As Kevin Drew says, this is "Andy's heartfelt want to still make it even though many would say his history is enough." Gentle and enigmatic, ageless and ecstatic. "Andy Kim always looks to transcend and find the honesty in what he does and does with others."
"Andy Kim is a true Canadian Legend...
It was such a pleasure to write and produce a song with Andy Kim. He believes in the power of music, he loves songs, and he is SO rock and Roll. Beyond the massive hits, and the multi-decade career, there is a wonderful man who I'm proud to call my friend."
- Ed Robertson, Barenaked Ladies
Andy Kim is a dreamer. At the age of 12, Andy had a vision for what he would become. It is still the child within Andy that leads him along today.
Having scraped together 40 bucks, and much against the better wishes of his parents, Andy boarded a bus from Montreal to New York City. Andy was only in New York City for a couple of days, but he accomplished his goal.
He just walked into the Brill building, into the offices of Leiber and Stoller, and asked to speak to Jeff Barry. He was given 5 minutes. Jeff liked what he heard, and Andy's musical career got its start.
Eventually, Jeff signed Andy to his Steed record label and he produced and co-wrote Andy's first top 20 hit, “How'd We Ever Get This Way?”, which sold 800,000 copies.
Andy had a number of other top 20 hits at that time, including the top 5 Baby I Love You, which earned Andy his first gold record selling more than 1.5 million copies.
That same year, he co-wrote “Sugar, Sugar” for fictional popsters The Archies. The song was No. 1 for four weeks and became Billboard’s Record of the Year and the biggest-selling record of the year. Ike and Tina Turner covered the song, so did Wilson Pickett. And so did Bob Marley. All of this, in the year of Woodstock.
In 1970, the very first JUNO Award ever given out was to Andy for Male Vocalist of the Year.
In 1974, Andy wrote a new song called “Rock Me Gently” and absolutely no one wanted to produce it. Andy loved the song, and he wouldn't take no for an answer. He formed his own record company, called !CE, and produced the record on his own. When it was released, “Rock Me Gently” went straight to #1 on the Billboard charts and it remained on the charts for a staggering 4 months. This second #1 Billboard song added to Andy's international success.
Suddenly, again, he was a star. He met Elvis. He hung out with Phil Spector. John Lennon handed him his gold record.
In 2004, Andy’s collaboration with Ed Robertson of The Barenaked Ladies’ “I Forgot To Mention” gave him another Top 10, and Andy was voted by Canadian Music Week as the Best Solo Indie Artist of the Year.
2015 saw It’s Decided, a brand-new record produced by Kevin Drew of Broken Social Scene on the Arts & Crafts label, home to artists such as Feist, Chilly Gonzales, The Stills, and Stars. The fans of those bands took notice. It was highly praised and talked about in Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, Uncut Magazine. David Letterman was flushed with gratitude and fandom when Andy sang on his show.
A true Canadian son, Andy has recently been awarded the country’s top industry honours including the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame and a star on Canada’s Walk Of Fame. Andy is a member of Songwriters Hall of Fame, was inducted into Billboard's Hit Parade Hall of Fame, and in 2017, For the 2nd time in their 70-year history, SOCAN honoured Andy with their Cultural Impact Award. Over his epic career, Andy has sold over 30 million records, and has over half a billion streams on Spotify and YouTube.
And for now, Andy just keeps writing and performing his songs, because that's all he's ever dreamed of doing.
"Whenever I hear an Andy Kim song I can't help but be transported back in time. So many of my childhood memories are hinged upon these classic pop songs such as "Sugar, Sugar". "It feels like some kind of surreal dream to be able to call him a friend."
- Ron Sexsmith
2019 Andy Kim inducted into Canadian Music Hall Of Fame (The Juno Hall of Fame).
2023 Andy Kim Appointed To The Order Of Canada
“When I got the call, I wondered if this was a trick of some kind. When I realized it was true, I was overwhelmed with tears welling up thinking of my Mom and Dad, both immigrants, from the mountains of Lebanon, who met each other in Montréal, had four boys and loved the country of our birth. We didn’t have much but soon realized we are living in a country that rewarded hard work and dreamers and accepted all races and ethnicity. My parents always reminded us about how great and caring Canada was to them. I am honoured to be part of this beautiful country where people often find the impossible possible.”
Today, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, is announcing new appointments to the Order of Canada, including musician ANDY KIM.
Since its creation in 1967, the Order of Canada has honoured musicians whose service has shaped our society, whose innovations have ignited our imaginations, and whose compassion has united our communities.
Born in Montreal, Andy Kim was inspired by the Beatles, Hank Williams, Frank Sinatra, Elvis, Buddy Holly, and Bob Dylan. He found fame in New York City at just 16 years old when he wrote How’d We Ever Get This Way?, the first of nine Billboard Top 40 hits, including #1 songs Rock Me Gently and Sugar, Sugar, one of Billboard’s “Greatest Songs of All Time.” A true Canadian son, Andy has been awarded the country’s top industry honours three times, the JUNO Award for outstanding achievements in the record industry, as well as the Indie Award for Favorite Solo Artist and a star on Canada’s Walk Of Fame. Andy is a member of Songwriters Hall of Fame and was inducted into Billboard’s Hit Parade Hall of Fame. Over his epic career, Andy has sold over 30 million records, and The Archies’ “Sugar, Sugar” has been streamed over 350 million times on Spotify and YouTube.
For nearly 20 years, The Andy Kim Christmas has been gathering friends and fans together to celebrate the spirit and generosity of the musical community with all proceeds going to charity. The concerts have brought people together from coast to coast on television and in concert, bringing its cumulative money raised to over $2.3 million. The one-of-a-kind charity event has previously included performances by some of the country’s most sought-after singer-songwriters and performers. Past guests include Ron Sexsmith, Kim Mitchell, Sarah McLachlan, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Feist, The Sheepdogs, City and Colour, Nelly Furtado, and more.
For more information on Andy Kim, please contact:
Eric Alper