Andrew Joel Cartledge

Atlanta Musician, Andrew Joel Cartledge, 57, of Decatur, died Monday, Oct. 4 after a brief illness. Mr. Cartledge, whose family, friends and fans knew him as “Andy,” was a popular Decatur and North Atlanta musician for the last 32 years. For the past five years, he played a standing set on Friday nights at East Atlanta’s Los Colinas Restaurant, where he’d developed a following. A private memorial and celebration of life is set for 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 24 in Tucker. Andy was also lead singer and rhythm guitarist for an Atlanta folk-rock foursome, Honky Tonk Hooligans. Before becoming a solo act, Andy had spent several years playing for most of the metro region senior living facilities, where he was popular for being able to play virtually any request. Andy grew from a self-taught guitar player to perform vocals, lead, rhythm and bass guitar for numerous Atlanta metro area bands over the last three decades. “He was a gifted musician. He had a way of infusing a chord with exactly the right tone, and emotion, for the piece we were playing,” said friend and Hooligans band mate Roddy Phipps. “I learned a lot from him. And he was the funniest guy I ever knew.” He was known for replicating the lyrics and sound of scores of classics and standards and had a solo repertoire of over 4,000 songs from classic country, honky tonk, Texas “swing” and rockabilly to folk rock, country rock, and ballads. His baritone voice enabled him to recreate the sounds of Elvis, Jim Reeves, Johnny Cash, the Oak Ridge Boys, Tennessee Ernie Ford, and other unique artists. Andy is survived by his daughter, Andrea Lauren Cartledge, of Tucker; his sister, Cynthia Rogers of Stockbridge; brother, Clinton E. Cartledge; and his beloved pet chihuahua, Dolly. A.S. Turner & Sons Funeral Home and Crematory.