Why do they call him Trombone Shorty?

Troy Andrews, also known by the stage name Trombone Shorty, is an American musician, producer, actor, and philanthropist from New Orleans, Louisiana. He is best known as a trombone and trumpet player but also plays drums, organ, and tuba.

Why do they call him Trombone Shorty?

He grew up jamming in a highly musical family. His grandfather was the R&B singer Jessie Hill. His older brother and mentor, trumpet player James Andrews, was the first person to take him on the road; he was 4 years old. They called him Trombone Shorty because his horn was taller than he was.

 He was a shorty when he first played on these streets at age 4 with a trombone larger than he was, and the name stuck.

“If it’s a rock concert, we can do that,” Andrews says backstage, more congenial than cocky. “If it’s a funk concert, we can do that. We’re able to play all different styles. . . . That’s what we do in New Orleans every day. To me, that’s normal.”