Trombone Shorty

Written By Justin Merriman









Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews performs to a sold out show at the Rex Theater in Pittsburgh on Wednesday evening, December 29th. The 24-year-old sensation, not only known for his playing of the trombone, but also for his singing and songwriting, took to the stage with an energy that filled the packed venue. Performing a variety of songs including songs from his 2010 Grammy nominated debut CD, Backatown, Trombone Shorty did not disappoint and even after an over two hour set still left the crowd wanting more.

Backatown features the band's trademark “Supafunkrock" sound, an explosive, homegrown blend of funk, rock, R&B and hip-hop that has been exciting audiences worldwide.

Trombone Shorty is part of two other 2011 Grammy-nominated projects: his version of “Ooh Pooh Pah Doo" is on Treme, Music From the HBO Original Series, Season One, a nominee for Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media; and he plays with Dr. John on “Down in New Orleans" (from Disney's The Princess and the Frog), nominated for Best Song Written for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media.

Do yourself a favor and if you don't know who Trombone Shorty is...find his music and buy it!
Justin Merriman

Justin Merriman, a freelance photojournalist based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has traveled the world to cover politics, wars, natural disasters, civil unrest as well as covering assignment throughout the United States. His work has appeared in leading national publications and he has received multiple top journalism awards.   

After covering the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks – including the crash of United Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pennsylvania – Merriman committed to chronicling the U.S. military and its war on terror.  He has followed this story across the United States and into the conflict zones of Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iraq. He also has covered life in Fidel Castro’s Cuba in 2002, India’s efforts to eradicate polio from its population, the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to Cuba in 2012, the 2013 conclave and election of Pope Francis in Rome, the second anniversary of Egypt’s revolution and subsequent unrest, Russia’s invasion of Crimea and the international political crisis that unfolded in Ukraine in 2014, a look inside of the Guantanamo Bay detention camp in 2015 and its uncertain future, and most recently, traveled the entire U.S. border with Mexico documenting issues on immigration. 

Merriman’s work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, the Atlantic, Time, USA Today, Sports Illustrated and other publications across the globe. 

He has been recognized with numerous regional, national and international awards from organizations including Pictures of the Year International, Society of Professional Journalists, the National Press Photographers Association, the Society for News Design, the Atlanta Photojournalism Seminar, the Northern Short Course, the Southern Short Course, the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, the Military Reporters and Editors Association, and the Western Pennsylvania Press Club. He was awarded Photographer of the Year by the News Photographer Association of Greater Pittsburgh four times and most recently was honored with the Keystone Press Award’s 2016 Distinguished Visual Award from the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association.

Born in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, Merriman graduated from the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg in 2000 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Writing. In 2009, the university awarded him its prestigious Alumnus of Distinction award. 

Currently Merriman lives in Oakmont with his fiancé, Stephanie Strasburg, a photojournalist with PublicSource. 

http://www.justinmerriman.com
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