Texas drag performer Tandi Andrews

[+ friendofsheila]

I occasionally re-watch an old episode of JANE WHITNEY where this performer was a guest (circa 1993, I think). Tandi was just the coolest, liveliest presence on stage and had a mind-bogglingly a-fucking-dorable boyfriend who got interviewed, too. They lived in Texas, either Dallas or San Antonio, I think. I hoped that one day Tandi would have a show of her own, she was so great.

 

Several searches on the internet have told me that Tandi died, which saddened me. No other details seemed to be available, about her circumstances or how she died were available. I'd love to find out more.

 

Anybody know more or know of a drag-oriented forum where I could post to find out?

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

Tandi Andrews was an incredible performer, with her talent now rubbed off on daughters Erica and Sierra Nicole.

 

If you're looking for more info on her, i'd head out to USofA.org and sign up for their message center. You could also email either Erica or Sierra directly if you're wanting something specific. They're both incredibly helpful and nice gals.

 

 

~BN

[LurkerSpeaks]

Talk about a blast from the past.. I hate to admit this because it will show my age, but I can remember being at the Copa in Houston, very early 1980's, on an amateur night, and seeing Tandi Andrews perform a Pat Benataur song. At that point, Tandi was still very much a cute young boy, before all the steroids, etc. Sad to hear that he/she is no longer with us.. So many of the gay-ly famous drag stars from that era are gone.. Tiffany Jones, Naomi Sims, Michael Andrews etc. Does anyone else remember the hey days at the Copa and the "Fabulous Four"? Donna Day, Naomi Sims, Hot Chocolate, and Tiffany Jones.

[bigguyinpasadena]

Gee-I sure do miss lots of the ol'"girls"I can remember when they were entertainers and not just sad,sad,sad,bad dragsters.

There used to be queens who sang(not lipped sinked)funny and campy songs in many small towns as well as larger cities.Some wrote their own materil and songs.

There are a few left-but it is no comparisson to yesteryear.

[BigD]

Well, I sure do. I remember them at the Copa,

and also at the Old Plantation in Dallas. Donna Day

died just a few years ago. As for Michael Andrews,

Tiffany Jones, and Naomi Simms, they have been gone

a long time. It was a different world in the late

70's and into the early 80's. And being queer in

the gay meccas of Texas was a continous party. Too

many talented people didn't make it through those

years. We lived very hard. I haven't been to a drag

show in forever and I guess that is because my taste

in entertainment has changed. But those were the days....

[+ friendofsheila]

Thanks BN. I'll give the site a try. If I come up with a goose-egg on the message center or can't find email addresses for them, I'll shoot you a quick note to see if there's another avenue you know.

[LurkerSpeaks]

i just thought of another semi-infamous performer from back in the early-mid 80's in Houston. Does anyone know whatever happened to Jerry Harper? I remember him from his early days performing at the old Midnite Sun, thru his career ups and downs. He was such an incredible performer, and a genuinely nice person as well.

[jasoncarter_dfw]

>I occasionally re-watch an old episode of JANE WHITNEY where

>this performer was a guest (circa 1993, I think). Tandi was

>just the coolest, liveliest presence on stage and had a

>mind-bogglingly a-fucking-dorable boyfriend who got

>interviewed, too. They lived in Texas, either Dallas or San

>Antonio, I think. I hoped that one day Tandi would have a

>show of her own, she was so great.

>

>Several searches on the internet have told me that Tandi died,

>which saddened me. No other details seemed to be available,

>about her circumstances or how she died were available. I'd

>love to find out more.

>

>Anybody know more or know of a drag-oriented forum where I

>could post to find out?

 

Sierra Nichole Andrews, who is Erica's daughter and Tandi's granddaughter, is my significant other. You can email her at [email protected] if you would like to ask any questions. I believe Tandi's death was due to HIV-related illness. Two good websites to check out if you want to do some drag research are http://www.usofa.org and http://www.carriefairfield.com .

 

- Jason Carter - Dallas, TX

- (214) 274-8127

- [email protected]

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

Doh! Thanks for setting the record straight Jason... I didn't remember if Sierra was Erica's daughter or otherwise.

 

In any event, Sierra is georgeous

 

 

 

~BN

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

*double posted*

[+ friendofsheila]

Thanks so much Jason. I will use email to pursue this further.