Biography
Troy 'Trombone Shorty' Andrews was born into a renowned musical family in New Orleans' Tremé neighborhood, one of seven children of James Andrews Jr., with his older brother James Andrews—a trumpeter known as 'Satchmo of the Ghetto'—giving him a trombone at age four, earning him the nickname 'Trombone Shorty' due to his small stature compared to the instrument. By age six, he was leading his own brass band, the Tiny Tunes, marching in the French Quarter, and at four, he performed with Bo Diddley at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. He received formal training at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA), graduating from Warren Easton High School in 2004, and was mentored by Cyril Neville.
In his teens, Andrews joined the Stooges Brass Band and played at the family nightclub, Trombone Shorty's. His career accelerated in 2005 when he toured with Lenny Kravitz's horn section and contributed to post-Hurricane Katrina efforts, including performances with his brother at Jackson Square just 17 days after the storm. He formed Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, released his breakthrough album Backatown in 2010 on Verve Forecast, which topped the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Chart, and gained prominence through high-profile gigs like the White House, NBA All-Star halftime, and collaborations with Foo Fighters, U2, and Dave Grohl. His style fuses New Orleans brass band, jazz funk, traditional jazz, and rock.
Andrews has released eight albums, performed at major festivals like Coachella and Jazz Fest (closing the latter), appeared on HBO's Treme, and founded the Trombone Shorty Foundation for youth music education, earning honors like Tulane's President's Medal and a Caldecott Honor for his children's book. He leads his own Mardi Gras parade and hosts Treme Threauxdown with guests like Usher.
Fun Facts
- At age four, he performed with Bo Diddley at Jazz Fest after being invited onstage, and was featured as a child musician in Disney's America's Heart and Soul.
- His parents opened a Tremé nightclub called Trombone Shorty's, which served as his childhood performance venue and a jam space called 'The Space.'
- He once made his band practice in the dark to prevent them from relying on visual cues from each other.
- He has a Muppet created in his likeness from a Sesame Street Gala honor and leads a Mardi Gras parade atop a giant float of himself.
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Cyril Neville - Mentor and 'second father' since youth (General guidance in early career) [Youth onward]
- James Andrews - Older brother who gave him first trombone and took him on international tours (Family tours to Dubai, Paris, Turkey, Cuba) [Childhood]
Key Collaborators
- Lenny Kravitz - Hired as horn section member for world tour (Electric Church World Tour)
- Foo Fighters / Dave Grohl - Frequent sit-ins and European tour (Sonic Highways HBO series, Voodoo Festival, Dave Grohl's Birthday Bash) [2014-2015]
- U2 - Performed together at Louisiana Superdome re-opening (Monday Night Football pre-game show)
- James Andrews - Brother and frequent performance partner (Post-Katrina Jackson Square shows) [2005 onward]
Artists Influenced
- Trombone Shorty Foundation students - Mentors youth through music education program (Tulane University high-school program) [2012-present]
Connection Network
External Links
References
Heard on WWOZ
james andrews/Trombone Shorty has been played 1 time on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.