User:Andrew Barnum

Andrew Townley Barnum is an Australian Designer, Educator and Singer-songwriter (Dual citizen AUS-USA). Born Greenwich Connecticut USA (1953), he arrived with his family in Melbourne Australia in 1960 (Aged 7). He then moved with family to Sydney where he grew up, completing his HSC in 1971. Attended RMIT (Melbourne) and completed an Associate Diploma in Arts: Graphic Art (1973-75). Began professional career in 1976 as a Junior Art Director (McCann Erickson).

He wrote and performed songs with ragtime trio Metropolis (Udowenko, Wong-Hee, Barnum), and wrote national jingle 'Big kids little kids Lemonade lovers' for Leed Lemonade. Left Sydney arriving Los Angeles on 16 August 1977 (Day Elvis died). Worked as freelance graphic designer/ art director and began singer-songwriter career. First LA band The Adults (1978) with South African Rian Malan, then The Decades (1979) with New Zealander Alastair Riddell (Space Waltz) performing in LA New wave/post-punk scene playing gigs like Madame Wongs, Troubadour, and Whiskey A-go-go. Then met future soul mate Lissa Mendelsohn and formed pop/funk/performance group Live Nude Girl (1981) performing and recording in LA in similar gigs and venues.

Andrew & Lissa were married in 1981 in LA. During this time a demo tape of 4 songs by Live Nude Girl (written by Andrew sung by Lissa) made its way to Sydney via Mentor Tony Wong-Hee and found the ears of Sydney producer Mark Moffat. Andrew & Lissa travelled to Sydney as wedding present from family (Xmas 1981), met music producers and Designers. A&L then re-located to Sydney, arriving Easter 1982 as freelance graphic designers, and forming electro-pop duo Vitabeats.

Vitabeats was initially signed to Warner Bros. Music (John Bromell - Neva Jakich 1982) and Festival Records. First single Produced by Mark Moffat, Sam McNally and Tim Kramer was released in 1983 with video by Paul Nichola. What followed was a signing with manager Brian Peacock which led to Vitabeats exiting Festival. Now as independents, A&L began work on new songs with producer John Bee at Studios 301 in Sydney. These songs became the Vitabeats 12" EP 'Cake Mix released in 1984 and released by Hot Records. The EP contained the national Australian hit 'Boom Box' with video by Paul Nichola.