As a guitarist, Andy combines a deep knowledge of blues, jazz, folk and country music. After spending his formative years in well-loved Melbourne inner-urban bands such as the Blue Rockets, The Honeydrippers and the Auto Drifters, he went on to cut his teeth playing with  visiting USA masters including Jimmy Witherspoon (legendary blues shouter), Big Jay McNeely (R’n’B saxophone pioneer), Jimmy McGriff (funky hammond organ virtuoso), Flaco Jimenez (tex-mex accordion king), Coco Robicheaux (contemporary singer/songwriter from New Orleans), Louisiana Red (Bluesman), Screamin Jay Hawkins (voodoo blues king) among many more.

During the early 1980’s Andy co-founded the quintessential Aussie roots pioneers, The Dancehall Racketeers. This band toured everywhere in Australia, from Aboriginal settlements in Arnhem Land to big city concert halls, breaking down barriers and introducing such (then considered unusual and obscure) styles of music as Western Swing, Cajun, Zydeco, Rockabilly, Country, Hillbilly and Blues to Australian audiences. Their self-produced vinyl records on the Preston label are highly sought-after collectors items, and offer music that pre-figures  the current “Roots” craze both in Australia and in the USA.

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