Andrew "Andy" Newmark (born July 14, 1950 in Port Chester, New York) is an American session drummer who is well known as the onetime drummer for Sly and the Family Stone, and has also played with numerous other artists, particularly British acts such as John Lennon, Pink Floyd, and Roxy Music.Andy was born in Port Chester, NY and raised primarily in the nearby suburb of Mamaroneck. Andy's mother was Bermudian, and Andy is also a citizen of Bermuda. His father was a Russian Jewish immigrant who worked in the New York District Attorney's office. First taking up the drums at the age of nine, Andy gradually honed his craft and was taking paid gigs as early as age 15. Visiting Bermuda frequently throughout his youth, Andy made the decision to move there on a more permanent basis at the age of 16. Andy played in the Bermuda Jam, a Bermuda band that included former Savages guitarist Paul Muggleton.Best known as a popular session drummer, and for playing with the funk band Sly and the Family Stone from 1972 to 1973. Hired to replace Gerry Gibson, who in turn had replaced founding Family Stone member Gregg Errico, Newmark was invited to audition for Sly Stone by Family Stone saxophonist Pat Rizzo. Newmark went on to record one album as the Family Stone's drummer, Fresh (1973) and also performed with the band for two years in live concert.After leaving the band in 1974, Newmark has performed and recorded with John Lennon, Cat Stevens, Joe Walsh, B.B. King, Eric Clapton, David Bowie, Roy Buchanan, Bryan Ferry, George Harrison, Rickie Lee Jones, Patrick Moraz, Randy Newman, Pink Floyd, Roger Waters, David Gilmour, Murray Head, Keith Richards, Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood, Roxy Music, ABC, Hue and Cry, Laura Nyro, Nicolette Larson, Elkie Brooks, Sting, Steve Winwood, Nils Lofgren, George Benson and Michael Franks. He is featured on Carly Simon's 1971 album Anticipation and Gary Wright's 1975 album Dream Weaver.In 1980, he was the sole drummer on John Lennon's last album, Double Fantasy, as well as Milk and Honey released in 1984. He was also the featured drummer on Yoko Ono's Season of Glass in 1981. His connection with the Double Fantasy album was reprised in 2012 with his contributions to the Lennon Bermuda tribute album on several tracks including those by Paul Carrack, Bryan Ferry, Nils Lofgren and Rocky and the Natives.According to a 2006 Sound on Sound magazine interview with engineer Andy Jackson, Andy Newmark played drums on David Gilmour's On an island album.Since 2011 Andy has been a member of Kent (United Kingdom) based band Rocky and the Natives.
$9 Million
