Andy Mackay
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Andrew "Andy" Mackay (born July 23, 1946) is an English musician, best known as the saxophonist for the art rock group Roxy Music.
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[edit] Life and career
Mackay was born in Lostwithiel, Cornwall, England, and grew up in central London. He attended Reading University, where he played with a group called the Nova Express and struck up a friendship with fellow student Brian Eno. He joined Roxy Music in 1971, after answering an advertisement placed by singer Bryan Ferry, and soon brought Eno into the group as well. He also taught full-time as a music teacher at Holland Park Comprehensive in this period.
Mackay played keyboards, oboe, and saxophone in Roxy Music, and became known for his "duckwalk" during saxophone solos.[1] With his quiff and sideburns, Mackay's early appearance suggested an ironic throwback to 1950s rock and roll performers. His songwriting credits include "A Song For Europe", "Three and Nine", "Love Is The Drug" and "Tara".
He released two solo albums in the 1970s, and composed the music for the album Rock Follies, which reached number one on the British chants in 1976. Mackay also worked with Mott The Hoople, John Cale, Pavlov's Dog, Duran Duran, Godley & Creme, Eddie And The Hot Rods and 801. In 1981, he published Electronic Music: The Instruments, The Music & The Musicians.
After Roxy Music's dissolution in 1983, Mackay joined with Roxy guitarist Phil Manzanera to form The Explorers, featuring Bryan Ferry soundalike James Wraith on lead vocals. The group released a self-titled album in 1985, and resurfaced in 1988 as Manzanera and Mackay. Under this name, they released a further two albums which combined new material with reissued tracks from the Explorers album.
From 1988 to 1991, Mackay largely abandoned music to take a three year Bachelor of Divinity program at King's College London. He recorded a Christmas album in 1989 with The Players, a group of English folk musicians.
He took part in the Roxy Music reunion concerts of 2001 and 2003, and has written music for British television.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Solo albums
- In Search of Eddie Riff (1974)
- Resolving Contradictions (1978)
[edit] Rock Follies
[edit] Explorers/Manzanera and Mackay
- The Explorers (1985)
- Crack The Whip (1988)
- Up In Smoke (1988)
- The Explorers Live at the Palace (1997)
- The Complete Explorers (2001)
[edit] Players
- Christmas (1989)
[edit] External links
- http://www.vivaroxymusic.com A comprehensive site with all of Mackay's work with Roxy Music as well as his solo work, collaborations and sessions all covered in this Virtual Museum
- Biography on Roxyrama, a Roxy Music website
| Roxy Music |
|---|
| Bryan Ferry | Andy Mackay | Phil Manzanera | Paul Thompson |
| Brian Eno | Eddie Jobson | Graham Simpson | Paul Carrack | Andy Newmark |
| Discography |
| Studio albums: Roxy Music | For Your Pleasure | Stranded | Country Life | Siren | Manifesto | Flesh and Blood | Avalon |
| Live albums: Viva! | The High Road | Heart Still Beating | Concert Classics | Concerto |
| Compilations: Roxy Music Greatest Hits | The First Seven Albums | The Atlantic Years | Street Life 20 Great Hits | The Ultimate Collection | More Than This | The Thrill of It All | The Early Years | Slave To Love | The Best of Roxy Music |
| Related Articles |
| New Wave music | Glam rock | New Romantic | EMS VCS 3 | Chris Thomas |
