When Andrew started strumming his guitar after a horrific accident that left six bolts and a metal plate in his left arm he knew his career as a guitarist had not ended. TONY LELIW reports

An horrific car accident last year could have ended Andrew Keeping's career as a guitarist, but after five months of hospital treatment, he's back in action.

The 29-year-old guitarist from The Chase, Stanmore, who celebrated his birthday last week, said it was a very worrying time for him. "The surgeon said I was extremely lucky."

After the accident he had six bolts and a metal plate put into his left arm. On his right hand he suffered a dislocated thumb. But despite a full plaster caste on his left arm he still managed to strum his guitar. It was then he knew he was okay.

Later this month, Tuesday, May 19, 7.30pm, to be precise, Andrew will be putting on Zamba, at St Mary's Church, Harrow-on-the-Hill, a programme with a South American flavour, which forms part of the church's music festival. The next day he will do repeat performances at St Luke's Day Care Centre and Mencap's Harrow Activity Centre.

An accomplished guitarist who has appeared at many venues throughout Europe, Australia and the Caribbean, he first started playing the guitar when he was six.

"I was taken by my father to Brent Town Hall to hear the legendary Spanish guitarist Andres Segovia," said Andrew. "I was struck by his presence, playing this instrument which looked like a wooden box with some strings attached to it. That's when I fell in love with the guitar."

He then pestered his parents to buy him a guitar, starting off with some plastic ones. Neither of his parents were musicians, his father an ambulanceman and mother a medical scientist in Watford.

Brought up in Brampton Road, Kenton, he went to Elmgrove Middle School in Kenton Avenue, Kenton, and eventually the Royal Academy of Music. His musical talents were evident as early as 13, when he was taken on as a pupil of Harrow composer Oliver Hunt.

Since then he has developed a solo career as well as working in partership with several international classical singers. He has also taken part in masterclasses with such musical giants as Julian Bream and John Williams.

Recently he released a CD called British Guitar, which included the works of William Walton and Timothy Bowers. He is keen to push the works of British guitarists. "We have many composers who do not see their music performed," he said.

Last year Andrew Keeping made a successful South Bank debut with a solo guitar recital in London's Purcell Room, which resulted in him being invited to perform live on BBC TV's Blue Peter programme. Other recent performances included taking part in the Solihull Festival and a recording for Channel 5 with tenor Ian Bostridge.

Andrew also finds time to teach six to 13-year-olds guitar at Orley Farm School once a week, and six to 18-year-olds at Haberdashers Askes Girls School in Elstree.

His concerts have a wide appeal, as his far-ranging repertoire includes everything from Dowland to Villa-Lobos, Gershwin to Cole Porter. "I am fortunate that my talent lies in being able to communicate with my audience," said Andrew. He enjoys talking to them so that they not only get a feel for the music but the man holding the guitar.

Currently he is looking for sponsorship for a CD on Argentinian classical and Latin American dance rhythms. It will be released next February and will be followed up by a concert at the Festival Hall.

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