Andrew James Quin (born 12 August 1960) is a British

composer A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music. Etymology and Defi ...

and

jazz pianist Jazz piano is a collective term for the techniques pianists use when playing jazz. The piano has been an integral part of the jazz idiom since its inception, in both solo and ensemble settings. Its role is multifaceted due largely to the instru ...

who works in TV and film. His music has appeared in Hollywood movies, advertising campaigns, and television programs. His work has appeared in British TV shows such as ''

Coronation Street ''Coronation Street'' is an English soap opera created by Granada Television and shown on ITV since 9 December 1960. The programme centres around a cobbled, terraced street in Weatherfield, a fictional town based on inner-city Salford. Origi ...

'' and ''

Holby City ''Holby City'' (stylised on-screen as HOLBY CIY) is a British medical drama television series that aired weekly on BBC One. It was created by Tony McHale and Mal Young as a spin-off from the established BBC medical drama ''Casualty'', and pr ...

''.

Early life

Born in London in 1960, Quin began playing the piano at the age of four. He was not from a musical family. He was offered a scholarship to study classical piano at the

Royal College of Music The Royal College of Music is a music school, conservatoire established by royal charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, UK. It offers training from the Undergraduate education, undergraduate to the Doctorate, doctoral level in a ...

, but he turned down the place in order to pursue his growing interests in improvisation, composition and music technology. By his early teens, he was accompanying silent movies, drumming in a rock band and regularly performing professional gigs. Quin went on to study at

Keele University Keele University, officially known as the University of Keele, is a public research university in Keele, approximately from Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, England. Founded in 1949 as the University College of North Staffordshire, Keele ...

, Staffordshire, where his final year dissertation was on the music of

Earth, Wind and Fire Earth, Wind & Fire (EW&F or EWF) is an American band whose music spans the genres of jazz, R&B, soul, funk, disco, pop, big band, Latin, and Afro pop. They are among the best-selling bands of all time, with sales of over 90 million ...

. He graduated in Music and Electronics, having worked extensively with BAFTA-winning composer

Tim Souster Tim Souster (29 January 1943 – 1 March 1994) was a British composer and writer on music, best known for his electronic music output. Biography Education Born Timothy Andrew James Souster in Bletchley, Buckinghamshire, Souster was educated ...

, as well as continuing his jazz interests with Cecil Lytle.

Career

Quin has recorded more than 90 albums for the

De Wolfe Music De Wolfe Limited (previously known as Music de Wolfe, often referred to as De Wolfe Music) is a British music production company, recognised as the originator of what has become known as library music. De Wolfe Music was established by Meyer de Wo ...

production music library since 1984. His album ''Mirage'' (DWCD 0001) was the first CD of the world's first digital music library. ''Mirage'' was recorded on the

Fairlight CMI The Fairlight CMI (short for Computer Musical Instrument) is a digital synthesizer, sampler, and digital audio workstation introduced in 1979 by Fairlight. — with links to some Fairlight history and photos It was based on a commercial lic ...

. His early albums on vinyl are now collectors items. Quin has composed and recorded music for hundreds of television shows, films and adverts. The 1998

After Eight After Eight Mint Chocolate Thins, often referred to as simply "After Eights", are a brand of mint chocolate covered sugar confectionery. They were created by Rowntree Company Limited in the UK in 1962 and have been manufactured by Nestlé sin ...

'Perfect Dinner Party' advert, featured film of

Liberace Władziu Valentino Liberace (May 16, 1919 – February 4, 1987) was an American pianist, singer, and actor. A child prodigy born in Wisconsin to parents of Italian and Polish origin, he enjoyed a career spanning four decades of concerts, recordi ...

miming to Quin's piano playing. He now has well over one thousand published tracks.

References

External links

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Biography at allaboutjazz.comAndy Quin : Virtuoso Pianist Jazz performer Composer Organist
Living people 1960 births English composers English jazz pianists 21st-century British pianists {{UK-pianist-stub