Andrew Barrett was born in New York City in 1987 to a musical family.  As a toddler, frequent trips to the Central Park Carousel led to an interest in band organs and later orchestrions and other automatic musical instruments and a taste for the turn of the century tunes they played.

Like many toddlers, Andrew began playing on pots and pans at home until his parents mercifully bought him his first drum set.  He discovered the washboard as a musical instrument soon after this.

His family moved to Costa Mesa California in 1996.  At the age of 11, Andrew began weekly piano lessons with a local instructor, Anita Gillett.  During his first year of study he began to play the ragtime music that he enjoys.  This has led to an interest in novelty, stride, and rhythm piano and works by such composers as Paul Pratt, Harry C. Thompson, Les Copeland, Charley Straight, Roy Bargy, Eastwood Lane, Clarence Johnson, and Donald Lambert.

Andrew continues to play the drums and washboard with his mentor, soprano saxophonist George Probert.  He is currently attending Orange Coast College. He has composed several pieces, Frequent Flyer Rag, Elastic-march &two step, and You’re Too Cranky being outstanding examples.