Martin D. Andrews was born in Southington, CT, on May 3, 1960. On Christmas Eve, December 24, 1990, Marty died from injuries he suffered from an automobile accident. He was the son of George and Edna Andrews of Bristol, CT, and lived most of his life in the Bristol area. He graduated from Bristol Central High School (3rd in his class) in 1978. From there he went to Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT, where he graduated with honors in 1982.
Marty’s drum corps life began in 1967. He became a member of Carey’s Cadets (junior) Fife and Drum Corps and started playing the fife. A few years later he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in Carey’s fife line. In 1975 he was the first to win the Connecticut Fifers and Drummers Association (CF&DA), Massachusetts Fife, Drum and Bugle Association (Mass. FD&B), Hudson Valley Association, North Eastern States Association and the All-American National championships. As a senior, Marty perfected his talent while performing with the Connecticut Blues of Middletown and the Sailing Masters of 1812 from Essex, but played most of his senior years with St. Peter’s Drum Corps of Torrington. While in St. Peter’s he won 75 medals (74 were gold) and had been one of the highest medal winners in the corps’ history. Marty won the CF&DA Senior Male Modern Fife Championship and T. D. O’Conner Perpetual Trophy in 1983, 84, 85, 86, 87, 89, 90. He did, not defend his title in 1988.
Marty Andrews was also a fife instructor for Carey’s, Prospect Drum Corps, New Fairfield Sparklers, a section leader for St. Peter’s fife line, and an ensemble judge for the CF&DA.
The CF&DA, Hudson Valley Association, and the Mass FD&B Association approved a perpetual trophy in memory of Martin D. Andrews to be awarded at their respective championship competitions to the individual – – ancient, modern, junior or senior, male or female – – with the highest fife score of the day.
Marty spent 23 of his 30 years in Drum Corps. His accomplishments and perseverance showed his dedication to Drum Corps life, and Drum Corps life gave him the freedom to express himself in music and the experience performing his musical talents in different parts of the United States and in many European countries. There may be others equally dedicated to the fife, but none more so than Marty Andrews. The only time he was truly content was when he made music with his fife.