Biography
Andy Saphir has been gigging and teaching as a professional guitarist for over 25 years.
Having graduated from The Guitar Institute with a distinction in 1995, he has studied further with renowned guitarist and educator, Lee Hodgson, who in his book, ‘Hot Country’, describes Andy as being one in a group of “fine British country guitar players”.
A pro player of all popular styles, (Country, Blues, Rock, Pop, Funk, Jazz), Andy has established himself as one of the UK country music scene’s top players and enjoyed a busy touring schedule for many years on that circuit, gaining huge experience in many different live situations from small club gigs to festivals and theatres, both in the UK and Europe, having backed USA singer, Michael Twitty (son of country legend, Conway), and toured with USA fiddle player/ singer John Permenter (Clint Black). He has also played guitar on studio albums by various artists including X Factor finalist and ‘2 Shoes’ singer, Charley Bird, renowned Irish band, Celtic Thunder’s George Donaldson and Ryan Kelly (who’s 2013 album, ‘Life’, on which Andy played the guitar parts, debuted at #1 on iTunes USA, Canada, and Australia world music chart, and number 2 on the Billboard world music chart).
As well as teaching privately in Cambridgeshire, UK, Andy was a long standing member of the guitar teaching faculty at top London based school of modern music, The Institute Of Contemporary Music Performance (ICMP), where he taught on Bmus and BA degree courses, BTech Diploma courses and HNC courses, instructing on numerous modules such as styles, performance, harmony & theory and techniques. He taught hundreds of guitarists here over the years, some of whom went on to have successful professional careers of their own.
Originally contributing to Guitarist and Guitar Techniques magazines as far back as the late ‘90’s featuring his transcriptions and recordings of solos by master guitarists, Jerry Donahue and Brent Mason, Andy is now a firmly established contributor to top guitar tuition publication, Guitar Techniques. His columns have focused on country guitar in the three series, ‘Hot Country Guitarists’, ‘Country Guitar Techniques’, and ‘Modern Country’, explored a range of different styles in the series, ‘Session Styles’, and concentrated on fundamentals in the series, ‘Chops Shop’. He has written the cover feature for several issues, covering topics like Blues arpeggio soloing, pentatonic licks and more. He has also regularly contributed to Total Guitar magazine, for whom he has also interviewed the legendary Stanley Jordan.
Andy is proud to have become an official artist of 'Jamtack Central', one of the largest online guitar tuition websites, with the 2016 release of his '20 Classic Country Licks' video tuition package, and his later release, 'Modern Country Masterclass', and his latest product, 'Hot Country Picking Masterclass'. He has more products/releases in the pipeline.
Currently, Andy is enjoying an international performing career and is tours with the top theatre show, ‘The Blues Brothers Approved’ (the approved Ackroyd/Belushi licensed Blues Brothers stage show), and USA based singer/songwriter, Brad Henshaw, for whom he records and plays live. For many years, Andy was also the guitarist for touring shows, ‘A Vision Of Elvis’ (award winning Elvis Presley tribute show’), ‘Voice of The Heart, Karen Carpenter’ (premier ‘Carpenters’ tribute show), ‘Forever in Blue Jeans’ (a fast paced rock n roll/country ‘hits through the years’ show), and top Eagles tribute band, ‘Desperado’. Additionally, Andy also enjoys playing classic pop and rock tunes in various function/party bands, gigs with Texan fiddle player/singer, John Permenter, and plays acoustic guitar and sings for the senior citizens of his local community at various care homes.