Andy Upchurch

Andy Upchurch, San Leon released The Oleanders of San Leon, a book that recounts how Andy, a passionate musician and sailor, decided that building a house would be the perfect next great adventure. Along the way it includes tales about living on a sailboat, playing music in Las Vegas, running from a hurricane, traveling to various exotic ports of call and riding a jet ski from Galveston to Lake Charles, La. Andy majored in music at UNT and played with several popular local bands. After graduation, he toured with show bands, including an Elvis Presley impersonator, and then settled in Dallas where he lived and played music until 1992. He says he discovered a love for sailboats and ended up buying one and moving to Houston to live aboard it and sail in salt water. After about five years, when even he got tired of living in such a small space, he decided to buy some land and build a house -- without any experience. Then he decided to write a book about it and other adventures and misadventures of a determined musician/sailor.