ALUM

AND AWARD- WINNING SAXOPHONIST

BY PRINCESS GADSON

through an afterschool program, which encouraged children to play musical instruments.

“The afterschool program gave me an opportunity to not be on the streets in another capacity. I think [it] was really helpful for myself and a lot of other friends that we had growing up at that time. It gave us an outlet,” he explained.

The second of six children, André grew up in a home surrounded by music, with a mother who was a devoted gospel singer at their local church, one brother who played the drums, and another brother that played the guitar.

“We were at Sunday school and in church every Sunday. We were not in the choir;, but whenever there was choir rehearsal, we had to go. There was always music in our household – it all started with gospel music,” André said. “That’s where my musical foundation is.”

André’s first instrument of choice was the snare drum. Then, he switched to the trumpet, and lastly, to the alto saxophone.

“It was then when I tried the saxophone, I just kind of had a feeling. It just felt right,” he said.

Upon graduating from Tennessee State University (TSU) with a bachelor’s in music education, André attended Berklee College of Music, earning a degree in musical performance. From there, he attended Northwestern University, where he obtained a master’s degree in school administration.

André says his experience as an HBCU student at TSU helped make him who he is.

His high school teacher, Michael Angelo Taylor, also a TSU alum, encouraged André and several of his classmates to attend the university. André earned a music scholarship to play in TSU’s marching band, where he was the lead saxophonist.

“TSU – especially the music program, is so instrumental in making everyone feel welcome; knowing that you are away – bringing that familyhood into the equation,” he explained. “You just can’t reproduce the HBCU experience somewhere else. It really makes you humble, and it makes you proud.”

While still in undergrad, André pledged both a music fraternity, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. He takes pride in service and community outreach.

“I give back whenever I can, whether that’s financially or physically. We continue to give back,” he said.

André also assembled the quartet, Act IV, which won a national contest sponsored by Budweiser to record a song, entitled, “The Pulse,” while matriculating at TSU.

Upon graduating, he moved to Boston – a city where he still lives, to attend Berklee College of Music, while also performing all over the city.

In 1990, fellow Berklee alum, Lalah Hathaway released her first album and used Berklee musicians to promote it, giving André his first glimpse of the professional side of the music business. That opportunity led to touring with the legendary R&B/ Soul singer, Freddie Jackson for nine years. Four of those years, André worked as Freddie’s musical band director.

While touring, André grabbed the attention and landed a record deal with Hush Productions / Orpheus Entertainment, which is the record label he’s currently signed to.

André has also taken his musical talents to the classroom, teaching general music and instrumental music to middle school students. From 20102022, he worked as a middle school principal in the Boston Public School System.

He looks forward to working with students again in the future.

“I just want to make sure that I can continue to have the best of both worlds and go out and perform and use the gift that God has given me.”

André says he hopes listeners will go on a musical journey when they listen to his latest album.

“One of my musical lessons that I continue to stand on is that I listen to vocalists. Sarah Vaughan is one of my favorite vocalists to listen to because I want my horn, my saxophone to sing. I want people to listen to me and be like, ‘Okay, I can hear. It’s like a voice,” he explained.