Andy Hamilton

Andrew Kevin Hamilton (born 28 March 1953) is a British tenor saxophonist who has played with Duran Duran, Wham!, Elton John, Pet Shop Boys, Tina Turner, George Michael, Paul McCartney, Radiohead, Bon Jovi, David Bowie, Ben E. King, Dexy's Midnight Runners, Brian May, Stereophonics and more. Career After picking up the saxophone when he was 15, Hamilton spent the early 1970's playing for Smiling Hard at the Top Ten Club on the Reeperbahn. They went on to tour Europe and Australia and were often hired by US artists, notably playing for Edwin Starr and Ben E. King. In 1979, Hamilton recorded "H.A.P.P.Y. Radio" and toured America with Starr. Upon moving back to London, Hamilton met Tony Visconti, later playing on several Visconti productions. Through this, Hamilton met Colin Thurston and went on to record the 'night' version of "Planet Earth". Hamilton toured alongside Duran Duran during the 1980's and played a saxophone solo on "Rio". He did three world tours alongside the Durans—Sing Blue Silver during 1983–84 and the Strange Behaviour Tour in 1987, in support of the Notorious album, where he met and performed alongside Lou Reed. He later toured worldwide with the reunited Durans during their 2003 reunion tour.