| Influences include... Kurt Elling, Jamie Callum, Mark Murphy, Al Jarreau, Stevie Wonder, Bobby McFerrin, Ella Fitzgerald,Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra, Michael Franks, Frank Sinatra,Bobby Darin, Prince, Bob Marley, Marcus Miller, John Coltrane, Louis Armstrong, James Brown, Cold Play, Pink Floyd, Jamie Fox, Marvin Gaye, |
| Andrew Swan - Keyboards |
| You are now listening to... "RUNAWAY" by Godbold/Swan |
| Interview with Andrew Godbold: 1. When did you become involved in performing? I was born into it. My mother was heavily involved in local theatre. As a result, I went to hundreds of rehearsals before learning to walk. 2. Where did you learn your stuff? I did numerous musicals and bands on the Central Coast then moved to Sydney where I was in a Blues Brothers band. The other brother, (Mansel Williams - RIP), was a budding jazz singer. He introduced me to Kurt Elling – from then on I was hooked. 3. When did you first perform in public? I was ‘Sampson the Strongman’ in a first class operetta at age 6 and my first adult role was as the ‘Artful Dodger’ in GMS’ Oliver! back in 1983. 4. Favourite play/musical/band – in which you participated? Back to the 80'sas ‘Mr Cocker’ was an awesome experience closely followed by “Jesus” in Superstar. The final night was on my birthday... so I was crucified...again. Fave band is of the current band. 5. Favourite play/musical/act that you have seen? Fave play is California Suite, Fave musical is Hair (seriously...it really is!) 6. What would be/has been your dream part/musical experience? Ultimately I would love to do gig in front of thousands, with a full orchestra! That would be cooool. 7. Did a funny thing happen to you on the way to the gig? I once did a gig in Perisher and decided to hire a boat and go trout fishing on the lake before the gig. Long story short… Our boat drifted away stranding us on an island. As the hours passed we realised no-one knew where we were so we set fire to the only tree on the island. Soon we were noticed and rescued making it on stage 20mins late. But I made it! 8. Best/Worst movies? Best: Monty Pythons' "The Life of Brian". Worst: "Bambi meets Godzilla" (It's over very quickly) 9. Fave TV show? The Office. 10. Fave actors? Johnny Depp and Dame Edna 11. Favourite singers/musos? Musos - Marcus Miller, Coltrane, James Morrison. Singers - Bobby McFerrin, Al Jarreau, Kurt Elling, Jamie Callum and Mark Murphy 12. Favourite local radio station? CCC, Star FM & 50plus. 13. Favourite area on the Coast? Spoon Bay and Somersby Falls. 14. Favourite food? Lobster Mornay, mmm. 15. Ideal Saturday night? Same answer as question six. |
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| Born on the Central Coast of N.S.W, Andrew Godbold was surrounded by music from an early age. His mother was heavily involved in local, amateur theatre and he subsequently grew up watching hundreds of performances from the wings . With music in his blood he, of course, jumped on the stage himself as "The Artful Dodger" in Oliver. Many other lead roles were to follow such as... "Psuedolous" - A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum "Val Jean" - Les Miserables "Hair" - Director "Herr Von Cuckoo" - The Gingerbread Man "Ulysses" - Paris (World Premier 2003 and 2008 with Jon English) "Jesus" - Jesus Christ Superstar "Mr Cocker" - Back to the 80's He has also done extensive work in live bands. With over 15 years experience in such productions as... "The Fabulous Blues Brothers" & "But Seriously- The Australian Phil Collins Show". He certainly knows how to keep his audience entertained. When Old Sydney Town was open, Andrew was a main member of the acting staff for over 5yrs. He has also been seen appearing in theatre restaurant shows at Kantara House. |
| During the sound check for a production of "Jesus Christ Superstar" Godbold choseto sing the title song from a Kurt Elling album entitled "Close Your Eyes." Andrew Swan was musical director of the show. A fan of Kurt Ellings' vocal techniques himself, Swan was impressed with Godbolds' rendition. They subsequently joined forces to form a jazz band and started playing live around the traps. Andrew G had some lyrics written down and some melodies floating around in his head but had never gotten around to taking them any further than that. Encouraged by Andrew S they got together in Swans' home studio and came up with some original tunes. They have just completed an 11 track album... ...a sample of which you are listening to now. |
| Swan trained in classical and jazz piano, has been performing and teaching on the Central Coast for over 20 years and is always in demand. He has musical directed and provided the music for many notable local stage productions including, ‘Evita’, ‘Leader of the pack’, ‘Back to the 80s’, ‘Sophisticated Ladies’, ‘Les Miserables’(1994), ‘Nunsense’(x4), ‘West Side Story’, ‘JC Superstar’, ‘Tapestry’,‘Hair’, ‘Grease’, ‘Pippin’(x2), ‘Chicago’(x2), ‘They’re Playing our song’(x2), ‘Godspell’, ‘Lets Celebrate’(1988), ‘Some Enchanted Evening’, ‘Back to Bacharach & David’, ‘Hans Christian Anderson’, ‘Joseph...’, ‘Oliver’, ‘The Gingerbread Man’, ‘Winnie the Pooh’, ‘Mother Goose’, ‘The Pirates of Penzance’, ’Eva by Heart’ (The story of Eva Cassidy), not to mention the world premiere of David Mackay & John English’s epic musical ‘Paris’, as well as countless reviews and cabaret shows. Andrew also did a stint at what could be Australia’s oldest venue, The Argyle Tavern in Sydney's Rocks, playing bush music and the “Jolly Swagman Show”. He has played with jazz greats such as James Morrison and now plays piano regularly in the area working solo or with his band, while at home he runs his own computer based studio where he records, arranges & composes music. He co-composed and recorded the music for the popular children's musical “A Friend for Frankenstein”and he has also won ‘Best original musical score’ at the first Central Coast short film festival. |