Gene Eugene
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Gene "Eugene" Andrusco (April 6, 1961 - March 20, 2000) was a Canadian born actor, record producer, engineer, composer and musician. Andrusco was best known as the leader of the funk/rock band Adam Again and as a member of the country music supergroup Lost Dogs.
Andrusco was a child actor who appeared in such programs as Bewitched (where he played young "Darrin Stevens"), The Screaming Woman (TV Movie), Gidget Gets Married (TV Movie), Jake and the Fatman, The Bold Ones and Cannon. Eugene was also a voice actor, lending his voice to several animated series, including Wait Till Your Father Gets Home, The Barkleys and The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan (1972-1974).
Many years later, Gene would form a funk/rock band called Adam Again and become the owner of the Green Room recording studios in Huntington Beach, California. Gene recorded and produced hundreds of albums at the Green Room including albums by the Aunt Bettys, The Choir, Daniel Amos, Michael Knott, Crystal Lewis, Plankeye, Starflyer 59, and others.
In 1987, Eugene, Ojo Taylor and another investor formed Brainstorm Artists International (B.A.I.), which became an important label in the development of the West Coast Christian Alternative music scene. Though the record label focused primarily on modern rock artists, B.A.I also released significant contributions from early rap and hip-hop artists like Dynamic Twins and Freedom of Soul. It was also at this time that Eugene discovered future Myrrh Records artist Anointed and went on to produce their first few albums.
In 1990, Eugene joined the rock band The Swirling Eddies, where he was known as "Prickly Disco". The following year, Gene, along with Terry Scott Taylor, Derri Daugherty, and Michael Roe, formed the alt-country supergroup, the Lost Dogs. Some of his most inovative work was with CCM pioneer Jon Gibsonon (http://www.jongibson.com) the albums "Love Education" "Jesus Love's Ya" which is featured in TIME/LIFE'S "100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music". (http://www.fetchbook.info/The_100_Greatest_Albums_in_Christian_Music.html)
Gene Andrusco died in his sleep on March 20, 2000 in his studio. Friends said that Eugene hadn't been feeling well in recent weeks and complained of headaches the day before his death. Eugene divorced singer Riki Michele in 1994, but the two remained close until the time of his death.
In July of 2000, several artists joined together with Eugene's old band Adam Again, to pay tribute to the artist at the Cornerstone Festival near Chicago. Performers including The Choir's Derri Daugherty and Steve Hindalong, The 77s' Michael Roe, Mike Knott, Riki Michele and others performed over two hours of Eugene's music. The show was recorded and released as a 2 CD set the following year. In 2002, the rock band Jars of Clay recorded one of Eugene's songs, entitled "Dig", for their Furthermore - From The Studio: From The Stage album, and the same year singer-songwriter and session-musician Richard Swift (Starflyer 59) recorded Eugene's song "Jimmy", originally featured at Lost Dogs second album Little Red Riding Hood, for his 7" entitled Buildings in America.