About Drew

Andrew "Drew" Glackin touched the hearts and minds of all those who knew him. He expressed himself through music. Drew lived his life doing exactly what he wanted—playing music. Andrew Glackin aged 44, passed away on January 5, 2008 from an undetected thyroid condition. His death was a complete shock to family, friends, and band mates.

Andrew grew up in Phillipsburg, New Jersey. At an early age he began playing music on the piano figuring out tunes by himself. Later, while still in his youth, he took up guitar. In the high school basement band, "Scapegoat," he played bass guitar. After his graduation from Phillipsburg High School in 1981 he attended the Hartt School of Music in Hartford, Connecticut. It is there that his professional music career began. He remained in Hartford until about 1997 performing with many Hartford area bands, including The Monster Band, Mr. Right, The Commuters, and the Zywacks.

He moved to Brooklyn, New York where he had an integral part in forming and naming the Feathermerchants. From there he started to work with many other bands in the studio and became the most requested lap steele guitarist for studio work in New York City. He worked with Bands such as The Silos, Tandy, Jack Grace Band, Jonathan Rundman, Down to Earth Approach, John P. Strohm, The Hold Steady, Graham Parker and the Twang Three, Stephen Clair, C. Gibbs, Crash Test Dummies, Michael Shelley, Gingersol, Mary McBride, Frank Bango, Susan Tedeschi, Tom Freund, Jim Roll, and the Feathermerchants. Drew's participation with Susan Tedeschi led to the album being nominated for a Grammy for Best Contemporary Blues Album. Drew played many instruments including bass electric guitar, baritone guitar, lap steel and Hawaiian lap steel mandolin, piano, acoustic guitar, Hawaiian guitar, dobro, hi-string guitar, 6 string bass, nylon string guitar, weissenborn, resonator guitar, mandocello, 12 string electric guitar, and the ukulele. Before his death he was a member of The Silos, who were touring worldwide.

Drew was known around the world for his wonderful music and his positive personality. People from far and wide and everywhere miss him. This is why we have organized "Drewstock"—to pay tribute to Andrew's life as a musician through music.