“One of the truly great
voices of our time.”
~ PBS Australia
www.MissyAndersen.com
Missy
ANDERSEN
www.MissyAndersen.com
B
orn in Detroit and living in San Diego by way of Queens, New York, Missy Andersen follows
her self-titled debut with a timeless follow-up of blues going straight to the spirit and body.
With her band leader/guitarist/husband Heine Andersen, she has again created a personal
soundtrack for good times and the pain and joys of love.
In the Moment has 11 varied tracks including 8 originals, five of which are penned by the
Andersens. Recorded with heavy hitters Bill Stuve (bass), Marty Dodson (drums), Sue Palmer
(piano), Ben Moore (organ), and guest appearances by Nathan James and James Harman, the
CD takes the listener down a lush musical path. Beginning with the Louis Jordan-esque “Rent
Party” and ending with a gospel-tinged remake of Snooks Eaglin’s “I’ve Been Walkin’,” the disc
has something for everyone. From Chicago blues to New Orleans second-line beats, slow blues
and soul ballads, Memphis soul to funky Meters-like rhythms. It’s all in there and it’s easy to
understand where those wide-ranging influences come from.
“Something about
soul speaks to me.
And if you dip it in
some blues, it’s
even better. It isn’t
always pretty, but
it’s the story and
feeling that count.”
~ Missy Andersen
As a child, Missy was exposed to her parent’s extensive music collection
that included soul, R&B, blues, jazz, and gospel. It didn’t matter what the
genre was as her favorite songs were always the ones that told a story.
Later she would discover Dinah Washington, Sarah Vaughn, and Billie
Holiday and that eventually lead her to O.V. Wright, Bobby Bland, Little
Milton, James Carr, Ray Charles, Ann Peebles, and Irma Thomas.
Missy began fronting bands in her early teens, playing local venues which
quickly lead to doing studio sessions and performances as a background
vocalist. She continued honing her skills and moved to San Diego,
California where she met Heine, a seasoned musician visiting from
Denmark. They would eventually marry and form the San Diego-based band, Tell Mama. It
wasn’t long before they decided to strike out on their own and immediately began touring
Europe for several years, recording the debut CD’s rhythm tracks in Copenhagen between
performances. The CD, Missy Andersen, was received extremely well despite having just two
original songs.
Knowing that they wanted to write more original songs on the sophomore CD, Missy and Heine
took what turned into a much longer than anticipated hiatus from touring to concentrate on
songwriting while maintaining a heavy, local performance schedule. Their persistence paid off
though and In the Moment was born. Receiving rave reviews from both critics and fans since
it’s August 2014 release, the CD has maintained a steady appearance on four of the Roots Music
Report album charts (Blues, Contemporary Blues, California, US Blues) as well as two song
charts (Contemporary Blues, California) for radio play. The CD ended the year by being named
one of Living Blues Radio Charts Top 50 Albums of 2014.
In October 2014, the duo won the chance to represent San Diego in the International Blues
Competition in Memphis along with other blues acts from all over the world. Two months later,
they were ineligible to compete because Missy received a 2015 Blues Music Award nomination
in the Soul Blues Artist Female category. IBC registrants cannot appear on a final ballot of the
BMAs as it is considered to be the top honor in the blues. It was the first time a contestant was
disqualified since the rule was instated. Says Missy, “A BMA nomination is a good problem to
have.” Indeed.
###
www.MissyAndersen.com
“Missy Andersen’s voice is the centerpiece of the album. It is a
magnificent instrument, which she deploys with subtlety, emotion
and, when required, no little power. Andersen likens her musical
approach to “soul dipped in blues.” It would be equally accurate to
describe it as “blues dipped in soul.” Both genres seep through every
note she sings, with strong hints of gospel and R&B as well.”
by Rhys Williams
“Musical marriages are often notorious, short lived and, like the
colliding of two stars, explosive. San Diego’s newest power couple,
soul singer Missy and guitarist Heine ”The Great Dane,” Andersen,
have released their August 2014 album titled In The Moment. The
title must refer to the live off the floor feel of the eleven song collection that sounds as if it were
captured in a smoke filled, gin soaked night club. Its more than retro; it’s authentic.”
by Rick Bowen
“The first thing that struck me about In the Moment is the beauty in her voice. It is not necessarily
a pretty voice, but it has so much soul, grit, and gravel in it that it has a beauty all its own.”
by Brett Fleming
Missy Andersen is one of a kind; a woman who knows what she likes and has made every effort
to deliver the sound she has come to love so long ago. She is the real deal, no questions asked.
This album is tight, powerful, dripping with emotion and extremely easy on the ears.
by Bill Wilson
“Wow, what an album! Missy and her husband, Heine, display a maturity that is as highly
entertaining as it is compelling. The band and arrangements are faultless are perfectly balanced
to deliver a stunning album. Love, love, love this one , and yes, my Soul has been sanctified.”
by Peter Merrett
“Missy Andersen not only lives up to her obligations as a singer; she blows them out of the water.
One moment she's growling out some charged-up funk lyrics and the next her voice is aching from
the blues. Even more impressive is the breadth of her range as she's able to climb and descend
the scale with equal ease so that no matter where on it she's at, she's not showing any strain
by Richard Marcus
whatsoever.”
“Andersen has a real feel for the blues and soul and richly resonant, at times throaty contralto
tones that she uses to caress and bite down on the material at hand...an impressive debut disc.”
by Lee Hildegard
“Singer Missy Andersen’s self-titled debut dials a magical classic soul sound. Andersen is a sultry
vocalist with range and power, and the musicians have absolute grasp of the idiom.”
“If a voice as rich, supple, and vibrant as Missy Andersen’s could come out of a
bottle – not that it hasn’t been tried – every blues singer would be dripping deep
soul.”
2005
winner in Journalism
www.MissyAndersen.com
Belly Up Tavern - Solana Beach, CA
Humphrey’s Backstage Live - San Diego, CA
Tio Leo’s - San Diego, CA
House of Blues - San Diego, CA
Blue Café - Huntington Beach, CA
Miramonte Winery - Temecula, CA
MOJO - Copenhagen, Denmark
Arne B - Svendborg, Denmark
Det Bruunske Pakhuus - Fredericia, Denmark
Industrien - Aarup, Denmark
Viejas Casino - Alpine, CA
B.B King’s Blues Club - Universal City, CA
Harder*s – Vejle, Denmark
Thornton Winery – Temecula, CA
Jazzhouse Dexter – Odense, Denmark
Godset – Kolding, Denmark
Kultuministeriet – Ebeltoft, Denmark
Mr C - Beverly Hills, CA
2015
2014
2014
2014
2011
2010
2010
Pala Casino – Pala, CA
Bluesforeningen Crossroads – Vejle, Denmark
Purple Haze, Memphis, TN
Anthology - San Diego, CA
4th & B – San Diego, CA
Piazza Blues Festival, Switzerland
Nibe Festival, Denmark
Delta Blues Festival, Italy
Fredericia Jazz Festival, Denmark
Catalina Island Blues Festival, California
Odense International Bluesdage, Denmark
Adams Avenue Street Fair, California
San Diego Blues Festival, California
Tijuana Jazz & Blues Festival, Mexico
San Felipe Arts & Blues Fiesta, Mexico
Gator by the Bay Festival, California
Blues Music Awards nominee, Soul Blues Artist Female
San Diego Blues Award nominee, Best Blues
Living Blues Radio Charts Top 50 Albums
Blues Matters Writer’s Poll, Best Newcomer, runner up
San Diego Blues Awards nominee, Best Blues
Real Blues Top 100, Best Debut Female
Real Blues Top 100, Best CD Female
2009 San Diego Blues Awards nominee, Best Blues CD
Booking - MissyAndersenMusic@gmail.com
Public Relations - Betsie@BlindRaccoon.com
www.MissyAndersen.com
www.Facebook.com/MissyAndersenMusic
www.Youtube.com/MissyAndersenMusic