My involvement in music got off to a rough start as a young boy. While singing in a triple trio group in elementary school, I remember my music teacher telling me, “Just move your lips”. I had difficulty memorizing words and was told I was tone deaf and couldn’t keep a steady beat. My singing career came to an abrupt end. The following year I switched to instrumental music. After a month on the trumpet, I was asked to leave the school band. My teacher told me I was holding the class back and just didn’t have what it takes to be successful in music.

In 1972, when I was 16 years old, I signed up for a 10 week guitar course at the Brockville YMCA. My teacher, Gerald Zaporzan, was a great source of encouragement to me. Gerald was an out-of-towner who came to Brockville every Saturday to teach group guitar lessons. I was determined to be successful on the guitar and spent an average of four hours per day practicing. Years of past discouragement were soon replaced with great joy. I began playing rhythm guitar for a local Brockville band while only in my tenth week of lessons. In my eleventh week, I took over the guitar teaching responsibilities for Gerald and haven’t looked back since. Over the years I have taught over 5000 students in various studios throughout Ontario and New Brunswick.

In years that followed I played lead guitar, rhythm guitar, bass guitar, fiddle, piano, banjo and mandolin for numerous bands. The styles of music I played include country, bluegrass, rock, folk, blues and jazz.

While living in New Brunswick in 1985-86, my playing was influenced by many of the Maritime musicians. I consider my training under Maritime Fiddle Champion (1982), Winston Crawford, as one of my greatest assets. Learning to play the fiddle from Winston was an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that helped to further equip me as a music teacher and entertainer. Many other guitar, fiddle and piano players have also influenced my playing over the years including some of North America’s top musicians - Steve Kaufman, Kelli Trottier, Denis Lanctot, Brent Williams, Trent Bruner and Les Horvath. Studying under these people was an incredible experience.

My love for music has inspired me to compose over 50 guitar and fiddle tunes. One of these tunes, “Uncle Doug,” is a song written in memory of my uncle, and is featured on my family’s instrumental CD, “Touch of Country.” This CD was released in 2002 and has been played on radio stations across Ontario, Quebec and New York.

My family band, “Andrews Family” is known for their unique playing of Old Time Fiddle, Celtic and Bluegrass music. Since 1995, we have played a variety of engagements from concerts to private parties. Our performances have been featured in many local newspapers as well as radio & television stations in Brockville, Kingston, Niagara Falls, Hamilton, Gananoque, Ottawa and Watertown, New York.

The retail division of Andrews Family Music began during the summer of 2000, after many years of prodding from students and friends. Initially dealing only with the sales of guitars and violins, Andrews Family Music has since expanded to include many other musical instruments, accessories, books, rentals and repairs. Sales are conducted throughout the area in shopping centers, sidewalk sales, personal visits to customer’s homes and wherever the Andrews Family band happens to be playing. Additional sales all over Canada and the United States are the result of our sales through our websites.

My wife, Anita, and I have seven children: David, Stephanie, Christina, Jonathan, Timothy, Robert and Patrick. We have a daughter-in-law, Kaitlin, who is married to David. David and Kaitlin have two daughters, Olivia and Catherine. We also have a son-in-law, Loris, who is married to Stephanie.