| Tony Andreason | |
| Birth Name: | Anthony Joseph Andreason |
| Birth Date: | 1943 |
| Birth Place: | Minneapolis, MN |
| Nationality: | American |
| Years Active: | 1962-Present |
| Works: | The Trashmen, The Platte Valley Boys, The Surf Dogs |
| Module: | |
Tony Andreason (born 1943) is an American guitarist and co lead vocalist of The Trashmen along with drummer Steve Wahrer, he is also known as the guitarist in the Platte Valley Boys. The Trashmen are best known for the song Surfin' Bird. Tony has also played in The Surf Dogs[1] as well as several other bands.
Andreason started playing with many bands in high school, before joining the Trashmen in 1962. The Trashmen would record Surfin' Bird which was inspired by The Rivingtons songs Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow and Bird is the Word, the song was a big hit, and would later appear in Family Guy and Full Metal Jacket. The band broke up in 1967. In the 1980s they started touring again. In 1988 drummer Steve Wahrer who Andreason shared vocals, would leave the band due to health issues, he would pass away from throat cancer a year later in 1989.[2] [3] Andreason took over full lead vocals for the band. Andreasons brother Mark would end up taking over drums.[4] In 2016 the Trashmen would break up again. They had 13 albums and 9 charted hits.
On October 8, 2017, he was honored with a Bill Diehl Lifetime Achievement Award in Minnesota for his contributions to music.[5] When Tony was awarded with it, it was the second time the award was ever given out.[6]
He currently plays guitar with the band The Platte Valley Boys, a Bluegrass band that was founded in 1975 by originally by Jim Stebbins and Ron Colby,[7] Tony has been playing with the band since 1997.
The band has been inducted in the Minnesota music hall of fame in 2005, making it the first Bluegrass band inducted into the hall of fame, the band was later inducted into the Minnesota Rock and Country Hall of Fame in 2007. The bands lineup includes Ron Colby, Scott Stebbins, Catie Jo Pidel, and Andreason. Colby is the only original member to still play with the band.[8] In 2020 the band would celebrate their 45th anniversary. [9] [10] [11]