Andy Sturmer
Andy Sturmer is an American-born musical artist, writer and producer. He was one of the founding members of the band Beatnik Beatch, which led to the formation of Jellyfish.
Jellyfish
Jellyfish released two albums, Bellybutton (1990) and Spilt Milk (1993). Sturmer held the rare distinction of being a drummer who regularly sang lead in a rock group, but who played live on a stand-up drum set at the front of the stage instead of sitting on a throne at the rear of the band. Jellyfish failed to catch fire commercially, and intra-group friction led to Jellyfish's dissolution in early 1994.
Puffy AmiYumi
After Jellyfish's demise, Sturmer began a new career as a producer and writer, most notably for the Japanese pop band Puffy AmiYumi. He was credited as "The Godfather" of the band for giving them their name.
Puffy were approached by Cartoon Network to create the theme tune for their 2003 animated series Teen Titans. Originally suggested by the series' producer Sam Register, creator Glen Murakami was delighted when he realised Andy Sturmer would be involved.[1]
A year later Puffy AmiYumi were looking to break through in the North American market. Sturmer was consulting producer for their TV show Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi and composed the score music during all three seasons the show was aired. Following this he also composed theme songs for various other Cartoon Network series, including Ben 10 along with the score composition, Batman: The Brave and the Bold, and a new theme for the third season of The Batman animated series, replacing the original theme composed by The Edge of U2. He also contributed the theme song for the Disney series My Friends Tigger & Pooh along with the score composition. Sturmer is also credited as performing the theme song for the Transformers Animated cartoon.
As of Puffy AmiYumi's 2007 album Honeycreeper, Sturmer has had a reduced contribution to the band's work.
Side projects
Sturmer has also appeared on various albums for back up vocals for artists like Bleu's Redhead, Mandy Moore's Coverage and the Switchfoot album Nothing Is Sound. He also contributes backing vocals to some tracks on Winter Pays For Summer by Glen Phillips. Sturmer and former bandmate Roger Manning Jr. contributed a song, the early Beatles influenced I Don't Believe You as well as vocals and acoustic guitars on Ringo Starr's Time Takes Time album in 1992.
Sturmer performed on two songs on Katey Sagal's debut solo album, who is best known for her role as Peg Bundy on the sitcom Married... with Children. The album, entitled Well... was released by Virgin Records in April 1994. Andy also co-wrote and played drums for Swedish pop band The Merrymakers' second album, Bubblegun.
Sturmer has recently surfaced as a collaborator with L.E.O., a one-off supergroup also featuring, among others, pop auteur Bleu, Hanson, producer John Fields, and Mike Viola of The Candy Butchers. The group and its album, Alpacas Orgling, are a pastiche tribute in the style of Electric Light Orchestra.[2] Sturmer provided additional vocals on the song "I Should've Been After You" on Rooney's 2007 album Calling the World, according to the album credits.
Many of his fans are disappointed that he is not in the spotlight as a solo artist.
Notes
- ^ Titans Tower Animated (September 2003). The 80s-era DC Comics superteens are back in the new Cartoon Network animated series.
- ^ LEO MySpace page