Mike & Annette, Australia

I bought my first André CD in 1995 and the second one soon after. I did not find out anything about André until late 2001. I had found André's site and had asked a couple of questions. Two people responded, 1 from Germany & 1 from Hong Kong. Contact has been maintained with these people ever since, and strong friendships have been formed.

Our local record store manager knew of my interest in André music, and gave me the telephone number & name of a couple who also were asking about André. Within a couple of hours we were sitting in their lounge room watching our first André show - apparently it had been on Dutch TV - it was "Das Jahrtausendfest". I whispered to my wife Annette that I would kill for that video.

This set me on the discovery trail. The next few months involved much searching of German & US sources. At that time it was difficult to find any André videos. Once I established format etc - I started on the road to buy CDs, Videos, and last year or so DVDs.

My sources now include New Zealand, Holland etc. We show an André concert at a Hostel once a month. We have a dear friend who had a stroke last year and is now in the Hostel. He has lost the ability to speak English, but can understand us and the German videos. He sits between us and holds our hands - is smiling all the time - he is so happy. We introduced both he & his wife to André's music a couple of years ago. André has had a profound effect on his wife, and actually gave her the will to live. She has serious health issues. We hope she will be with him at the Hostel next time we visit.

We show our friend and residents an André concert on the first Saturday of each month. They tell us that the shows have enhanced their lives - they sing, clap hands etc - couple of concerts ago - one lady in a wheelchair told the nursing sister it was more important to see our video than to go to a funeral that morning. They come up to us and tell us of the memories the music has for them. Their faces tell us everything. We really get a lot out of this activity.

We have made friends as a result of our André interest - they have firmed into very strong friendships. We have many frequent André days and evenings. Our concerts are very much sought after. In the last couple of years I have ordered over 200 videos, DVDs etc for these friends, their friends and their friends etc etc - it goes on and on. People who see him just have to have his shows. Yesterday I handed over to one friend 8 DVDs and a CD - this is not unusual.

We are very low key on this and like to keep it that way. Our lives are dominated with the André interest - there can be none better.

Regards,
Annette & Mike