Andrew ‘Andy’ Ennis, celebrated jazz saxophonist who played with Ray Charles, dies

BALTIMORE — Andrew “Andy” Ennis, a jazz saxophonist and member of a celebrated musical family, died of cancer Aug. 30 at his Northwest Baltimore home. He was 86.

Ennis, popularly known as Andy, grew up with his sister, singer Ethel Ennis, in the Gilmor Homes from 1941 to 1955. He was six years younger than his sister, who established her career in the 1950s.

When he graduated from Frederick Douglass High School in 1959, he was already a budding saxophone player on the local scene. He often performed with his buddy Carlos Johnson.

He was the son of Andrew Ennis, a barber, and his wife Arrabelle, a church musician and organist.

“The musical side of the family was on his mother’s side,” said Earl Arnett, his brother-in-law. “He was proficient on saxophone, clarinet, flute and piano.”

Ennis played local clubs, including all the ones on Pennsylvania Avenue, performed in Maryland with vocal group the Swallows and was part of Tracy McCleary’s Royal Men of Rhythm at the famous Royal Theater.

After being drafted into the Army, he attended the Naval School of Music in Anacostia and later transferred to Korea, where he played with the 7th Infantry Division marching, dance and concert bands.

After his 1963 discharge, Ennis returned to Baltimore and continued to play locally until being invited to join Bill “Honky Tonk” Doggett’s band in 1965. After more than two years on the road with Doggett, he returned home and again played in local clubs until being invited to join Ray Charles’ Big Band in 1968, said Arnett, a former Baltimore Sun reporter and the husband of the late Ethel Ennis.

Ennis became an integral part of Charles’ band as lead saxophone player and later leader. He performed with Ray Charles and his Raylettes in celebrated venues around the world and would later tell entertaining stories about his adventures in big-time show business.

“Andy was known for his liveliness and sense of humor. He never took himself seriously and credited his grandmother’s prayers for keeping him somewhat on a straight path, never succumbing completely to a musician’s life of wine, women and song,” said Arnett.

“Although tempted by Ray’s offer to produce an album around him, Andy grew tired of the road and once more returned to Baltimore, where he renewed his old life of playing in small clubs around the city,” Arnett said, adding that whenever Ennis and fellow saxophonist Mickey Fields played together, musicians from throughout the region would gather to listen to their improvisations.

“Andy was low-key, humble and gifted,” said Rosa Pryor-Trusty, a friend and musical manager. “When playing at the Sportsmen’s Lounge, he would invite budding musicians, often as young as 14, on stage with him. He shared his gifts.”

In 1987, Ennis joined the Baltimore Police Department as a civilian motor pool dispatcher.

As he grew older, Ennis’ hearing declined and he developed arthritis in his hips, eventually no longer able to hold his saxophone for hours on end, his brother-in-law said.

Survivors include a daughter, April Ennis; two sons, Antoine Ennis and Nathaniel Richardson, all of Baltimore; his brother-in-law Earl Arnett, also of Baltimore; and numerous grandchildren.

Plans for a memorial gathering are in the works.