Vocalist Ernie Andrews is one of the best kept secrets in jazz today. A master of ballads and the blues, Andrews projects from his soul with every riveting performance. When it comes to his repertoire, honesty is Andrews' policy. He won't sing a song if he can't identify his own life experiences with it. As he opens the show with "A Hundred Pounds of Blues", Andrews leaves no doubt that he knows what the blues are all about.

Andrews moved to Los Angeles in 1945 aspiring to become a star. As Dr. Taylor points out, he was in good company from the start. His school mates at LA's Jefferson High School included Dexter Gordon, Charles Mingus, Sonny Criss, Teddy Edwards and Eric Dolphy. Billy quips, "Pretty hip school, right?" Together, Andrews and Billy reminisce about the thriving jazz scene in LA during the late 40's and early 50's, recalling Central Avenue and clubs like Billy Berg's and The Lamplighter.

Andrews shares some of the early lessons he learned during this period. He recalls doing an impromptu scat during a performance with guitarist Irving Ashby. After the set, Ashby bluntly told Andrews that his scatting was out of place, saying, "when you get so that you got to think about it [to] perform it, give it to me. I got the guitar in my hand."

Andrews continues, "[I] learned from some wonderful people...during that time." He notes that when Billy Eckstine was in LA he would offer Andrews advice. Some compared Andrews to Eckstine, but Ernie says he didn't really emulate Eckstine's style. He was more inspired by fiery performers who "get off the ropes and...get in the middle of the ring and fight."

He cites Billy Daniels as a major influence, as well as LA-based singers Dan Grisholm and Herb Jeffries. These performers made their mark as lead vocalists for big bands like the Jimmie Lunceford band. Andrews himself would spend ten years as a front man for the Harry James orchestra in Las Vegas.

Despite his success as a performer, Andrews acknowledges that the quest for stardom no longer motivates him. He says, "I just want to be in second place, where I can...make a good living [and] enjoy it with my family." On that note, he dedicates a heartfelt rendition of the ballad "If I Loved You" to his wife Delores, noting that she has stood beside him through almost 50 years in the business.

Andrews comments on the state of jazz singing today, admitting that he is somewhat indifferent to the success of younger artists. "I never worried about [another] singer, how good they were, or who they were", he says. Andrews remains confident in his own ability to perform, and he delivers once again with his soulful vocal interpretation of Miles Davis' "All Blues".

Dr. Taylor and Andrews discuss the importance of the lyrics in evoking an "honest" performance from a singer. Andrews says he likes songs about things he has himself experienced. He then does a moving rendition of the ballad "More Than You Know", prompting Billy to remark, "you put life experiences into a song."

Dr. Taylor and Andrews remember their close friend Billy Strayhorn, whose collaboration with Duke Ellington yielded so many wonderful songs. They pay a moving tribute with a slow-tempo version of Strayhorn's "Take the 'A' Train". During the show, Andrews also performs George Gershwin's "S'Wonderful" before finishing with a rousing rendition of "Roll 'Em Pete".