Artist of the day Andy Leek Andy Leek (born 1958) is a singer/songwriter, known for his work with Dexys Midnight Runners. He has also written the single Twist in the Dark for Anni-Frid Lyngstad. He currently fronts Andy Leek and the Blue Angels. His solo single Say Something reached the number 1 position in Lebanon during the civil war. Leek began his musical career while still at school fronting progressive punk band The Wailing Cocks. The band attracted a modicum of publicity via two singles on independent label Birds Best, recording two sessions for John Peels Radio 1 show, Kid Jensen Live and on Radio 2s in Concert Live. At the age of 21, Leek joined Dexys Midnight Runners in late November 1979, playing on early recordings such as the hit single Geno and four other tracks on their debut album Searching for the Young Soul Rebels. Just before the band were at No. 1 in the charts with this track, Leek left stating he wanted to sing. Leek later claimed he left due to being attacked by the drummer. Leek subsequently took a job as a hospital porter before becoming a mortuary assistant. Two earlier songs Leek had recorded with the Wailing Cocks were then licensed to Beggars Banquet Records for release as a double-A-sided solo single: Move On (In Your Maserati) / Ruben Decides. These were both played on Radio One and were single of the week in Sounds. In early 1981, Leek teamed up with fellow ex-Dexys member Kevin Al Archer in his new band The Blue Ox Babes in which Leek played piano. harmonium, harmonica. and sung backing vocals. Some months later on the strength of a demo tape of 16 new songs, Beggars Banquet paid for an albums worth of new material but this lay dormant until their belated release as Midnight Music on Leeks own Undiscovered Classics label in 2009. One song from these sessions, Twist in the Dark, was recorded by Frida from Abba for her 1984 solo album Shine, via a recommendation from Leeks friend Kirsty MacColl. Fridas version was also issued as a single around the world and she described this song as her favourite song she had recorded outside of Abba. For the rest of the 1980s, Leek pursued his own career as a musician, as well as writing a musical interpretation of a Dylan Thomas poem which was recorded and released by Tom Jones, and acting alongside Billie Whitelaw and David Van Day as an aspiring songwriter in the Tony Klinger-produced 1985 movie Promo-Man. A short-lived deal with indie label Fascination Records in 1984 led to two singles credited to Leek: Soul Darling, with Specials producer Dave Jordan, and a version of Abbas Dancing Queen produced by Tony Visconti. In 1988 after signing a publishing and management contract with Hit n Run music, Atlantic Records in New York. Leek was honored that after hearing five of his tracks George Martin had considered three of the five tracks as potential number 1s and he agreed to produce his 1988 album, Say Something. It was recorded in Martins A.I.R. Studios with such musicians as Steve Howe of Yes, Clem Clempson, Luís Jardim on percussion, Alan Murphy of Level 42 on guitar, Peter-John Vettese (keyboards, from Jethro Tull), and veteran bassist Mo Fostera 36 piece orchestra on various tracks and the London Community Gospel Choir on the Golden Doors. Although George Martin said that Andy had what Lennon, McCartney and Elton has the single from the album Please Please failed to do as well as expected in the UK charts. In 2007 a Lebanese DJ/Producer, called aXess, contacted Leek to request to do a Salsa remix of the track. Say Something which had reached the number 1 position in Lebanon during the civil war. Leek has since recorded three further albums, Eternity Beckons (including the single All Around The World, which proved popular in Germany) the self-produced Sacrifice And Bliss (which yielded the single Forgotten People) and Waking up the World (with the single of the same name) All of which are now being released on his own label. Eternity Beckons was also briefly available on a small Spanish label, Ouver Records. The song Forgotten people was also released on a compilation album which made it to number one in Spain. After a period studying musical composition at Cardiff University, Leek formed his own party band Andy Leek & The Blue Angels,[6] mostly at charity balls. Leek has also appeared on various TV shows: The James Whale Show, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, Later with Jools Holland and Children in Need three years running. In 2010 Leek remixed the album Say Something now entitled Say Something Revisited released with the single Whats the problem?. 22 years on in May 2013 Leek released an 16 track double concept album Waking up the World For this album each song has a sister song which reflects and explores the other side of its counterpart. This results in seven themes which tell a story of youth, experience, realization and return. In 2013 Leek started releasing his past music on YouTube with many lyric videos created. In 2014 Leek, Phil Williams (SEO/ICT Director) and David Williams (Art Director) of Acrobat Media Associates created Andy Leek Music record label. They then opened an X Factor style competition called Andy Leeks Star Maker that anyone can enter to try and find new talent for the label. Leek also released a new album, Andy Leeks Star Maker album, which has new songs When Baby Calls, On a Shooting Star and Best in Everyone with each song on the album there is an instrumental to help contestants. Leek is also recording songs for a new solo album called From Icarus to Phoenix, to be released in summer 2014. https://youtube/watch?v=tGPJgD_62hA#t=83
Posted on: Sat, 13 Dec 2014 11:11:30 +0000
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