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Sunday, January 30, 2011

Gene Andrusco

Gene "Eugene" Andrusco (April 6, 1961–March 20, 2000) was a Canadian born actorrecord producerengineercomposer and musician. Andrusco was best known as the leader of thefunk/rock band Adam Again, a member of The Swirling Eddies (credited as Prickly Disco) and as a founding member of the roots music supergroup Lost Dogs.



Acting

Andrusco was a child actor who appeared in such programs as Bewitched (where he played young "Darrin Stephens"), The Screaming Woman (TV Movie), Gidget Gets Married (TV Movie),Jake and the FatmanThe Bold Ones and Cannon. Eugene was also a voice actor, lending his voice to several animated series, including Wait Till Your Father Gets HomeThe Barkleys andThe Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan (1972–1974). (Ironically, he is quoted in the liner notes to the Terry Taylor/Daniel Amos/Swirling Eddies compilation Miracle Faith Telethon as saying, "Sorry guys, I don't do voices.")


Music

Many years later, Gene would form a funk/rock band called Adam Again and become the owner of the Green Room recording studios inHuntington BeachCalifornia. Gene recorded and produced hundreds of albums at the Green Room including albums by the Aunt Bettys, The ChoirDaniel AmosMichael KnottThe WaitingCrystal LewisPlankeyeStarflyer 59, and others.
In 1987, Eugene, Ojo Taylor and another investor formed Brainstorm Artists International (B.A.I.), which became an important label in the development of the West Coast alternative music scene. Though the record label focused primarily on modern rock artists, B.A.I also released significant contributions from early rap and hip-hop artists like Dynamic Twins and Freedom of Soul. It was also at this time that Eugene discovered future Myrrh Records artist Anointed and went on to produce their first few albums.
In 1990, Eugene joined the rock band The Swirling Eddies, where he was known as "Prickly Disco". The following year, Gene, along withTerry Scott TaylorDerri Daugherty, and Michael Roe, formed the alt-country supergroup, the Lost Dogs. He also produced for soul/R&B pioneer Jon Gibson on the album Love Education."
Gene Andrusco died in his sleep on March 20, 2000 in his studio. Friends said that Eugene hadn't been feeling well in recent weeks and complained of headaches the day before his death. Eugene divorced singer Riki Michele in 1994, but the two remained close until the time of his death.


Various Production/Recording Credits


Influence and Tributes

  • Also in 2000, The Choir recorded "Hey Gene," a song written about their friend, for their Flap Your Wings album.
  • Additionally in 2001, Hip-Hop artist Peace 586 dedicated his album 586 to Gene Eugene, with the song "You Here", featuring Sup the Chemist, as a tribute. Peace 586 considered Mr. Eugene a great friend and mentor.
  • In 2002, the rock band Jars of Clay recorded one of Eugene's songs, entitled "Dig", for their Furthermore - From The Studio: From The Stage album (included on their 2007 Sony 2CD-release The Essential Jars of Clay as well),
  • "Jimmy" was also recorded by Jesse Sprinkle (Poor Old Lu) on his 2006 solo release The Corner of an Unlit World (Blind Record).
  • In 2004, for the 20th anniversary of the Cornerstone Festival, a DVD was released entitled 20 Years and Counting, which includes a tribute to several artists that regularly performed at Cornerstone and had recently died, including Eugene, Mark HeardVince Ebo and Rich Mullins.
  • In 2005, Daniel Amos released their DVD documentary, The Making of Mr. Buechner's Dream. The video, shot mostly in Eugene's Green Room studio during the recording of the band's Mr. Buechner's Dream CD, includes a tribute to the late friend and engineer. Archive footage of Eugene in the studio is also shown.
  • In 2007, Daniel Amos released a second documentary DVD chronicling the band's history entitled Instruction Through Film. At one point in the film, during the band's time with Brainstorm Artists International, a short clip of Eugene mixing a Riki Michele song in at the Green Room is seen.

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