sellers List". Andy has also started his own publishing company called "From Up Above Music" / ASCAP which his music has been licensed to Universal Music Group and is featured on several compilations. Andy also has been performing clinics internationally for some of his endorsees.
More to be updated. Back in CT baby!!!
Some of the latest news is that Andy has been put on Ibanez / Hoshino Gakki’s payroll as their "Product Demonstrator / Product Evaluator"!
Andy is very particular about his equipment and proudly endorses Ibanez Guitars, Eventide Processors, SIT Strings, Dimarzio and Levy’s Leathers.
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