Andy McGhee

Who is Andy McGhee?

Andy McGhee is a tenor saxophonist and educator.

Andy McGhee graduated from New England Conservatory in 1949 and worked for a short time with trumpeter Roy Eldridge and local Boston musician Fat Man Robinson. After marrying in 1950, McGhee served in the Army in Korea and at Fort Dix, New Jersey where he played in an army band and gave lessons to other musicians. From 1957 to 1963 McGhee worked in Lionel Hampton's band, touring the United States, Europe, and the Far East. His composition, McGhee, can be found on the recording, The Many Sides of Lionel Hampton. McGhee worked with Woody Herman from 1963 to 1966.

McGhee joined the faculty of Berklee College of Music in 1966. Among McGhee's many students are noted saxophonists Bill Pierce, Javon Jackson, Donald Harrison, Antonio Hart, Sam Newsome, Richie Cole, Greg Osby, and Ralph Moore. While devoting his time thereafter to teaching, McGhee wrote three notable music instruction books: Improvisation for Saxophone and Flute: The Scale/Mode Approach and Modal Strategies for Saxophone.

On March 15, 1978, Andy McGhee performed the with Lionel Hampton and the Lionel Hampton Alumni Band as part of The Boston Globe Jazz Festival. The band included Bob Wilber, clarinet, Ernie Wilkins, saxophones, Teddy Wilson, piano, Alan Dawson and Terri Lynne Carrington, drums and Hampton on vibraphone. The performance marked the 50th anniversary of the start of Lionel Hampton's career as a professional musician.