Background info
I've been playing piano from age eight, having been in and out of bands since I was 16 and I earn my living
as a pianobar entertainer & songwriter. 
I joined my first 'serious' band at 19, 'Kitsch and the Nightset' and we did some gigs up and down Scotland, sponsored by 'Tennents Live' (paid in beer not money). We had interest from several major record labels, who had come up from London to see us but the band later split up due to 'differences'...aye that old chestnut!
In 1994, I started writing and recording demo's for publishers and record companies. I got my first publishing deal in 2002 and set up my songwriting & music production company, 'Smiling Productions'.
One of my songs 'Angel' which I wrote in 2003 has been recorded by a group for US Rapper Fat Joe's docu/reality series "30 days 'til I'm famous" which goes out on primetime US TV late 2007 as well as in Argentina and Spain. The official website for the series is to be www.30daystilimfamous.com and will be online soon. More info on the series here. If you want to hear my original recording on piano & vocal, click here.
Professional Career
Since 2000 I've played at more than 100 different venues including some of the UK's top
hotels and castles, including Gleneagles Hotel, The Balmoral, Hiltons,
Sheratons, Edinburgh Castle, Stirling Castle etc.... I performed three songs on the 'Live
@ Six Chat Show' on Lanarkshire Television at the end of 
2001 (just
before it went bust!.lol...odd that eh?) and have had my own music broadcast
on commercial radio stations several times. I've worked on month contracts in Norway, Germany and on Cruise Lines. I've also been working at Jumpin Jaks nightclubs throughout Scotland as a duelling piano player (working on stage with another piano vocalist) playing to 'mad for it' (drunk) audiences of up to 1200 people a night...highly enjoyable work. In November 2005 I played a Sinatra set at the opening of the Edinburgh Jam House in Edinburgh.
Sometimes I play my repertoire just with 'piano & vocal' which helps keep things spontaneous as I can engage and react to my audience better. It also means I can keep volumes very low (almost background if required, e.g. Restaurants)...or it can be more of a singalong, crowd pleaser' e.g. Piano/Pub/Lounge Bars. Other work I am suited to are Hotel Lounge, Corporate/Wedding Drinks Reception and Restaurant music where people can chat over my music (if they choose!) without being drowned out. However , if the requirement is 'upbeat' and 'lively' then I will up it accordingly and encourage people to sing along.
Repertoire
My repertoire is extensive and varied. I do the classics and pop standards by artists like Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, James Taylor, Elton John, Neil Diamond, Billy Joel, Beatles, Eagles, Elvis, John Denver, Robbie Willams, David Gray...etc plus I try to keep current with latest chart hits by always adding to my repertoire. - you can listen to my online sound clips or view my video.
Take it easy.
Al