b. Andrew James Somers, 31 December 1942, Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire, England. Raised in Bournemouth, Dorset, Summers was performing in the city's clubs and coffee-bars while still a teenager. He first encountered Zoot Money in the Don Robb Band, a local cabaret attraction, and later joined the ebullient singer in his Big Roll Band. This excellent soul/R&B group became one of the leading acts of the London club circuit during the mid-60s. Summers retained his association with Money in Dantalian's Chariot and the US-based New Animals. When the latter broke up in 1968, the guitarist remained in California where he studied classical styles, joined a Latino-rock band, and acted with various Hollywood theatre groups. He returned to England in 1973 and over the next four years Summers toured with several contrasting artists, including Neil Sedaka, David Essex, Kevin Coyne and Kevin Ayers. In May 1977, he played guitar in a temporary unit, Strontium 90, which also included Sting (bass) and Stewart Copeland (drums). Summers so impressed the duo they asked him to join their full-time outfit, the Police. The guitarist remained with this hugely successful band until they split-up after the release of 1983's Synchronicity.
A superbly inventive guitarist (he did much to popularize the use of the "flanging' effect), Summers subsequently embarked on several projects. His finely-honed skills were more fully developed on 1982's I Advance Unmasked, a collaboration with King Crimson's Robert Fripp. Ensuing solo albums have enhanced the guitarist's reputation for both excellence and imagination, in particular his interpretations of the music of Thelonious Monk (1999's Green Chimneys) and Charles Mingus (2000"s Peggy's Blue Skylight).
