released in 2016 with influences stemming
from Valerie Simpson and Whitney Houston
and a sound Andrews described as a
mix of pop, R&B and jazz. Additionally, she
has performed at multiple venues, including
the Cape Cod Jazz Festival, one of her favorite
venues, as well as the B.B. King Blues
Club. She also loves performing around the
Ridgewood area.
Andrews further developed a show
called “The Legendary Lady Singers,” a tribute
to the strong women influences that
have affected her life and her career.
“Valerie Simpson is an amazing star. She
wrote ‘I’m Every Woman,’ and that song is
just how I feel because there’s so many influences
in my life, like all the different
singers, and that’s why I developed the
show called The Legendary Lady Singer because
the show is exactly what I am; I am a
mixture of all these people because I grew
listening to them,” Andrews said.
“I grew up listening to Sade; I grew up
listening to Ella Fitzgerald; I grew up listening
to Whitney Houston, but when it came
to Valerie Simpson, I listened to her singing,
beautiful, I listened to her art, her writing
and I would say that’s who I look up to the
most because I love how great she wrote.
She wrote things like ‘Ain’t No Mountain
High Enough.’ They
were a powerful
couple, Ashford
and Simpson, and I would listen to her
music on the radio and every Thursday at
the Sugar Bar on 72nd Street, I can go in
and say ‘hi’ to her. That’s how crazy it is,”
she continued. “People take that for
granted, but this is someone I love and
looked up to, but I can call her up now. It’s
amazing. I am just so happy that I can do
that and say Valerie Simpson is a friend, and
I love her and she’s not just someone I
look up to or emulate, but she’s someone
I can call a friend. It’s crazy. This is my
dream come true.”
This show itself has become what Andrews
is most proud of in her career. What
it represents to her is strength of women
and their musical influences. Throughout it,
she describes the influence and sings the
legendary singers’ songs with her own
twist. The audience’s response has been
very welcoming to her too.
“I think honestly knowing that this
show that I developed from my heart is actually
being received so warmly by my audience
is my proudest moment,” she said.
“Every time I perform it, they want to see
it again and again. Just knowing my baby,
The Legendary Lady Singer, is causing a little
raucous in the community is wonderful
and I can say, ‘Wow, this is my baby and it’s
something I put together.’ Hearing applause
when I sing my original songs at my
show… it’s all about the performance for
me, like when I’m actually performing my
original songs and my show. It’s the best
feeling in the world. I’ve received great
awards; I’ve sang at CitiField; I’ve done really
huge things but knowing my show is
well received is amazing to me.”
Another valuable aspect to her career
is philanthropy, something her mother
made sure to instill in her family. Growing
up, as part of a family of six kids, Andrews
said while they may not have had much,
they had the spirit of giving. Andrews carries
that spirit heavily in her career, with
the help of Ro Sorce, a board member at
Hackensack Children’s Hospital. Each year,
with a group of friends, Sorce helps set up
visits for Andrews and her friends to come
in to help with the sick children and cancer
patients. Andrews performs for them, and
she has dedicated herself to sharing her gift
and her generosity.
“It’s about that spirit of giving,” she said.
38 BC The Mag FALL 2018