New London — His world is tennis and tunes, two concepts that appear mutually exclusive until you meet the effortlessly cool Andre Danford, a New London original: awash by day in volleys and forehands, by night making different rackets of melody and harmony.

It’s always a good time to be Andre, whom his friend and band partner Eddie Aledia calls “the mayor ... because he knows everybody.”

Danford was named general manager of tennis operations and facilities at Lyme Shores Fitness and Conditioning Center in East Lyme earlier this week, rising from part-time instructor to The Man.

His band, “Andre, Eddie and Friends,” continues to play frequently throughout the region, catering to the middle-aged crowd that enjoys rhythm & blues, or what Danford calls “our music.”

And now his latest endeavor, giving of himself, has helped introduce tennis to a number of students at Bennie Dover Jackson Middle School, many of whom were unfamiliar with the sport.

“Andre has always fascinated me,” said Joe Kiah, a member of the board of directors at Lyme Shores. “A tennis pro by day and a rock star by night. It’s a testament to the kind of guy he is. Multitalented.”

Three years in Canada

Danford grew up in the section of New London that fellow natives know as “five corners,” at the confluence of Connecticut Avenue, Garfield Avenue and Blackhall Street. Danford, a 1973 graduate of New London High School, might be known better throughout the region as a pied piper for tennis, more than for his pipes that enjoy belting out Stevie Wonder and Earth, Wind & Fire.

“But if you ask me my first love,” Danford was saying recently, “it’s definitely the music.”

Danford’s musical career has taken him to Boston, where he studied at Berklee, the world’s largest independent college of contemporary music. That’s until his first band formed and he experienced life on the road. No more school. Too much fun elsewhere.

“The money was pretty good. Things were happening, we were traveling, doing the whole musician thing,” Danford said. “It took off from there. We went to Montreal for three years and did some recording. It just snowballed.”

But the allure of roaming the country couldn’t match the tugs of home. So he came back in the mid- to late 1990s to do tennis and music. That’s when he reconnected with Aledia, who is the “Eddie” part of “Andre, Eddie and Friends.”

“It must have been 15 years ago,” said Aledia, a guitar player. “I’d known Andre for a long time. My band was playing a job, and we needed a singer. So I called Andre. No rehearsal. He just came down and sang. It was great.”

Maybe that’s the true charm of “Andre, Eddie and Friends.” They wing it. And they’re good at it, too. It’s not necessarily the same guys at every gig. But among Aledia, Steve Marien, Bert Coburn, Tom DeFaria, P.J. Plenninger and Tyler Coleman, they can play them all, not the least of which is “September” by Earth, Wind & Fire, a band staple.

“I know the songs Andre knows and I know the ones he can fake,” Aledia said. “It’s just so much fun to play with him. He knows everybody in town. Everywhere we go. He’s always active, always doing things for others. I can’t think of a more popular guy around.”

'Specializes with the kids'

It has been suggested that tennis is the perfect combination of violent action taking place in an atmosphere of total tranquility. That’s Danford: the ability to teach in high, happy octaves, yet still providing a sense of calm. But then, tennis is Danford’s living room recliner: the ultimate place of comfort.

Maybe that’s why officials at Lyme Shores really didn’t have much of a decision to make earlier this week when they named the new general manager.

“He’s absolutely loved by our members,” Kiah said. “He’s loved by the parents of the kids who come to play here. He really specializes with the kids. He’s very serious about teaching, sure. But he insists they enjoy it, too.”

Danford has coached somewhere between 30 and 40 kids who have played Division I in college. He’s a fixture within the New England Division of the United States Tennis Association as a certified teaching professional and member of the Player Development Committee. He’s done USTA workshops in Denver, San Diego, Philadelphia and St. Louis. In 2014, Danford won the USTA New England William Freedman Award for outstanding contribution to junior development.

“He just steps up to make a difference,” USTA New England Director of Player Development David Zeutas-Broer said. “As a professional, as a volunteer, he’s always trying to increase tennis’ popularity. In the trenches or running national tournaments, it’s the full spectrum of being engaged. The best part of all, though, is Andre is always looking for what’s good about things rather than what’s bad.”

Danford credits longtime friend Reggie Eccleston with turning him to tennis. He didn’t even play tennis at New London High, but played outside the school. Always the teacher.

“I was roaming the country doing the tennis thing. Doing the band thing, then I came home and started playing tennis again,” Danford said. “I was actually teaching a grass-roots program for Felix Ningas, and we took it inside to Lyme Shores. He left me with the program.”

Danford learned from Fred Layman, then the head professional at Lyme Shores, later taking time to become certified.

“I’ve learned so much from him,” said Lauren Simmons, a junior at Mitchell College, who helps Danford teach. “He knows how to teach. I never really coached before. You improve your game when you work with Coach Andre. He will tell you straight up what you have to work on. He teaches you to be strong as a coach.”

Introducing tennis to students

It began, as many great stories do, diagrammed on a bar napkin.

One day, Danford was out having a drink with Alison Burdick, a New London native and principal of Bennie Dover Jackson Middle School, when they brainstormed ways to introduce tennis, a sport Burdick played in high school, to her students.

Turns out that sometimes, more good ideas emanate from bars than seminars. And so what began with a few notes on a napkin became another branch of the school’s leadership program. Burdick successfully wrote a grant to find some money. Now, every Monday and Thursday morning at Mitchell College, before the dawn dew has burned away, Danford, who teaches with more energy than United Illuminating, introduces the concepts of tennis to the kids.

“We talk a lot about comfort zones. These kids, doing something they haven’t done before, are definitely in their stretch zone,” Bennie Dover physical education teacher Amanda Illinger said. “They are pushing themselves. New skills. They’ve picked up so quick on some of this stuff. Getting them out of their comfort zones is going to happen to them all their lives.”

As Illinger speaks, Danford’s voice resonates. He hits the ball with the kids yelling “Hey!” “Hey!” every time they make contact. So much for teaching with clinical indifference. Danford’s energy produces contagious smiles.

“It’s great that he takes the time out of his day,” Illinger said. “It’s much earlier than normal for him. He really motivates the kids. You can hear him screaming right now. The kids respond great to him. It helps the kids work on leadership skills in an outside setting.”

Student Grace Pitko of New London said, “Not only did we get to learn tennis, but we got to learn how to do it right.”

And to learn it from someone who does happy by habit, not reaction.

“He’s so well connected and loved,” Burdick said. “We think we might be one of the only schools in Connecticut to do tennis during the day. And USTA Connecticut and USTA New England literally put their money down to support it. It’s a great thing for us to have Andre here.”

Danford even brings the show to Lyme Shores when the mornings are too cold or wet.

“Now the kids are off to their regular school day and have already had some great activities,” Danford said. “This will charge them up a little more. They’ll be more engaged.”

m.dimauro@theday.com