User:SongwriterArt

Songwriter Art is Arthur J.P. Strand who is also a British Musician. Born in 1948, in Finchampstead near Wokingham in Berkshire, he started on B flat Cornet in the Junior Section of the local Brass Band aged 9. Forsaking Music for German lessons at high school, it was apparent that Music would be the main frame of later life. Joining a local club band as a bass guitarist he started to wade through the world of gigs for a couple of years. As time passed, personnel changes saw a new band called Sketch take to the road on a full-time basis. The next four or five years were devoted to tours, monthly residencies, one-off gigs, deps and sessions. Much of the work was on U.S. military bases in Germany and British Military in U.K. as a bassist, he met many musicians of all levels from beginners to qualified teachers and many stars. One session resulted in a World wide hit single: as bassist on Olivia Newton-John's first chart single in 1970-1 which was a Bob Dylan song, "If Not For You". Songwriting then returned to his agenda and there are now 180 songs stockpiled with some recorded by mufti-tracking them. with some time out and renewed efforts, he acquired recording equipment and then set about arranging and recording all 180. there are also a similar quantity of pleasant instrumentals. As time passed by he also wrote poems as well as song lyrics set to his own music. Some poems have been published. Always full of energy he now runs a market stall once a week selling CDs. when there is a small surplus, cash is then donated to Starlight charity in aid of terminally ill children. Other charities that he helps are: British and International Sailors Society, RNIB, Guide Dogs for the Blind, and sundry others. Currently, he plays Lute Music on a Classical guitar adapted for the purposes and some Flamenco too. Latin American to Latin Jazz is also a favourite of Art's. He will seek out Jazz Hammond organ to listen to and some favourite trumpeters in Jazz and Classical Music. Folk music has never escaped his attention. He is also a sports writer for soccer in U.K. as a club Press reporter and is a panel umpire at cricket in summer. He has been able to meet many well known sportsmen as well as the celebrities in music and Showbiz. He has always been popular with the Roma and travelers of Berkshire and many building tradesmen.