Andy Kushner - Entertainment Producer Bio

Marquise's founder, Andy Kushner, is an award-winning Entertainment Producer, Bandleader, Musician, Songwriter, Industry Speaker, Media Resource Expert  and Entrepreneur.

A musician for most of his life, at age 15, Andy led bands who warmed up the cheering crowds of thousands at professional soccer games at Tampa Stadium.

At Boston University, he studied management and music, earning him both B.S. and B.A. degrees along with Magna Cum Laude honors.

While he took a 16-year foray into big business management, sales and marketing with IBM and Lexmark, music was never far from his heart or his hands. Even as he was training sales reps, managing business partner relationships for his employers and excelling personally in sales, Andy realized that the music business was his true calling.

Recognizing the need for more quality, high-energy dance bands, Andy formed 10-piece Sound Connection, 9-piece Marquise, and 6-piece Sound Nation. Starting out in the greater Washington, D.C. area, Andy’s initial band, Sound Connection soon began to attract national attention.

Celebrity event planners such as Colin Cowie (Oprah Winfrey's favorite party planner), television's "The Party Planner," and party expert on "The View," David Tutera, and Billy Joel's planner Marcy Blum, quickly discovered the excellence of Sound Connection and booked them for their high-profile and demanding clients.

The corporate community also recognized that Andy's talent as an entertainment producer exceeded even his business acumen. Industry giants sought out his various bands for their events including Coca Cola, real estate tycoon Donald Trump and media magnate Rupert Murdoch. Corporate event planners for the Hard Rock Café, Mandarin Oriental, IBM, Pfizer and Washington Mutual soon jumped on the bandwagon as well for their parties and conference entertainment.

In 2005, Andy was chosen to produce the musical entertainment for the Bellagio’s high-roller New Year’s party on the Las Vegas strip. He created a show which caused Bellagio Special Events Director, Hayley Sinderbrand to state, “Bellagio has never seen such an over-the-top display of entertainment!”

Bridal socialites around the country have hired Andy to turn their dream weddings into reality. His excellence earned him a spot on a wedding planning segment of the TBS hit, "Movie and a Makeover." And BRIDES Magazine named him as part of their "Dream Team" for a fantasy wedding production to be held, and televised, at Cinderella's Castle at Walt Disney World Resort on February 14, 2007.

Andy and his bands have also received impressive media attention. They've been featured in numerous publications including InStyle, Palm Beach Illustrated, Elegant Bride, Washington Life, Modern Bride, Inside Weddings, I Do Magazine and The Washingtonian. Event Solutions Magazine named Andy an "Entertainer of the Year" Spotlight Award finalist.

Not content to limit his talent to producing and performing, Andy collaborated with songwriting and industry greats Jason Blume ("Back to Your Heart," "Oops, I Did It Again," and "Why Don't You Kiss Her"), Steve Seskin and Cathy Majeski ("We Came Close”), Pamela Oland (television and movie soundtracks), Nashville's Forerunner Music (Garth Brooks' producer) and Allen "Grip" Smith (Xscape: "Traces of My Lipstick") to write songs, publish music and produce recordings which earned him multiple awards including two from Billboard magazine.

Andy is a frequent speaker at industry conferences sharing his insights into how the right type of entertainment can be used to enhance special events. Elegant Bride published his feature article on Booking An Amazing Band.

When not on stage, Andy is a loving husband to his wife, and doting dad to his daughter.