Andrew Hilaire moved to Chicago early on and was a fixture in the city until ill health shortened his life. Among his musical associations were Lil Harden (playing in her band in 1921), Doc Cook's Gingersnaps (with whom he recorded during 1926-28), Jelly Roll Morton, Jerome Pasquall (1930) and Eddie South (1931). After playing with the Robert Dade Orchestra and leading his own band (in 1933 and 1935), Andrew Hilaire (who suffered from asthma) passed away at the age of 36. The drummer is best remembered for the three recording sessions that he made in 1926 with Jelly Roll Morton, resulting in such titles as "Black Bottom Stomp," "The Chant," "Dead Man Blues," "Grandpa's Spells" and "Doctor Jazz."