Slim Andrews

Slim Andrews (born Leonard Andrews Huntington, Jr., June 14, 1931 - January 15, 2022) was an American country music artist with seven decades of performing at the local and regional levels. He began his music career in 1942 at the age of eleven when he won a talent contest at the Community Theater in New Auburn, ME. He got his first guitar at this time and spent 75 years of his life entertaining throughout the South and Northeast.

Early years and military service

When Andrews was six months old, his family moved to Auburn, ME, and he remained there until his mother died. In 1946, he then moved back to Dorchester, MA. After graduating from high school in 1948, Andrews joined the U.S. Army and spent three years and three months in Germany where, in addition to his military service which included participating in the Berlin Airlift during the Blockade, he entertained the troops periodically on special assignments. After his honorable discharge from the Army, Andrews married his high school sweetheart, fathered five sons and one daughter, and moved forward with his career as a country music performer with several groups in the southeastern Massachusetts area. One of his first gigs was in 1954 at "Nick's Place" on Nantasket beach in Hull, MA. From 1952 to 1954, Andrews played at several churches with his friend and "button" accordionist, Victor Jenkins.

Career growth

In 1958 Andrews formed the Berkshire Mountain Boys based in Brockton, MA. After 13 years there, he returned to Maine in 1971 and formed the Cumberland Valley Boys. In 1976 Andrews established the State of Maine Country Music Awards Show with Gini Eaton of the Single Spur in Windham, ME. In 1980, Andrews was cited by the Maine Sunday Telegram as one of the most influential drivers of country music in Maine, along with two other Maine country music pioneers, Dick Curless and Al Hawkes. In the 1980s Single Spur was reinvented and reintroduced as the Silver Spur, a full-service restaurant, bar and club. In 1977, Slim and Gini, along with Barry Deane, founded the Maine Country Music Association with Slim becoming the acting president until regular officers were elected in July of that year.

In early 1979, Andrews approached Windham's representative to the state legislature, William Diamond, and asked him to sponsor a bill that would exempt club owners from having to pay an unemployment tax for part-time musicians that the musicians would never be able to collect. Andrews' efforts in this matter paid off when the governor of Maine, Joseph E. Brennan, signed into law on April 13 legislation that ended this practice. Duke Knight Memorial Award from The Maine Country Music Association 2003, 2006 American Legion Post 197 Commander's Award 2006, 2009 Trailblazer Award From The Pine Tree State Country Music Association 2006 Gospel Song of The Year From The Maine Country Music Association 2006 Maine Ole' Opry Award From The Pine Tree State Country Music Association 2007 Living Legend Award From The Maine Academy of Country Music 2008 Hal Lone Pine Memorial Award From the Maine Country Music Association Album Of the Year Award From the Maine Country Music Association 2010 Rusty Rogers Award From The Pine Tree State Country Music Association 2011 Lifetime Achievement Award From Maine Academy of Country Music 2016 Induction Into The Massachusetts Country Music Awards Association Hall of Fame 2016

Discography 2005 "Favorites For A Lifetime" 2006 "Simply Slim With Harry" 2008 "Through The Years"—Slim Andrews and The Cumberland Valley Revue 2009 "Slim Andrews and His Alvarez" 2011 "Slim Andrews Sings Irish"