3. Andy Summers
What do you mean who is Andy Summers? Okay, his name might not be so familiar, but his music will be. If youve heard Puff Daddys hit single Ill Be Missing You, a tribute to the Notorious B.I.G., then youve heard Andy Summers. No hes not Puff Daddys voice. Why would you even think that? Why? Andy Summers is a guitarist who, together with Sting and Stewart Copeland, formed the record-breaking 1980s band, The Police. The Police released a great number of bestselling singles, including Message in a Bottle, Cant Stand Losing You, and Roxanne. The single Every Breath You Take features a guitar riff played by Andy Summers. This riff is the main instrumental section heard in Puff Daddys Ill Be Missing You. It is quite a well known riff. In fact, a lot of The Polices most popular songs feature memorable guitar riffs. Andy Summers is the man responsible for coming up with such memorable music, and was a major factor in the success of The Police. Everybody only remembers Sting, but the real basis for The Polices music comes from Andy Summers. Mr Summers music career took a turn for the obscure after the breakup of The Police in 1983. Travelling down a road of experimental jazz, his well-known and brilliant talents were lost to the mainstream. He is a brilliant guitarist however, and his solo work through the 80s and 90s is well worth a listen. If you like experimental jazz. Or classical Brazilian guitar. Or Thelonious Monk. If you dont know who Thelonious Monk is, then you might not be so interested in Andy Summers after all. Or maybe you will. Just this year, Andy Summers emerged from the shadows of relative obscurity and burst back onto the music scene. Pairing up with American singer Rob Giles, Andy Summers formed a new band called Circa Zero, and performed brand new tracks at a concert in LA. The highlight of Circa Zeros so-far short discography is the brilliant single Levitation. The track features Andy Summers guitar prominently, and shows hes lost none of the energy and talent of his days with The Police. Though he hasnt released his new album yet, it is in the works, and judging by the sound from the live concert it should be great. For a guitarist who is over 70 years old, Andy Summers definitely still has it! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSqgdFKhF78