We lost someone important from our Aussie music community on Saturday 3rd December 2022.
Andrew ‘Andy’ Lindsay was an outstanding, gifted, and much-loved musician, as well as a creative and inspiring business leader. He was also a major piece of the heart and soul of Newcastle’s Musos Corner music store.
Andy was ‘born’ in a music shop and grew up surrounded by musicians, music, and instruments.
He became a gifted and respected bass player, playing in many Newcastle bands during the 80s and 90s, all while finishing school and then graduating from university with degrees in both Economics and Business. Andy lived in London and Sydney for several years with the love of his life, Linda, working as an advertising creative and travelling around the globe.
However, after the devastating floods of 2007 caused huge damage to the family business, Andy returned to Newcastle to help manage the rejuvenation of Musos Corner. He was well versed in disaster recovery after the massive fire that ripped through Musos in 2005, in which Andy oversaw the refurbishment and re-design of the space. Having returned permanently from London, Linda and Andy married in September 2008. They became parents in 2012 and 2015, respectively, with Miles and Jules.
Andy worked and thrived in the family store, and he made excellent use of the incredible and encyclopaedic knowledge he had amassed of all things musical, from every type of instrument to all the latest technologies for recording and music production. With a keen knowledge of business and a ‘nothing is impossible’ approach to planning the future of the shop, Andy’s innovative ideas also helped break new ground, as evidenced by the immense popularity of the now famous May the 4th Musos Corner sale, a nationally and internationally renowned retail event.
Andy had a strong and passionate belief that music retail was an opportunity to help people realise their dreams. With this definitive vision, he oversaw the growth and evolution of Musos Corner from a literal local corner store to one of the largest music instrument retailers in Australia, and an internationally respected and recognised brand.
His dedication to helping all musicians – of every stage and age – meant he endlessly supported the tens of thousands of customers that came through the store for decades. He had a rare ability to focus on people in a sincere and very profound way, giving each one of his thousands of customers his honest and experienced opinion of what he knew would be best for them. No slick sales tricks or tired routines; just the truth and his passion.
And people were endeared to him and inspired by him. Life-long customers became life-long friends. He nurtured musicians’ aspirations over the decades, and simultaneously nurtured friendships. The kid on the shop floor in the bassinet became the boy bassist, who became the man that continued to share his passion for music, his genuine warmth, and his incredible back catalogue of knowledge. For so many, he was the guy.
Andy’s many talents took him all over the world, whether to attend the annual NAMM show (National Association of Music Merchants) and visit the Fender Guitar factory in the USA, Musik Messe and Neumann microphones in Germany, the SSL recording console factory in the UK, or the enormous trade show that is Music China. His naturally adventurous nature took delight in combining travel with his passion for the business.
Andy also sought to support the Newcastle music community through countless sponsorships, for everything from school band competitions to Ukulele festivals, and partnerships with institutions such as TAFE NSW and the University of Newcastle.
Andy believed that the best hope for the future of music was to ensure that the next generation of Australian musicians, composers and producers had access to the very best the world had to offer, particularly with regard to recording and music production technology.
Over the last decade, Andy’s deep knowledge and experience of sound engineering, and recording and audio production enabled him to design, import and install cutting-edge recording studio upgrades for TAFEs, universities, and commercial facilities around the country, as well as local music producers.
Andy effectively changed the way in which retail and education work together, creating a new synergy in which greater outcomes – and accessibility – for music students, can be achieved, today and in the future.
In August this year, Andy received the heart-wrenching diagnosis of cancer, however, he never stopped making the world a better place for those around him over these past few months.
Andy leaves behind his wife Linda and two young children, Miles and Jules; his mother Sandra and stepdad, Michael, and two sisters, Georgina and Jaquelyn.
He also leaves behind a good deal many more family, friends and colleagues, together with an entire community who will miss him dearly.
Andy was a big advocate for chasing your dreams. He believed the pursuit was as much fun as the achievement.
As Andy would say, What are you waiting for!?
ANDREW LINDSAY
1971 – 2022
