Andrew Shirley | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Andrew Wayne Shirley |
| Also known as | Drew |
| Born | April 3, 1974[1][2] Key West[2] |
| Origin | San Diego, California, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Guitarist, songwriter, musician |
| Instrument(s) | Guitar, keyboards |
| Years active | 1996–present |
Andrew Wayne "Drew" Shirley (born April 3, 1974)[2] is an American rock guitarist, formerly of All Together Separate; he was with the Grammy Award winning alternative rock band Switchfoot from 2005 until 2022.
Shirley attended California Baptist University obtaining a Fine Arts degree with a minor in music. During that time, he also started and led various school bands and shows. He had only started playing guitar as a senior in high school. After graduating from college, he also began working with Youth for Christ as the Riverside area Campus Life director, working with local high schools.
Shirley played in the band All Together Separate in the late 1990s along with fellow CBU classmates Dex Alexander (singer), Ben Rayls (drummer), and Charles Rumahlewang (bass). The band toured nationally, but it was cut short after they broke up in 2002.[citation needed]
He began touring with Switchfoot soon after their 2003 release The Beautiful Letdown. He became an official member of the band on May 4, 2005.[2] He has recorded eight LP albums with the band: Nothing Is Sound (2005), Oh! Gravity. (2006), Grammy-winning Hello Hurricane (2009), Vice Verses (2011), Fading West (2013), Where the Light Shines Through (2016), "Native Tongue" (2019), and "Interrobang" (2021).
Between leaving All Together Separate and his transition to Switchfoot, Shirley produced and played guitar on many different band projects. He still produces and plays on various musical projects.
On February 21, 2022, it was announced that Shirley had amicably departed the band. In an e-mail, the band said, "Friends, there's no easy way to say this. After years of sharing the road, Drew and the band have decided to take different paths, and will be parting ways. He joined us shortly after the release of our 4th album and we’ve shared an incredible journey, full of countless highs and lows together. We love Drew dearly, and we are so thankful for the time and memories we have had. This has certainly been a difficult season for us, encountering challenges that have ultimately taken us in different directions. We have always said that our friendships are more important than the band. And it's still true: our love for each other is so much bigger than rock and roll. We are excited to see what the next chapter holds for Drew, and also for Switchfoot. We are beyond thankful for the support that all of you have shown us during this challenging time and we remain committed to this community, each other, and to the journey we share together. More now than ever before, hope deserves an anthem."
Drew grew up in the Rancho Peñasquitos, community in San Diego, California. There, he attended Black Mountain Middle School and graduated from Mt. Carmel High School. Shirley's father was a Navy chaplain, and his mother, Nancy, is a youth choir teacher who has previously worked with local middle and high schools as well as community organizations including the San Diego Children's Choir and area churches. He has an older brother, Matt and a younger brother, John.
Shirley married his wife, Jenna, in 2001. The couple has four daughters: Lauren (born 2004), Violet (born 2008), Isa, and Haven.[2]
