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Andy Kim (singer)

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Andy Kim
Birth nameAndrew Youakim
Born5 December 1946 (most probably) or 1952
Montreal, Quebec, Canada[1]
GenresPop-rock
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter
Years active1968–present
Websitewww.andykimmusic.com

Andrew Youakim, performing as Andy Kim, is a Canadian pop rock singer and songwriter. He grew up in Montreal, Quebec in Canada. Kim is known for a number of hit singles that he released in the late 1960s and early 1970s such as "Rock Me Gently", which topped the US singles charts. In 1968, he co-wrote "Sugar, Sugar" for The Archies. The song was No. 1 for four weeks and in 1969 was certified "Record of the Year" by the RIAA.

Kim has also recorded under the stage name Baron Longfellow since the mid-1980s[1][2] or just as Longfellow in the early 1990s.

Life and career

Andy Kim was born in Montreal, Quebec. The date of his birth has been reported variably as either 5 December 1946 as cited by VH1, United Press International, and Rolling Stone,[3][4][5] or 5 December 1952 as cited by the Allmusic and Billboard Books.[1][2] Various published interviews with Kim from the mid-1970s support the 1946 dating,[6][7] while Kim's current biography on his official website offers no specific year of birth.

He is the third of four sons of Lebanese immigrants. He moved to New York at age 16 to pursue a career in music.

In 1968 under the new stage name Andy Kim, he released the single "That Girl" backed with "Give Me Your Love" on the 20th Century Fox label. He used the different last name as a way to obscure his Lebanese ethnic ancestry.[8] Sonn after, he relesed another single, "How'd We Ever Get This Way?" on the Steed label. "How'd We Ever Get This Way?" just missed the U.S. Top 20.

Still in 1968, with Jeff Barry, Kim co-wrote "Sugar, Sugar" which was a hit single for The Archies,[9] reaching No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart and ultimately becoming the RIAA Record of the Year. Kim/Barry wrote more songs for the Archies, and also for Changes, by The Monkees in 1970, which Barry produced.

In 1969, Kim had two hit singles, "Rainbow Ride," which made the US Top 50, and "Baby, I Love You," which got to #9 and was popular enough in Canada to earn him a Gold Leaf (Juno) Award in 1970 as his country's Best Male Vocalist. "Baby, I Love You" sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc by the R.I.A.A. in October 1969.[10]

Over the next few years, Kim recorded a few minor hits (such as "Be My Baby" in late 1970) and toured North America extensively. In the spring of 1974, he released the self-penned "Rock Me Gently", which went to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart,[2] and rose to #2 on the UK Singles Chart.[11] "Rock Me Gently" sold three million copies globally, earning Kim his second gold disc.[10]

Kim had shied away from touring for years before then, when he was working with the Steed label. He has said that he had created a persona in his music in the vein of a white blond surfer and that fans were shocked to see his dark skin color and appearance. As well, he had altered his voice on his earlier records to sound younger.[2]

By the end of 1976, Kim stopped recording and disappeared from public life. He returned under the stage name 'Baron Longfellow' with a self-titled album Baron Longfellow in 1980 and, also under the same pseudonym, in 1984 released Prisoner by Design. Both of these albums met with moderate success. In 1991, Kim again went by the name 'Longfellow' and recorded the single "Powerdrive", which received radio airplay on several radio stations across Canada.

In 1995, Kim played at the Kumbaya Festival at which the Barenaked Ladies were also performing. Nearly a decade later, the band's Ed Robertson convinced Kim to come out of retirement.[12][13] Robertson co-wrote the song "I Forgot to Mention" with him and offered to produce the track. The single was released on a 5-track EP in 2004 which included a re-recording of "Powerdrive".

In March 2005, Kim received the annual "Indie Award" for Favorite Solo Artist during Canadian Music Week.[12] The music video for "Love Is...", released in the summer of 2005, reached #1 at Bravo.ca. In 2005, he co-wrote "What Ever Happened to Christmas" with Ron Sexsmith.[12] The same year, he established the Andy Kim Christmas Show – a live concert at the Mod Club in Toronto in which a variety of artists were invited to perform mostly Christmas music. Kim's band acted as house band for the artists, who donated their time for the show. Proceeds were donated to the CHUM/CITY Christmas Wish. The show repeated in 2006, with a similar lineup. Proceeds from the show went to support the Children's Aid Foundation, and the edited show was aired on Mix 99.9 on Christmas Eve and Day.

More recently, Kim's music has again come into the public eye, as "Rock Me Gently" was sped up slightly and used by Jeep for their Jeep Liberty commercial ("Pouring In"). His name can be seen on the radio display near the beginning of the commercial.[14][15]

In 2009, Kim was inducted into the Hit Parade Hall of Fame.

In March 2010, E1 Music Canada released Happen Again, Kim's first album in over 20 years.[16] 'Happen Again' was released in the United States on 5 April 2011.

His seventh annual Andy Kim Christmas Show at Toronto's Phoenix Concert Theatre benefitting Jullette's Place featured Kevin Drew and Brendan Canning from Broken Social Scene, Sam Roberts, Arkells, Lights, Dru, Sean Cullen, Ron Sexsmith, Honeymoon Suite, Sarah Harmer and Emma-Lee.

Singles

  • 1963: "I Loved You Once" United Artists 59
  • 1964: "Give Me Your Love" TCF Hall 5
  • 1965: "I Here You Say (I Love You Baby) Red Bird 10-040
  • 1968: "That Girl" 20th Century Fox 6709
  • 1968: "How'd We Ever Get This Way?" Steed 707 (US #21)[17]
  • 1968: "Shoot 'Em Up Baby" Steed 710 (US #31)[18]
  • 1969: "I Hear You Say" (I Love You Baby) Cottique 174
  • 1969: "So Good Together" Steed 720 (US #36, West Germany #37)[19]
  • 1969: "Baby, I Love You" Steed 716 (Canada #1, US #9)[20][21]
  • 1970: "Be My Baby" Steed 729 (US #17, West Germany #24, Australia #36)[22]
  • 1971: "I Wish I Were" Steed 731
  • 1971: "I've Been Moved" (US #97)
  • 1972: "Who has the answers?" Uni 55332
  • 1972: "Oh What A Day" Uni 55356
  • 1974: "Rock Me Gently" Capitol 3895, US; Ice IC1-K, Canada (US #1, Canada #1, UK #2, West Germany #33)[23][24]
  • 1974: "Fire, Baby I'm on Fire" Capitol 3962 (US #28)[25]
  • 1975: "The Essence of Joan" Capitol 4032
  • 1975: *Mary Ann" Capitol 4086
  • 1976: "Oh, Pretty Woman" Capitol 4234
  • 2004: "I Forgot To Mention" (Canada #10)
  • 2010: "Happen Again" (Single released to radio 2 February 2010 in Canada)

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Bush, John. "Andy Kim". Allmusic. Retrieved 30 October 2009.
  2. ^ a b c d Fred Bronson (2003). The Billboard Book of Number 1 Hits. Billboard Books. p. 377. ISBN 0-8230-7677-6.
  3. ^ "Today in Music: a look back at pop music". United Press International. Retrieved 31 October 2009.
  4. ^ "Today in Music: December 5". VH1. Archived from the original on 8 December 2009. Retrieved 31 October 2009. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ Holly George-Warren; Patricia Romanowski; Jon Pareles. The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll. p. 25. ISBN 978-0-7432-0120-9.
  6. ^ "Andy Kim returns with smash hit". The Bulletin. 21 September 1974. Retrieved 16 October 2011.|
  7. ^ "Scene Action". Evening Independent. 21 September 1974. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
  8. ^ Kim Cooper; David Smay (2001). Bubblegum Music Is the Naked Truth. p. 44. ISBN 978-0-922915-69-9.
  9. ^ Darryl Sterdan, Qmi Agency (9 April 2010). "Andy Kim back with new album | Music | Entertainment". Edmonton Sun. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
  10. ^ a b Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 262 & 346. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
  11. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 301. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  12. ^ a b c Mary Dickie (29 November 2005). "Andy Kim gets into the holiday spirit". Jam.canoe.ca. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
  13. ^ 2006 Andy Kim Christmas Show, as aired on Mix 99.9
  14. ^ Grant, Lee (5 November 2007). "Lee Grant's Outtakes". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 31 October 2009.
  15. ^ "Jeep Liberty – Pouring In". Cutwater (advertising agency). Archived from the original on 3 November 2009. Retrieved 31 October 2009. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help) From menu, select Work --> Jeep to TV ad.
  16. ^ Sterdan, Darryl (11 April 2010). "Andy Kim making it happen". The Recorder and Times. Brockville. Retrieved 4 November 2010.
  17. ^ Joel Whitburn (1983). Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits (1st ed.). Billboard Publications, Inc. p. 156. ISBN 0-8230-7511-7.
  18. ^ Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, Joel Whitburn, First Printing (1983), p. 156
  19. ^ Joel Whitburn (1983). Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits (1st ed.). Billboard Publications, Inc. p. 156. ISBN 0-8230-7511-7.
  20. ^ Library and Archives Canada. http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.6010&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=rm04qqsj19b2vb9uveoom581s1
  21. ^ Joel Whitburn (1983). Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits (1st ed.). Billboard Publications, Inc. p. 156. ISBN 0-8230-7511-7.
  22. ^ Joel Whitburn (1983). Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits (1st ed.). Billboard Publications, Inc. p. 156. ISBN 0-8230-7511-7.
  23. ^ Joel Whitburn (1983). Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits (1st ed.). Billboard Publications, Inc. p. 156. ISBN 0-8230-7511-7.
  24. ^ Library and Archives Canada http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.3848a&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=j4t2crbjscv1surue8jm3kfnk7
  25. ^ "Problem Encountered". Musicstack.com. Retrieved 16 October 2011.

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