Andy Hamilton is a true jazz legacy who has been playing tenor for 80 years and is still playing frequently. He is resident at two of Birmingham’s leading music venues, Symphony Hall and The Drum and has had his own weekly venue which has been running for 25 years in Cork’s Club, Bearwood.

Born in 1918, in Port Maria in Jamaica, his first exposure to music was through the church and a family piano. As early radio broadcasts from the USA were received across the Caribbean, Andy heard the original music of what became known as The Jazz Age in the 1920's. He made his first "sax" from bamboo and got his young friends to form his first band, Silvershine, in 1928.

Soon Andy had his band and started to perform regularly across the island. He joined the war effort in the USA and was offered regular gigs on the Jazz trail towards New York. Returning to Jamaica he reformed his band and took up residency at The Titchfield Hotel in Port Antonio. The most exclusive hotel in the area, regular visitors included Noel Coward and his entourage. In the late 1940's Hollywood legend Errol Flynn arrived in town and after hearing Andy play, sent a taxi and a summons to meet him. The next 2 years were spent working with Flynn and playing music on his famous yacht Zaka, where he became somewhat of a Musical Director.

In 1949 Andy, like many others, left Jamaica and set sail for England, intending to make some money and go on to the USA where his heroes were enjoying the Golden Age of Jazz, but found a home here in Birmingham.

Life in 1950's Birmingham was not easy and Andy had more than his share of problems with work, accommodation and racism. Undaunted he has set up venues and concerts across the city for over 60 years, notably to provide after show entertainment for the great American bands of Basie and Ellington and West Indian Cricket teams in the 1950's.

He has hosted after show gigs for the Ellington and Basie orchestras in Birmingham and recorded with the Buena Vista Social Club in Havana. Andy has received public honours from both UK and Jamaican governments for his contributions to music, education and the wider community.

Married with a large young family to provide for and a band to run, Andy has been based in Birmingham for nearly 60 years  and has become a local celebrity who regularly played at civic functions, organised nights and opened venues where people from all ages and backgrounds were made welcome.