My name is Andre Martin Hillman. I was born on June 27th, 1986. I was born and raised in Los Angeles CA.

 

 

 

I perform all over the Los angeles area in various musical settings. 

 

I play a ton of retirement homes all over LA. Usually just 1 hour cocktail hour where I tell jokes, juggle, and play their favorite 20's songs.

Sometimes its solo piano and other times I get to hire a 3  piece jazz trio.

 

I perform with three different high school choirs: Roayl High, Valencia High, Saugus High. They are all located in North LA area. Its jazz, and it gives me the opportunity to work with younger people that love music. It always amazes me how a young person can get so much joy out of learning music.

It truly is in control of your emotions. It can be so powerful in so many ways.

 

I perform in a R&B funk/soul/Disco band led by Alex Nester. We have performed over 100 concerts in LA over the last 8 years. Our best gig was opening for Earth Wind and Fire, Chicago, The Little Rascals at the Verizon Amphitheater for thounsands of people.

http://www.alexnester.com/

 

 

Caravan the Family Band. Its the band that I was born into, led by both of my parents. I started in the band when I was 12 playing wipout at a gun show in Pomona. I started playing bass guitar a few years later.

From age 12-23 I toured the US with my parents band every summer and winter break. We toured with Motown favorites Marvellets, Coaster, Platters, Drifters. Some tours were easy with not much driving and good paying gigs. Other tours were 45 gigs in 52 days, which were not so easy. We have a Dodge van that has over 1 million miles on it.

Hey, thats the road for ya. 

 

While I was in Middle and High school. I performed at a VFW jam session every Wednesday 7pm-12am and Sunday 2-7pm during the school semester. Playing country, blues, rock and boogie woogie for all the war vets. This was my sunday afternoon and Wednesday night for 7 years.

Working for cheeseburgers and tips.

Musician wages

 

I toured with a John Denver Tribute Act led by Jim Curry.

We went on five, 3 months tours over 2011-2013

John Denver wrote some great songs with great lyrics. 

http://www.jimcurrymusic.com/

 

 

I take one thing at a time.. I cant help but wonder what's going to happen next. Who will be in my life and who will leave my life. It makes me happy to know that my abilities and gifts that have been givin to me by various people will never leave. 

 

I am so happy to have grown up in Southern California. So much opportunity in the music industry. 

 

 

 

These two statements make so much sense to me.....

 

Music comes from deep within your soul. It is a reflection of past and present experiences.-close your eyes and open your mind-listen to what is physically heard-listen to what is subconciously heard- feel the emotion flow, dont force it.... 

 

Nothing Ever Comes to a sleeper but a dream, everything is everything,what you do most, you do best, anything you do everyday is bound to become a habit, that which you say you want least..is what you get most,life is good, people who live in glass houses...shouldn't throw stones, preciseness brings perfection... these are just a few...

 

 

 

 

Bio: 

 

        Born in Hollywood California, Andre Hillman started piano lessons at the age of 5. He studied Classical piano for 10 years in a Certificate of Merit classical piano program. Andre then made honors program seven out of ten years with multiple awards of excellence. When he was 15 he took his first jazz lesson with Dave Frank. (New York jazz pianist) He decided to continue jazz lessons and quickly found himself apart of All Southern California High School Jazz Band. Twenty 32 LA high school pianist auditioned and two were chosen to perform, Andre being one of them. Andre continued to play in big bands, small combos, and solo piano styles through out highschool and college(Cal State University Northridge). He was given a good musical background from his parents who were musicians themselves. Andre joined the family band when he was 12,which was great musical experience at a young age. He got the opportunity to play many different styles of music in many different venues. He toured the country, backing up motown groups like: The Temptations, The Platters, The Coasters, the Marvelettes. He has also toured the United States with a John Denver tribute band led by Jim Curry, and American Idol finalist Alex Nester blues and R@B band. They recently opened for Earth Wind and Fire, Chicago, and many others at the Verizon Amphitheater. Andre is 27 years old.