Andy Connell

Andy Connell
File:AndyConnellSOS06.jpg Connell performing in Miami Beach, Florida, United States
Background information
Birth name	Andrew John Connell
Born	(1961-07-26) 26 July 1961 Manchester, England
Genres	Rock, pop, new wave
Occupation(s)	Keyboardist, composer, arranger
Instruments	Keyboards Piano Clavinova
Years active	1978–present
Associated acts	Swing Out Sister, A Certain Ratio, The Immediates, Kalima
Website	legrandlarge.blogspot.com/

Andrew John "Andy" Connell (born 26 July 1961) is an English musician and composer. Along with Corinne Drewery, he is part of the duo that makes up Swing Out Sister.

Born in Manchester, England, Connell played in the Manchester post-punk band The Immediates, before joining new wave funk pioneers, A Certain Ratio. He was also a member of the Manchester based jazz/pop band Kalima who were signed to Factory Records, whilst he was also a member of A Certain Ratio. A few years later he teamed up with former Magazine drummer Martin Jackson and Greg Wilson (DJ), and they released an inventive electronic album called UK Electro in 1984.

Swing Out Sister began in earnest in 1985, when Connell and Jackson teamed up with Corinne Drewery. Since the band's establishment, he has been the main composer and arranger for Swing Out Sister's music, including the UK and US top ten hit, "Breakout".

Apart from his work with Swing Out Sister, Connell has produced and arranged music for other artists, and recently he wrote the musical score for a short film called The Knickerman, directed by Sonja Phillips. He also contributed to Quando Quango's album, Pigs & Battleships.

Most recently, Connell and Drewery have been promoting their latest album, Beautiful Mess.

External links

• Andy Connell's Internet radio station on LIVE365.com
• IMDb Listing for Andy Connell
• Official Swing Out Sister Website
• Swing Out Sister - The Swinging Website
• The UK Electro Story