Welcome to my blog. My name is Andrei Ivanoff, and I was born in Brazil in 1977. My best friends call me “Ghost Finger”. I lost a finger in an accident when I was 2 years old. I think in that moment, I got the Blues! I had to spent my life trying to make up for the fact that I don’t have a finger.

I received the name: Andre Black Bones by a Voodoo priest in one of my travels to Bahia, Brazil. He also explained that Andre means; “Man of God” and the reason he called me “Black Bones” is because he believes that I have an African soul and that sometimes spirits would sing the blues while I play the guitar. It was one incredible experience in my life. I was scared, but I felt peace in my heart that day.

When I saw an electric guitar for the first time, something clicked inside me, it was instant love. I could not stop thinking about it, dreaming about being a musician.

Not long after my first contact with an electric guitar, I started playing in a church. No lessons taken, all I would do was listen to the music they where playing, and I would try to follow the melody. It worked for me. It helped me develop a sense of spirituality and music.

My first contact with the Blues was though Rock and Roll. I was watching Steven Spielberg’s “Back to the Future” and in one scene, Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) starts playing Johnny B Good – By Chuck Berry. Well, I was hypnotized by that solo. Michael J. Fox was really playing and singing the song in that scene. I learned that song by rewinding it over and over again, until I was able to play it. By the way, I broke our VHS player.

Here is the actual scene; Fly mcFly. Sorry I could not find a better version.

Since then, I started listening to the Delta Blues; Son House, Bo Carter, Charlie Patton and Robert Johnson.

One thing I will never forget:

I was walking in the hallway of my school,

I was 9 years old or 10,

I had a guitar with me,

and I was trying to impress a girl.

I don’t remember her name,

my first idea was to play her a song.

It went well,

until the first bend of the string.

When I bent that note,

that weird sound resonated thought the halls.

Two or three classrooms could hear,

and immediately laughter followed.

They where laughing at me… Doesn’t this sound like the blues??? It was not a great moment in my life, but I was able to understand what the Blues is all about very early in the game.

Another day I learned the meaning of the blues:

I went to a crossroads, nobody came, but I had my dog with me. That day my dog died, after chasing a car and another car hit it when he was on his way back to me.

I built my own first electric guitar at the age of 13. I was only able to play through half of the fret board at that time. I had no idea or real notion about action and setups, etc…

My father wanted me to be an electronic engineer and I have to admit, I liked that. I liked electronics, ham radios, etc… I was able to learn a lot, to the point that I started manufacturing my own guitar pedals, mod my amps, and installing electronics on my guitars. I love that stuff!

I’m a proud husband of an incredible woman and together we have two children (Julian – 2 years old and Karina – 4 Months old). We recently moved to Encinitas, CA. I finally started jamming around town, and managed to find incredible places to play. I will try to keep postings on my blog about that as well.

Please follow me on Twitter – MrCartola

I’m current playing in a Blues band called: Black Bones Blues.

I hope you find this website interesting.

Enjoy!

Andrei Ivanoff – Andre Black Bones