ANDY BLYTH: BIO & VENUES
Banjo Andy is a gifted performer and has played around the Seattle/Victory Music scene for years. This "wandering minstrel with a message" started gigging on the streets outside Pike Place Market with his sidekick- son Josh - then only nine.
Twenty five years ago, Andy consciously chose to avoid the smoky bar music scene and do music with his son in mind, so he teamed up with Joshua's preschool teacher and others to form the nationally recognized children's music group - Tickle Toon Typhoon- who have produced many well known children's albums and also represented the US at the International Year of the Child celebrations in Washington DC. He is featured on their Parent's Choice Good Award winning album "Hug The Earth". He is also featured on the Tickle Toon renditions of "A Place in the Choir" and " The Family Song" which both won the Library Association's Notable Children's Recording Award.
Starting out in Hollywood, Andy first appeared on TV in 1965 on KCET with the Ridgeview Singers. After a snafu kept his band from joining up with the New Christy Minstrels, he turned his attention to sound mixing and worked in Hollywood and TV, some notables including Steve Allen, Pat Boone, Della Reese and Hee Haw and won several Academy Awards for technical achievement.
In '74, he left a successful Hollywood career behind and moved to Seattle to become a sound engineer for ABC affiliate, KOMO and freelanced in TV sports. For the next 30 years, he traveled internationally to numerous international sporting events including Olympics/Goodwill games in Russia, Korea, Spain, LA, Japan, Atlanta, Mexico and Salt Lake City broadening his world view and his songs now frequently carry the conviction that "we're all in this together."
Andy is a talented musician - playing acoustic guitar, banjo, harmonica, and mandolin. His simple, familiar folksy songs are inspired by real life, down Home | Newspeople. Mentored by the likes of Woody Guthrie, Bill Staines, John Denver and Melvina Reynolds, he is also at Home | Newswith Roger Miller, Jimmy Buffet, Jim Croce and Gordon Lightfoot songs. In addition to bouncy sing a long fair, audiences are engaged by Andy's witty, biographical perspective and personal adventures gleaned from his years in Hollywood and TV production as well as working on several presidential campaigns.
The Old Crusty Minstrel occasionally carries the torch of the early peace and justice movement with heartfelt folk ballads and rousing take action anthems. Children from 1-99 will enjoy his hand clapping, toe tapping, well known, down Home | NewsAmericana roots music. When asked about his music choices, Andy commented:
"These songs sing to the hearts of all men - whether they are in Kansas, California or Calcutta. If someone comes to my concert depressed, I love to send them Home | Newstapping their toes and singing."
The highlight of his career in 2004 he was asked to be lead singer of a cultural exchange tour sponsored by the Chinese government to perform several concerts - coming out loud and strong with cowboy hat and guitar was a favorite John Denver tune - "It's About Time."
Andy Blyth performs solo as well as with Tickle Tune Typhoon, Banjo Andy and His Tickled Toons, Old Dogs ~ new tricks and Magic Pennies Puppet Show. He and his life partner, Sue Peterson, also collaborate to produce A Raging Zephyr, Folk musical.
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Andy Blyth & son Joshua, 1979
Andy performing with the Raging Zephyr
Andy with some happy faces!
"Old Dogs ~ New Tricks&" at the
Tumbleweed Music Festival, 2005
""For all of you who wanted to know..."
""..it IS all part of being a pirate!"
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