Кристофер Фредерик Эндрюс: от бит-музыки до европейских хитов

English German singer songwriter

Christopher Frederick Andrews (born 15 October 1942) is an English German singer songwriter and producer, whose musical career started in the late 1950s. His biggest hits as a solo artist include "To Whom It Concerns", "Yesterday Man", and "Pretty Belinda". He had thirteen number one songs between five countries between 1965 and 1970. Andrews was a songwriter, and wrote songs for many artists, including Sandie Shaw, who he wrote other fifteen songs for, such as "As Long as You're Happy Baby", "Don't Run Away", "Girl Don't Come", "I'll Stop At Nothing", "Long Live Love", "Message Understood", "Nothing Comes Easy", "Run", "Show Me", "Think It All Over", "Today", "Tomorrow", and "You've Not Changed".

When Andrews was in his mid teens, he had formed his own group, Chris Ravel and the Ravers. One of the records made by the Ravers, which according to Andrews probably only sold around five copies, is said to have been purchased by Bill Wyman of The Rolling Stones. On 14 March 1959, he made his British television debut, performing on the Oh, Boy! show. He would later return in April to perform a cover of Cliff Richard's, "Move It". For Adam Faith, Andrews wrote "The First Time" and "We Are in Love" (No. 11, 1964), "Girl Don't Come" was covered by Cher on her debut album, All I Really Want to Do. As a songwriter, Andrews has also written "I'll Remember Tonight" for The Mamas & the Papas, "Out Love Has Gone" for The Fortunes, and "Heart of Stone" for Suzi Quatro.

Also in 1965, Andrews as a solo artist, reached No. 3 in the UK with the single "Yesterday Man", which peaked in Germany at No. 1 for four weeks; followed up with a No. 13 hit in the UK "To Whom It Concerns". The instrumental section of this song was used as the theme for RTÉ's long running TV programme, The Late Late Show, until 1999, and a re arranged version returned as the show's theme music in September 2009. Later releases by Andrews were not as successful, but his own hits are seen as early examples of bluebeat influenced white pop music. Although his chart appearances dwindled in Britain by 1966, his chart topping success continued in mainland Europe for a number of years, particularly in Germany, and Andrews often recorded in foreign languages. with "Pretty Belinda" (1969), "Carol OK" and "Brown Eyes" (both 1970) all topping the charts there. "Yo Yo" reached No. 7 at the end of 1970. Throughout the 70s and 80s, Andrews worked mainly as a record producer. Inspired by Lonnie Donegan, he also learned how to play the guitar.