Biography
Some people call it eclectic, but Andy Hackbarth says he simply has a case of "Musical ADD". The son of Colorado llama ranchers, the award-winning Nashville songwriter and classical/flamenco guitarist spent his free time as a kid feeding an endless appetite for any and all types of music.
"During the summers I would take a winding, 50-minute bus ride up the Roaring Fork Valley to the Rubey Park station in downtown Aspen, CO. I don't remember how old I was, but I do remember my guitar case should have been carrying me, and not the other way around. My parents paid for me to take bluegrass lessons at the Great Divide Music Store, and I had won a scholarship to attend the Aspen Music School, so between that and little league, I was a pretty busy kid."
Andy made his symphonic debut at age 15, went on to study classical guitar in college and has won several major competitions, including both the prestigious National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts Competition (NFAA) and the state and regional Music Teacher's National Associate Competition (MTNA).
But as his classical career was taking shape, his love of songwriting was taking over. After touring for a year with his Boulder, CO-based folk/pop group, Acoustic Radio, Andy decided it was time to make the move to Music City.
Two years and five songwriting notebooks later, Andy has a new album, a major 2009 tour ahead, and a growing reputation as one of the premier young performing songwriters on the circuit. Hackbarth regularly co-writes with many of Music Row's hit songwriters and has shared the stage with Lonestar, Buddy Jewell, Dave Robbins (Blackhawk), Blue County, Ray Scott, Due West, Katie Armiger, Dan Shafer (Bad Company) and many others…
He is perhaps most well known for his versatile solo shows and an innate ability to connect with a variety of audiences.
Several of Andy's songs have garnered regular spins in radio rotation, including "The Last Love Song", "By the Book", and "We Ain't Done Yet", which was featured by Major League Baseball in 2007 and broadcast on over 40 major country and rock stations in the West.
Andy writing reminds me so much of early Dylan, Folgelberg and Anderson it's eerie…" says John Moore (KRZA Radio). He has a homegrown honesty that can only come from an open heart. His melodies immediately pull you in, his voice smooth and clear and mellow. So give your tired soul a rest and listen to Andy's music.
Check out Andy's current radio single, "The Last Love Song."
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