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Ernie Andrews

Ernie Andrews has a raw vitality that communicates instantly, he exudes a "reach 'em by preachin'" energy, influenced by his gospel roots. Born Christmas day in Philadelphia, his early years were spent in his mother's Baptist Church. In his early teens, his family moved to Los Angeles, where he studied drums at Jefferson High School and continued singing.

He was discovered by songwriter Joe Greene in 1947, when he won an amateur show at the Lincoln Theatre on Central Avenue in Los Angeles. Greene was so impressed that he immediately took Andrews into the studio to record at age 17. With a 300,000 seller hit, "Soothe Me" with "Wrap It Up And Put It Away" on the flip side, Ernie Andrews became a singer to be reckoned with. In 1953, he had another big record with "Make Me A Present of You" with Benny Carter. By this time, Andrews was working at home and out of town playing clubs, concerts and "after-hours" rooms.

In 1959, Andrews joined Harry James' band, touring the U.S. and South America for nine years, which time he considers his most valuable learning experience. In 1967, he recorded the jazz classic "Big City" with Cannonball Adderley on Capital Records. Obviously a fan and admirer, Cannonball Adderley stated, "When it comes down to the real nitty-gritty, there's Ernie Andrews." After the project with Cannonball, Andrews rejoined Harry James in 1968 for one more year before going it alone.

In 1969, Baltimore became home base for Andrews, where he worked the East Coast and the Midwest, again scoring big with his hit record of "Bridge Over Troubled Waters." In 1974, he returned to Los Angeles, where he resided with his wife of 50 years, Dolores, who recently passed away, but Ernie continues on, sharing the lives of his five children and grandchildren.

Early influences included Ella Fitzgerald, Billy Eckstine, Al Hibbler, Johnny Mercer, Jimmy Rushing and "Big" Joe Turner. Jazz producer Gene Norman said of Andrews, "Ernie is everything an outstanding modern singer should be. His sound and style have been influenced by his predecessors, but he contributes important values . . . uniquely his own." Several years ago Andrews returned to the scene of his prime — to the Gaiety Club across from the Lincoln Theatre — as his life was being profiled in an award-winning documentary, available on video, "Ernie Andrews: Blues for Central Avenue," directed by Lois Shelton.

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Album Review

Shirley Scott: Queen Talk: Live at the Left Bank

Read "Queen Talk: Live at the Left Bank" reviewed by Stefano Merighi


Era la “regina dell'organo." Shirley Scott ha attraversato la stagione magica del jazz degli anni d'oro affiancando l'egemonia di Jimmy Smith, proponendo uno stile sempre graffiante ma più sofisticato ed elusivo, divenendo un simbolo di quella musica di comunità che a Philadelphia ha sempre incontrato grande entusiasmo. Una musica senza progetti particolari, erede di una tradizione popolare che dal gospel arriva ad un soul-jazz articolato, ricco di palpitante energia, talvolta selvaggio, tecnicamente impeccabile. Come dimostra questo doppio CD ...

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Album Review

Shirley Scott: Queen Talk: Live At The Left Bank

Read "Queen Talk: Live At The Left Bank" reviewed by Pierre Giroux


Queen Talk is a fitting title for the current release from the archivist label Reel to Real Records as Hammond B-3 organist Shirley Scott had the soubriquet “Queen of the organ" at the height of her career. This limited-edition hand-numbered 180 gram 2-LP set produced by Zev Feldman and Cory Weeds presents a never-before-released live 1972 recording from the Famous Ballroom in Baltimore. Other heavyweights on this outline are tenor saxophonist George Coleman, drummer Bobby Durham and, for three tracks, ...

420
Album Review

Ernie Andrews: This is Ernie Andrews

Read "This is Ernie Andrews" reviewed by Ollie Bivens


Philadelphia-born singer Ernie Andrews has made Los Angeles his home for 60 of his 77 years, in the process becoming a legend among local jazz and blues fans by consistently presenting one of the best live performances in town. Die-hard fans of the blues/jazz singer will most appreciate Verve's new reissue of this album, first recorded in '64 for Dot Records.

Andrews is at his finest when delivering songs that tell a story and tunes which are heavily steeped in ...

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Album Review

Ernie Andrews: How About Me

Read "How About Me" reviewed by Michael P. Gladstone


Ernie Andrews has been around since the late 1940s, an era when big band singers were still in vogue. He pays homage to influences like Billy Eckstine, Al Hibbler and Earl Coleman in this collection of eleven tracks. Despite his credentials and a few big band recordings in the 1950s, Andrews remained an obscure vocalist for the 1960s and '70s, emerging again only in 1980. During that decade, he began singing with the Capp/Pierce Juggernaut, Jay McShann and the Gene ...

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Obituary

Ernie Andrews: (1927-2022)

Ernie Andrews: (1927-2022)

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers

Ernie Andrews, one of the last Black male blues and pop crooners from the 1950s who was a frequent performer at Central Avenue clubs in Los Angeles and whose dry, romantic style was a favorite of jazz fans and musicians, died on February 24. He was 94. Born in Philadelphia in 1927, Ernie's mother sent him to live with her mother in Jeanerette, La., when he was 11. His mother and father had split up and his mother couldn’t look ...

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Festival

Celebrate New Orleans at the 21st Annual Long Beach Bayou Festival - Featuring Cajun, Zydeco, Jazz & Blues with Ernie Andrews, AL Williams Jazz Society, CJ Chenier, Geno Delafose, Candye Kane, Zac Harmon

Celebrate New Orleans at the 21st Annual Long Beach Bayou Festival - Featuring Cajun, Zydeco, Jazz & Blues with Ernie Andrews, AL Williams Jazz Society, CJ Chenier, Geno Delafose, Candye Kane, Zac Harmon

Source: Teresa Conboy PR

Celebrate New Orleans in Southern California with the music of Cajun & Zydeco, Jazz and Blues at the 21st Annual Long Beach Bayou Festival, June 22, 23 & 24th at the Rainbow Lagoon Park (next to the Long Beach Arena). This annual fundraiser for Comprehensive Child Development is California's longest running Cajun & Zydeco festival.

This year's jazz performers include: Legendary jazz vocalist Ernie Andrews, who has recorded over 20 albums and spent six years singing with the Harry James ...

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Music Industry

LA JAM SESSION RECORDED: James Moody, Shirley Horn, Jon Hendricks, Kenny Burrell, Cedar Walton, Al McKibbon, Ernie Andrews, etc......

LA JAM SESSION RECORDED:  James Moody, Shirley Horn, Jon Hendricks, Kenny Burrell, Cedar Walton, Al McKibbon, Ernie Andrews, etc......

Source: All About Jazz

Jazz Crusaders drummer and founder Stix Hooper has just produced what will be a classic jazz CD for jazz lovers and the uninitiated, alike!

This remarkable collection of artists, a signature recording for the Mack Avenue Records label, features the living foundations of the house that is jazz.

The two CD set includes: James Moody on sax, George Bohanon on trombone, Kenny Burrell on guitar, Cedar Walton on ...

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Queen Talk: Live at...

Reel to Real records
2023

buy

Moon and Sand...

Arkadia Records
2022

buy

This is Ernie Andrews

Verve Music Group
2006

buy

How About Me

HighNote Records
2006

buy

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