May 2002 ~ Featuring Andrew Ishee
When I was fifteen years old, the local group that I played with was booked on a singing in south Mississippi with several other groups from the area. Playing for one of the other groups on the program was seventeen-year-old Andrew Ishee. At this time, I was just getting involved in Southern Gospel Music, and Andrew was the first young pianist that I had the chance to work with. We met and became friends the day we met near Picayune, MS. It was then that we discovered that we only lived about an hour and a half from each other. My hometown of Franklinton, Louisiana is less than 100 miles from Andrew's hometown of Laurel, Mississippi. It's interesting how we met and became friends before most people had even heard the names Stewart Varnado and Andrew Ishee.

After that first meeting, we sang with his group a few more times. I brought them into my home church, and would go see them whenever we were not singing. I've even put some miles on my vehicle traveling to Laurel, Mississippi to visit. Needless to say, I was impressed with his piano playing from the beginning. I'll never forget how he and his family were so friendly to me. I can remember his mom's plate of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for us during our breaks from banging on their piano, and finishing up with a watermelon that I brought. I could go on and on with memories, but let me share a little biography on one of Southern Gospel's best pianists and showman.

Andrew Ishee was born on December 29, 1978. He is the son of Harold and Sara Ishee. He has one brother, Ben Ishee, and one sister, Marie Ishee Coleman. He was saved in 1986 at Sunday school in his hometown of Laurel, Mississippi. His home church is Calvary Worship Center. He began playing the piano at the age of eight. His says that his parents made him take piano lessons when he was ten, but he only took for about a year. When he was fifteen, he worked as a Southern Gospel disc jockey in Laurel, MS, at WEEZ.

Andrew married Sheree Buckner on December 14, 1999. They have no kids and one cat. They currently live in Marshall, North Carolina. Andrew started playing with a local group in Laurel, MS, when he was eleven years old. When he was 16, he auditioned and started playing for the Dixie Echoes Quartet. After spending about a year with the Dixie Echoes, he joined a new group formed in Laurel, MS, named Masterpeace. In this group, he first traveled with Tony Peace, along with bass vocalist Mike Bullock.

When Andrew was eighteen years old, he auditioned and got the job playing for the Mighty Kingsmen Quartet. He played for the Kingsmen for five years until their retirement in September of 2002. At that time, he accepted the pianist job for the legendary Palmetto State Quartet. At only 23 years of age, he has quite a resume. He has been with some of the elite groups in Southern Gospel Music, and has been nominated for Favorite Pianist in the Singing News Fan Awards 5 times. The Southern Gospel Music Association has also nominated him as favorite musician twice. He has also been nominated for Horizon Individual in 1997, and Young Artist in 1998, 1999, & 2000.

Andrew has one of the most supportive families, and I am honored to call them friends as well. His parents Harold and Sara, have always been so kind to me, and every opportunity that I get to see them, we usually just sit and chat a while. They attend National Quartet Convention, and go see Andrew anytime that he is within a few hours or so from Laurel. His wife Sheree is one of the sweetest people that I have met since I've been in traveling. Andrew is lucky to have such a supportive wife. If you attend NQC, you should stop by and meet some of his family, they are all so nice and big Southern Gospel Music supporters.

I have shared the stage with Andrew on many occasions and really do enjoy his playing. He is a true quartet pianist and I feel that he has many great years ahead of him in Southern Gospel Music. Because of his great showmanship, some may overlook his playing abilities, but let me assure you that he is an awesome pianist. I still listen to his music and try to get some pointers. I think that there is always liveliness when Andrew is around, his outgoing personality is evident both on and offstage. Andrew provides great Christian entertainment, which I feel is a necessity. If people can't be entertained by Gospel music, then they will turn to other forms of music for entertainment.

Some of Andrew's biggest influences are Jeff Stice, Jim Hamill, James Blackwood, and Hovie Lister. His jobs on the road include setting up the sound system, cleaning the interior of the bus, driving the bus, and playing the piano. He collects coins and Southern Gospel albums. His hobbies include playing piano, gardening, and civic involvement (He is a member of the Marshall Beautification Committee). He does some studio work, teaches piano at the Steve Hurst School, and writes a monthly article for the Singing News magazine.

To find out more about Andrew Ishee, or the Palmetto State Quartet, visit the groups website at: www.palmettostatequartet.com. We worked with Palmetto State a few times recently, once at a concert in Kentucky, then in Sacramento, California, at the Great Western Quartet Convention. They have a great group with an awesome sound. I sat front row and watched their performance, and they did a super job. They took the stage with just the piano and a bass guitar, started singing, and did very little talking. If you are looking for a group doing some real quartet singing at its best, look no farther than the Palmetto State Quartet. I was happy to hear that Andrew had joined this great group. He fits in perfectly. Take my word for it; go see them at your next convenience. Tony Peace, Jeff Pearles, Brion Carter, Kerry Beatty, and Andrew Ishee make up one of my favorite groups.