| Andrew Brel | |
|---|---|
| Born | 28 September 1960 Johannesburg, South Africa |
| Occupation | Author and Musical Producer |
Andrew Brel (born Andreas Broulidakis 28 September, 1960) is an author and musical producer.
Contents |
Andrew was born in Bryanston, one of Johannesburg’s affluent whites-only suburbs in 1960. After completing first year at the University of Witwatersrand medical school, aged 18, he was conscripted into the South African Army for two years during the height of the Border War, where he toured the war zone as a guitarist in the Entertainment Corps show band, performing with many of South Africa’s biggest musical stars of the era. In this guise he met and entertained several of South Africa’s significant Apartheid leaders, including Minister of Defence, Magnus Malan and Minister of Police, Jimmy Kruger. In 1980 he narrowly escaped incarceration after publicly directing the words ‘Your bum stinks’ toward Prime Minister P.W. Botha[1].
After national service Andrew completed three years as a student of computer science whilst performing as a solo musician at many of South Africa’s most prestigious musical venues. Acting on the advice of a booking agent, he adopted a shortened version of his name appearing professionally as Andy Brel for the first time in 1981. During this time he averaged over 300 paid appearances each year whilst still a full time student, being reviewed on numerous occasions by the Star Newspaper, then the most widely circulated news publication in South Africa.
In 1984 Andrew emigrated to England, working initially as a solo entertainer in London’s musical circuit. During the 1980’s he owned Hampton Court Studios, working as a music writer and producer, whilst continuing public performing as a guitarist/singer, often with other musicians including Duncan Mackay [2](10cc) John Edwards [3](Status Quo) and Ronnie Johnson (Van Morrison.)
In 1990 Andrew formed Bridge Recordings [4]with Charlie Morgan, then drummer with Elton John. Bridge Recordings was a pioneering model of an independent record label, producing high quality recordings of accomplished musicians playing their own instruments with the ethos of ‘Music by Musicians.’
Distribution of Bridge albums was greatly enhanced by Andrews association with Music Maker Publications and its chairman Terry Day, which enabled numerous successful promotions though the wide circulation of their magazine ‘Guitarist’.
In 1991 Music Maker leased one of the first T1 Internet connections in the UK and Andrew established the Bridge Recordings web store which recorded the first instance of a CD sale via the Internet for Give them enough Rope by Ronnie Johnson.[5]
During the 1990’s this association helped the careers of many guitar players, and included starting the ‘Guitarists Guitarist of the Year’ competition, which gave unknown players the opportunity to perform live with top session musicians in front of an audience for the prize of publicity and a recording opportunity. Andrew contributed numerous articles for publication in Music Maker titles, including lengthy features on Manfred Mann [6] and songwriter Terry Britten.[7]
In 1995 Bridge Recordings Production capability expanded to include ownership of Black Barn Studios in Ripley, Surrey, the early home of Eric Clapton. From there Andrew produced and released a number of high quality musical albums, two with the SAS Band, Queen keyboard player Spike Edney’s all star band featuring many stellar musicians including; Chris Thompson, Roger Taylor, Peter Green, Ian Anderson, Tony Hadley, Roy Wood and Paul Young. Andrew produced and released Leo Sayer’s ‘Live in London’[8] and legendary South African singer Louis Ribeiro’s masterwork ‘Under African Skies.’[9]
By the late 1990’s several events conspired to end sustainability of the Bridge Recordings business model. The growth of home recording technology meant a decline in demand for high cost professional recording services, which along with the shrinking sales of musical CD’s meant the studio was sold to one of its favourite clients, Paul Weller.[10] Charlie Morgan left Elton Johns band and moved to America, while Terry Day sold Music Maker publications [11] and became a Ferrari driver.
Post 2000, Andrew wrote, recorded and released a series of 6 albums in genre of New Age wellness music, which have all gone on to enjoy sales success. Andrew recorded a series of 15 spoken word meditation CD’s with self-Help Authoress Diana Cooper which feature [12] his meditation music.
Andrew has worked on several collaborations with guitarist and composer, Hugh Burns, including writing the ‘The Paradise Key’, [13] which recalls events in the Iran Iraq War surrounding the Religiously inspired ‘human wave’ attacks.
Andrews first book ‘The Emergency Bouzouki Player’ [14] was published in 2011. The book reflects Andrew's first hand account of conscription in the South African army during the years of the Apartheid war.