Career
Bey has a wide vocal range, with his four-octave baritone voice. He worked on a television show, Startime, with Connie Francis, and sang for Louis Jordan. The group did a 16-month tour of Europe.
The trio recorded three albums (one for Radio Corporation of America Victor in 1961, two for Prestige in 1964 and 1965) before breaking up in 1967.
Bey also did notable work with Horace Silver and Gary Bartz. In 1974, Bey and Dee Dee Bridgewater were the featured vocalists on Stanley Clarke"s album Children of Forever.
Later, Bey recorded the album Experience And Judgment, which had Indian influences. After that period he returned to hard bop and also recorded covers of music by non-jazz musicians such as Nick Drake.
Other albums include Andy Bey and The Bey Sisters, Ballads, Blues & Bey (1996), American Song (2004), Tuesdays In Chinatown, and Ain"t Necessarily So (2007).
The album American Song received a Grammy nomination for “Best Jazz Vocal Album” (2005). Bey is an openly gay jazz musician. Their recording Ballads, Blues, & Bey in 1996 returned Bey to prominence.
John Coltrane cited Bey as his favorite vocalist.
(Savoyjazzcom).