Born in Washington, D.C., the son of Henry Razafkeriefo, a Malagasy nobleman and Jennie (Waller) Razafkeriefo, the daughter of John L. Waller, the first African American consul to Madagascar, he was the nephew of Queen Ranavalona III of Madagascar. Raised in Harlem, he collaborated with Fats Waller (his cousin on his mother's side of their family) and other Tin Pan Alley musicians, as well as Benny Goodman, Eubie Blake and others. He was a contributor and editor of the UNIA's Negro World newspaper.
==Songs==
"Baltimo", composed at the age of 17, was sung by members of "The Passing Show of 1913" at Winter Garden, New York.
"Wired, Hired, Fired", an expression of grief and sorrow that color bars one fitted to position.
"Jack Johnson", touching on defeat with honor.
Further reference
Black and Blue: The Life and Lyrics of Andy Razaf by Barry Singer, Foreword by Bobby Short, ISBN 0028723953
The Poets of Tin Pan Alley: A History of America's Great Lyricists by Philip Furia, ISBN 0195074734
Who's Who of the Colored Race, Memento Edition Half-Century Anniversary of Negro Freedom in U.S., reprinted by Gale Research Company, Book Tower Detroit, 1976.
Lyricist AndyRazaf was the great-nephew of Madagascar's Queen Ranavalona III.
During this period the island kingdom was the target of French colonial ambitions, and in the ensuing political turmoil Razaf's father was killed and his mother, pregnant, fled the country.