Kenneth James Andree

Perhaps best known for his lively stage performances with his strapless bass guitar, Ken Andree was an accomplished musician; talented on many instruments, writing music, crafting lyrics, and vocalizing harmonies (known by some as “The Wizard of Ahhs”). For years, he called Tucson, Arizona, home, but he’s also lived in Austin and El Paso, TX; Los Angeles, CA; Freeport, IL; Minneapolis, MN; and Logansport, IN. Unlike many artists, Ken was a prolific self-marketer, from networking with club owners to producing his own shows. Ken did whatever was needed to make the show happen, even when that meant loading and driving the van. Music was his vocation and dream.

In addition to his founding bands, Thin Ice, The Holsteins, Cool Arrows, New Texicans, and Andree’s Melodeons, Ken also played with Mad Dux, The Sidewinders, Sand Rubies, Rich Hopkins and the Luminarios, Little Sisters of the Poor, Texas Trash and the Trainwrecks, and Whey Jennings (Waylon Jennings’ grandson), to name a few. Between all these groups, Ken toured throughout the United States and Europe and had countless hours of recordings. He was most excited by his current musical projects including Mothers Lament and fēl. When he wasn’t performing, Ken was found behind the soundboard in both Tucson and Austin clubs, mixing music for other bands. No matter the quality of the band, he made sure they sounded the best they could. He was a perfectionist and a professional.

Ken, like many artists, was deep feeling, sentimental, and full of emotion. He could be prophetically kind and unfortunately insolent. His passion for music had its downsides. Relationships were often not prioritized and, at times, strained. Ultimately, though, Ken was a lover. Being someone bullied in childhood, he admirably stood up for the underdog and believed in giving everyone a chance. He mentored countless burgeoning musicians. His signature tagline to friends and foes was RYS, Rock Your Shit.

Kenneth James Andree was born in Logansport, Indiana on July 6, 1962, and died peacefully at home in Tucson, Arizona on August 12, 2025, at the age of 63. He was diagnosed with stage IV pancreatic cancer on July 21. It quickly metastasized to surrounding organs and was intensely painful. In his last 24 hours, he was unconscious and pain-free. For that, we are thankful. He is preceded in death by his mother, Nancy Andree; and survived by his partner, Lovey Hall Stromberg; his sons, Michael Ptasnik, Ethan ‘Mobius’ Andree, Noah Andree, and Jacob Shreves; his grandson, Keanu Shreves; his father, James Andree; sister, Bethany Andree and her husband, Karl Gilkey.

Two memorial services are scheduled.

• September 20, 2025; 1 - 4 pm; Club Congress, Tucson, AZ

• October 20, 2025; 4:30 pm; St. George’s Episcopal Church, Austin, TX, reception following

In lieu of financial contributions, please, submit your photos of, or with, Ken (at any age) to bethandree@gmail.com no later than September 1. Depending on the number of submissions, all photos may not be included in the slide show. RYS.