Andy Fraser -

Andy Fraser (July 3, 1952 — March 16, 2015) was an English bassist and songwriter who rose to prominence as one-fourth of hard-rockers Free, releasing five studio albums with the band between 1969 and 1972 on Island Records. He then appeared on the first of two albums by hard-rockers Sharks.

In 1975, Fraser released two albums on CBS: the first recorded with his namesake trio featuring keyboardist Nick Judd (Audience) and drummer Nick Turner; the second, In Your Eyes, recorded with house musicians at Alabama’s Muscle Shoals Sound Studios. In 1984, Fraser reemerged with the album Fine Fine Line on Island.

Background

Andy Fraser was born Andrew McLan Fraser on July 3, 1952, in Paddington, London. His Guyanese father introduced him to calypso, while his English mother bought him a piano at age five. Fraser studied classical piano until twelve, then took up guitar. He gravitated toward bass through London R&B groups that played Motown, Stax, and blues covers at West Indian clubs in the East End. He also learned from jazz bassist Binky McKenzie, then dating his older sister.

Fraser attended St Clement Danes Grammar School in East Acton until his expulsion over long hair. At Hammersmith College of Further Education, he befriended Sappho Korner, daughter of blues musician Alexis Korner. The elder Korner helped Fraser secure an audition with John Mayall, who recruited the fifteen-year-old bassist into the Bluesbreakers. Fraser toured Europe with the group alongside guitarist Mick Taylor.

In 1968, producer Mike Vernon alerted Korner to guitarist Paul Kossoff, who sought a bassist for a new group with singer Paul Rodgers and drummer Simon Kirke. Kossoff visited Fraser for a preliminary jam, followed by a four-piece rehearsal at the Nag’s Head in Battersea. Korner named the quartet Free and helped arrange their management and Island Records contract. Free made the 1969 albums Tons of Sobs and Free, followed by the 1970 discs Fire and Water and Highway. Fraser co-wrote the hit singles “All Right Now” and “My Brother Jake” with Rodgers.

Free split in 1971, prompting Fraser to form Toby with guitarist Adrian Fisher and drummer Stan Speake. The trio rehearsed at the Fraser home in Horsell, Surrey, and toured Germany with a setlist earmarked for proposed album. Fraser assumed lead vocals as well as bass. Toby cut an unreleased version of “Travelling Man” that later appeared on German editions of the Free compilation The Free Story. Fraser returned to Free in December 1971 for the 1972 Island album Free at Last, then departed permanently that June.

Fraser next teamed with Canadian drummer Marty Simon and guitarist Chris Spedding in Sharks, initially intending to sing his own songs. The arrival of singer Steve “Snips” Parsons changed the arrangement. Fraser played bass and piano on the 1973 Island debut First Water but left after a brief concert run. He subsequently worked with Scottish singer Frankie Miller on songs and demos for an unrealized band project. Their collaboration produced “A Fool in Love,” later included on Miller’s 1975 Chrysalis album The Rock.

Fraser resumed his plans as a singer-bassist with Andy Fraser Band, a guitarless trio featuring keyboardist Nick Judd and drummer Kim Turner. Judd played with Audience on their 1972 final album Lunch and backed Brian Eno on the 1973 Island release Here Come the Warm Jets. The trio signed with CBS and self-produced their nine-song debut at Farmyard in Chalfont St Mary, Buckinghamshire, using the mobile studio owned by Ronnie Lane. Engineer Keith Harwood supervised the sessions for the April 1975 album Andy Fraser Band.

California and Songwriting

In May 1976, Fraser moved to Los Angeles with former Back Door drummer Tony Hicks. They formed the Stealers with saxophonist John Hardin, keyboardist Mad Dog, and guitarist Tony Sales. The quintet completed the proposed 1977 Polydor album The Night Is Gone, but the label shelved the recordings.

Fraser also played drums on “King’s Lead Hat,” a punkish track from the 1977 Brian Eno album Before and After Science. That year, Frankie Miller covered “Be Good to Yourself,” a Fraser original from …In Your Eyes, on the Chrysalis album Full House.

Robert Palmer picked up the Fraser song “Every Kinda People,” originally intended for the Stealers project, and scored a US No. 16 hit with the March 1978 single from Double Fun. Palmer also cut the Fraser number “Mean Old World” for his 1979 Island album Secrets. Further songwriting credits included “Any Old Sunday,” a co-write on the 1981 Warner album What Cha’ Gonna Do for Me by Chaka Khan; and “Sweet Little Woman,” which Joe Cocker cut for the 1982 Island release Sheffield Steel.

Former Andy Fraser Band drummer Kim Turner, by then a manager, encouraged Fraser to resume his solo career. Fraser assembled a new project with keyboardist-songwriter Bob Marlette and guitarist Michael Thompson. He concentrated on lead vocals and assigned bass duties to Davey Faragher for the 1984 Island album Fine Fine Line.

Discography:

Andy Fraser Band (1975 • Andy Fraser Band)
In Your Eyes (1975)
Fine Fine Line (1984)
Naked… and Finally Free (2005)

Sources:

References and notes

The Guardian — March 18, 2015. Documents birth name, childhood, education, and early professional connections. (obituary)
Glide Magazine — December 2, 2014. Fraser discusses family, early bass development, club engagements, and Alexis Korner. (interview)
Vintage Guitar — 2005. Fraser recounts childhood lessons, early bands, and his transition to bass. (interview)
FlyGuitars — circa 2006. Fraser details his Bluesbreakers audition, European touring, and first bass instruments. (interview)
It’s Psychedelic Baby — May 29, 2012. Fraser reconstructs Free, Toby, and Sharks from personal recollections. (interview)
Our Soundscene — December 15, 2025. Documents Toby personnel, rehearsals, German appearances, and surviving recordings. (history)
Now Spinning Magazine — November 25, 2020. Identifies the Toby version of “Travelling Man” on German Free pressings. (pressing)
FlyGuitars — circa 2006. Fraser explains Sharks, the abandoned vocal plans, and his collaboration with Frankie Miller. (Sharks interview)
Frankie Miller Official Website — undated. Confirms the Fraser partnership and its connection to Henry McCullough. (biography)
FlyGuitars — circa 2006. Fraser explains the guitarless trio, Nick Judd, Kim Turner, and lead-vocal ambitions. (band interview)
International Musician & Recording World — April 1975. Contemporary studio report confirms Farmyard sessions, self-production, and the Ronnie Lane mobile unit. (studio report)