Photo: Adrian Gee
 

Sunday 22 March, 19:00 All Right Now: Andy Fraser repeat

Pete Feenstra chats to Andy about his career and current projects

Broadcast history:

Sunday 14 July 2013, 22:00 All Right Now: Andy Fraser (Monday 15 July, 22:00, Friday 19 July repeat )
Sunday 28 July 2013, 18:00 All Right Now: Andy Fraser
Sunday 25 May 2014, 16:00 All Right Now: Andy Fraser

Playlist

ANDY FRASER Beautiful (On Assignment, 2009)
ANDY FRASER Totally Yours (On Assignment, 2009)
ANDY FRASER Don't Leave (Naked - And Finally Free, 2005)
ANDY FRASER This Is the Big One (On Assignment, 2009)
FREE Mr Big (BBC session 2.7.70) (Live At The BBC, 2006)
SHARKS Steal Away (First Water, 1973)
ROBERT PALMER Every Kinda People
FREE All Right Now (BBC session 4.6.70) (Live At The BBC, 2006)

ANDY FRASER

Andy Fraser had a short tenure in John Mayall's band in 1968 after his early mentor Alexis Korner recommended him.  After that time Korner who christened the band Free) introduced him to Paul Rodgers and Paul Kossoff.  Free went on to gain wider success, not least with the Fraser co-write and production 'All Right Now', a Top 10 single in the UK and USA in 1970.

Free's later history was tumultuous with Kossoff's attendant health problems and personal rivalry.  Fraser left the band initially in 1971, returned briefly and finally split in June 1972.

After this time, Fraser formed Sharks with Chris Spedding (guitar) although he stayed for only one album, 1973's 'First Water'.

Next off, the Andy Fraser Band released two albums in 1975 but subsequently Fraser de-camped to the USA and several of his songs were used by name artists including Chaka Khan and Robert Palmer.

The 1990s was a difficult decade as Fraser was diagnosed with a form of cancer and then during treatment contracted HIV. He then announced he was homosexual. 

In 2005 press reports of his death proved to be inaccurate and Fraser was encouraged to make his first album since 1984's 'Fine Fine Line'.

2005's 'Naked And Finally Free' is largely autobiographical and was the first album on his own McTrax label followed in 2009 by 'On Assignment'.  Since that time he has also mentored Tobi, producing the singer/guitarist's first album.

UK Tour Dates (July/August 2013)

11 July – Railway, Winchester
23 July – Beaverwood Club, Chislehurst, Kent
25 July – Cellars, Portsmouth
26 July – South Devon Arts Centre, Totnes
28 July – The Bull Theatre, Barnet
1 August – Robin 2, Bilston
2 August – Free Convention, Park Hotel, Tynemouth
3 August – Railway, Bolton
4 August – Green Hotel, Kinross

Gig review (6 July, 2013)

Andy Fraser website

McTrax label website