Born in Merano in 1941, D’Andrea began playing the piano at the age of 17 years old, having previously played the trumpet, the soprano sax and the clarinet. His professional career started in 1963 with Nunzio Rotondo at RAI in Rome. In 1964 he made his first recording with Gato Barbieri, within a two-year collaboration. In 1968 he formed the Modern Art Trio, with Franco Tonani and Bruno Tommaso. From 1972 to 1977 he played with the jazz rock band Perigeo. In 1978 he formed a quartet with Tino Tracanna, Attilio Zanchi and Gianni Cazzola. In 1986 the percussionist Luis Agudo, in 1989 the percussionist Naco and the trombonist Glenn Ferris, and in 1991 the vibraphonist Saverio Tasca joined the group. At the beginning of 1993 he created a new trio, Current Changes, with the trumpeter David Boato and with Naco.
His current band is a trio, Franco D’Andrea New Things which includes Enrico Terragnoli (guitar) and Mirko Cisilino (trumpet). D’Andrea is also leading a sextet ( with Andrea Ayassot, Daniele D’Agaro, Aldo Mella and Zeno De Rossi), an octet (sextet plus Terragnoli e DJ Rocca, a quartet (with Andrea Ayassot, Aldo Mella and Zeno De Rossi) a larger ensemble of 11 components, Franco D’Andrea Eleven. And also a special project Trio Music, three Trios: Franco D’Andrea Traditions Today with Daniele D’Agaro and Mauro Ottolini, Franco D’Andrea Electric Tree with Andrea Ayassot and DJ Rocca, Franco D’Andrea Piano Trio with Aldo Mella and Zeno De Rossi.
During his career he played with musicians like Pepper Adams, Barry Altschul, Gato Barbieri, Don Byas, Conte Candoli, Jon Christensen, Palle Danielsson, Joe Farrell, Dexter Gordon, Johnny Griffin, Slide Hampton, Mark Helias, Daniel Humair, Jimmy Knepper, Lee Konitz, Steve Lacy, Dave Liebman, Albert Mangelsdorff, Hank Mobley, Jean Luc Ponty, Enrico Rava, Frank Rosolino, Max Roach, Aldo Romano, Martial Solal, John Surman, Toots Thielemans, Charles Tolliver, Miroslav Vitous, Kenny Wheeler , Fodé Youla (Africa Djolé), Ernst Reijseger, Dave Douglas, Han Bennink and many others.
He toured through France, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Denmark, Great Britain, Spain, Holland, Belgium, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Poland, Yugoslavia, Hungary, Czech Republic, Russia, Canada, USA, Tunisia, Cameroon, Israel, Japan, Australia, Indonesia, Ethiopia, Mexico.