“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