Andy Nelson (1921-1995) was more than just a guitar player. He was a natural salesman which endeared him to his customers and the public at large. He paid his dues as a working musician beginning in the late 1930s in Chicago. When drafted during WWII, his superiors identified Andy's gift of gab, and kept him stateside serving as an Air Cader instructor, where he also played guitar in his free time. After the war, Andy immediately returned to being a working musician with various group in and around Chicago. He achieved moderate fame with the Tune Toppers, a touring comedy/variety/music group. With the Tune Toppers, Andy appeared on the popular Arthur Godfrey radio show.
He left the group in the early 1950s in an effort to stay closer to home, which he did by working in studio bands, such as Chicago's premier radio station, WGN, as well as area clubs. In an effort to have steadier income (his first marriage failed, resulting in child support payments), he accepted a position in sales with CMI (Chicago Musical Instruments Co.) in 1955. This position evolved into that of a clinician/product demonstrator along with his existing sales position, primarily for the Gibson Guitar Co.. of Kalamazoo, MI.
To travel from town to town, he bought a large Airstream trailer, hauling it with a heavy duty truck. He would arrive in the next town on his itinerary, almost exclusive territories. He also designed several instruments that made it to production, including the Epiphone Excellente, a highly-ornamented, expensive flat-top guitar that was played by country and western personalities such as Loretta Lynn, Sonny James, and Ernest Tubb. He also presented a completely redesigned Epiphone line, though that was rejected by management. Ultimately, Andy and Management differed on the direction of the Epiphone line and Andy resigned in 1965.
He was then hired by Fender Guitars, recently acquired by CBS, to be a manufacturer's sales rep for the territory of New York, New Jersey, and Delaware (except New York City, which was its own territory). He was very successful in his new job, until, five years later, in 1971, he had a devastating heart attack, requiring him to retire. He had cardiac bypass surgery, but it wasn't entirely successful.
He enjoyed retirement, fishing, and occasionally playing local gigs in his new home of Cape Coral, Florida, until he had another heart attack in 1995, from which he did not recover.
