Andy Baylor

Biography

......Andy has been playing professionally since the mid-seventies and has been a driving force behind many acts- some forgotten, some legendary! The best known band from the 70's was the Honeydrippers who specialised in the black sounds of Funky Soul and Rhythm & Blues. From the Honeydrippers Andy did a complete turnaround playing fiddle and steel guitar in local "ocker-billy" legends the Autodrifters for a couple of years

.......After a stint in Sydney playing in Hit and Run, a country rock outfit, Andy returned to Melbourne to form the Dancehall Racketeers- a band playing a wide variety of music- rockabilly, country, cajun, western swing, blues etc. The Racketeers played through the eighties touring the country extensively, bringing to Australian audiences styles of music that they had never heard before. The band toured Aboriginal settlements in the Northern Territory; toured with Robert Plant ( he personally chose the band after hearing them play in Sydney); did tours with Aussie country legend Slim Dusty and garnered many awards at the Tamworth Country Music Festival.

.......From here Andy went to the States for an extended working holiday and met and played with many musical legends including David Grisman, Flaco Jiminez, Cajun great Dewey Balfa and fiddler Johnny Gimble. The 90's have seen Andy freelancing and running the Cajun Combo. He has been in demand as a red hot blues/jazz guitar player and has played with Jimmy McGriff (USA organist), Big Jay McNeely (USA sax great). With the Cajun Combo he has backed Screaming Jay Hawkins, Louisiana Red, Jimmy Witherspoon- all legendary blues performers. He has toured with accordion player Flaco Jiminez, played fiddle with Slim Dusty and was Bob Dylan's personal choice as support act for his 1992 tour. He is currently working with local acts such as Kerri Simpson, Moovin' & GroovinOrchestra, Swinging Sidewalks and many more...........