Interview with Westland, Michigan Rock Singer Andy John

Around the campus of the University of Michigan's Dearborn campus, Andy Dubyckyj is well-known for his involvement in campus activities and student life. But what some students don't know is that he is a dedicated musician away from his school life who has performed at several local venues.

On stage, he goes by the name Andy John (his middle name) to keep things simple, since most people can't pronounce his last name (it's pronounced Do-Bit-Ski). His sound harkens back to the days of the old rock showmen like Elvis and Chuck Berry, with a little bit of the modern style of solo rock artists like John Mayer thrown in.

I sat down with him to find out what life is like trying to balance school with writing and performing music, and to ask him how far he thinks he can take his "other" career:

Q: Were you a singer first or a guitarist first? You seem to have a strong background in both.

A: I was a singer first, I even used to do baby scatting as a kid. I currently sing for the Henry Ford Community College Concert Choir in Dearborn and we are having a show at the Ford Performing Arts Center in Dearborn which will feature the whole music department, which consists of everything from traditional choirs to big band and vocal jazz. Our group does all styles.

Q: When did you first start playing the guitar? Did a person turn you on to the instrument or was it just hearing songs on the radio or cassette?

A: I started guitar when I was 10 years old, but the song that got me interested in it was "Good Rockin' Tonight," Elvis' Sun recording. The way Scotty Moore did that solo just simply floored me.

Q: What shows have you played and where?

A: I've played at Jams at the Token Lounge in Westland and I did a show at the University of Michigan of Dearborn at their University Center. The show is away to say thank you to Social Workers. I've also played at the Relay for Life in Dearborn and did jams at the now-closed Tenny Street Roadhouse in Dearborn, the second of which happened during the same time that the coverage of the terrible effects from Hurricane Katrina (hit the news), so that put a lot of things in perspective.