Artist Information
Andy moved to Nashville in 1995 after a childhood of major mountains and valleys. Music was such a huge inspiration in his young life that it helped him grieve. And he did plenty of that. His father, the praise and worship leader at their church, died from a brain tumor when Andy was 11 years old. His older brother Mason took the baton of music and ran with it. Throughout their teenage years, Mason was Andy's hero. Mason died at the young age of 21 from heart complications that he had suffered with since birth. Andy grabbed that same baton and ran with it. "When I jumped into the pool of music, I jumped into the deep end and never came out," he says.
After several years of playing in a bluegrass band with Jerry and Tammy Sullivan, Andy signed a record deal with RCA and exploded with his first single, "You Won't Ever Be Lonely." After two No. 1s and nine Top 10 singles, Andy came to a musical crossroad in his life. There was something missing. Feeling his music was only reaching 99 percent of his capabilities of releasing his heart and soul, his life was not complete.
"My childhood was a rollercoaster ride and so has been my profession as a singer. I'm at that point in my life where I either want to make a difference with a song and a worn-out guitar or I need to find something else to do. I've learned you don't come to this town and try to fit a certain mold or certain style. You don't try to sing your heart out . You either do or you don't."
This awakening in Andy's restless being caused him to start writing most of his songs and producing his own music. "Heck, I don't know how to produce, I just know what I hear and feel," he says. "That's what I want and that's what I have to have." When listening to the songs that come from Andy now, it is evident he is finally complete and one with his music.
