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Andy Kim (singer)

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Andy Kim
OC
Kim in 1970
Kim in 1970
Background information
Birth nameAndrowis Youakim
Also known as
  • Baron Longfellow
  • Longfellow
Born (1946-12-05) 5 December 1946 (age 78)[nb 1]
Montreal, Quebec, Canada[1]
GenresPop rock
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter
Years active1963–present
Websiteandykimmusic.com
Awards

Androwis Youakim OC (born 5 December 1946[nb 1]), better known as Andy Kim, is a Canadian pop rock singer and songwriter. He grew up in Montreal, Quebec. He is known for hits that he released in the late 1960s and 1970s: the international hit "Baby, I Love You" in 1969, and "Rock Me Gently", which topped the U.S. singles chart in 1974. He co-wrote "Sugar, Sugar" in 1968 and sang on the recording as part of the Archies;[9] it was #1 for four weeks in the USA and was "Record of the Year" for 1969.[10]

He has recorded under the stage name Baron Longfellow since 1978[1][5] or just as Longfellow in the early 1990s. He continues to perform under his original recording name of Andy Kim.

Life and career

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Kim was born Androwis Youakim on 5 December 1946 in Montreal, the third of four sons of Lebanese immigrants. In his teens, he moved to New York's Brill Building to pursue a career in music. He recorded as "Andy Kim", using the different last name as a way to obscure his Lebanese ethnicity,[11] though on his earliest releases he used the name "Youakim" in the writing credits.

In 1968, after minor recording successes over the previous few years, Kim released the single "How'd We Ever Get This Way?" on the Steed label; it just missed the U.S. Top 20, reaching #21. He also co-wrote, with Jeff Barry, "Sugar, Sugar" which was a hit single for the Archies,[12] reaching #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and ultimately becoming the RIAA Record of the Year. Kim and Barry wrote more songs for the Archies, and also for the Monkees' album Changes 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 in the US and #1 in Canada; it was so popular in Canada, it earned him a Gold Leaf (Juno) Award in 1970 as the 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.[13]

Over the next few years, Kim recorded a few minor hits, including "Be My Baby" and "It's Your Life"[14] (in 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,[5] and to #2 on the UK Singles Chart.[15] "Rock Me Gently" sold three million copies globally, earning Kim his second gold disc.[13]

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 person in his music in the vein of a white blond surfer and that fans were shocked to see his dark skin colour and appearance. As well, he had altered his voice on his earlier records to sound younger.[5][16]

In 1976, Kim altered the spelling of his pseudonym to Andy Kimm, and released a few singles under that name on his own Ice Records label in 1976 and '77. Shortly thereafter, he adopted the stage name Baron Longfellow and issued the first single ("Shady Hollow Dreamer") under that name in 1978. It was followed by a self-titled album Baron Longfellow with the hit single "Amour" 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 Longfellow and recorded the single "Powerdrive", which received radio airplay on several radio stations across Canada.[citation needed]

In 1985, Andy Kim joined his voice to the Northern Lights project, created and organized by Bruce Allen, in order to raise funds for relief of the 1983–85 famine in Ethiopia. With other Canadian artists such as Bryan Adams, Liona Boyd, John Candy, Bruce Cockburn, Burton Cummings, Lisa Dalbello, David Foster, Corey Hart, Dan Hill, Paul Hyde, Geddy Lee, Gordon Lightfoot, Richard Manuel, Joni Mitchell, Kim Mitchell, Aldo Nova, Oscar Peterson, Mike Reno, Paul Shaffer, Ian Thomas, Sylvia Tyson, Jim Vallance, etc. It followed Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas?" British project with Bob Geldof and Midge Ure in November 1984. The Northern Lights song Tears Are Not Enough was written by David Foster, Jim Vallance, Bryan Adams, Rachel Paiement, Paul Hyde and Bob Rock and recorded on February 10, 1985 at Manta Sound studios in Toronto.

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.[17][18] 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 Favourite Solo Artist during Canadian Music Week.[17] 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.[17] The same year, he established the Andy Kim Christmas Show – a live concert at the Mod Club Theatre 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. The Andy Kim Christmas show became an annual tradition. The annual show either took place at the Mod Club or Phoenix Concert Theatre in Toronto, with proceeds from the evening donated to a different children's charity each year.

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.[19][20]

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

In 2011, E1 Music Canada released Happen Again, Kim's first album since 2004.[21]

In 2014, he collaborated with Kevin Drew on the album It's Decided, released on 24 February 2015 on Arts & Crafts.[22]

On 23 July 2018, Canada's Walk of Fame included Andy Kim on its list of 2018 inductees.[23] He became part of the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 2019.[24] He was named an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2023.[25][26]

He is married to Sandra Jo Drummond, a former daughter-in-law of Bing Crosby.

Discography

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Albums

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Year Album Billboard 200 Record Label
1968 How'd We Ever Get This Way - Steed Records
1969 Rainbow Ride -
Baby I Love You 82
1973 Andy Kim (Uni) - Uni Records
1974 Andy Kim (Capitol) 21 Capitol Records
1980 Baron Longfellow - ICE Records
1984 Prisoner By Design - ICE Records
2004 I Forgot to Mention - Iceworks Records
2011 Happen Again - Angel Air Records
2015 It's Decided - Arts & Crafts

Compilation albums

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Year Album Billboard 200 Record Label
1974 Andy Kim's Greatest Hits 190 Dunhill Records
1994 Reflections: The Best of Andy Kim - Common Folk Records
1996 Baby I Love You: Greatest Hits - EMI ELECTROLA GmbH Records

Singles

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Year Title Peak chart positions Record Label B-side Album
US AC GER CAN AUS UK
1963 "I Loved You Once" — — — — — — United Artists Records
1964 "Give Me Your Love" — — — — — — TCF Hall Records
1965 "I Hear You Say (I Love You Baby)" — — — — — — Red Bird Records "Falling in Love"
1968 "That Girl" — — — — — — 20th Century Fox Records
"How'd We Ever Get This Way?" 21 — — 9 64 — Steed Records "Are You Ever Coming Home?" How'd We Ever Get This Way
"Shoot 'Em Up Baby" 31 — — 29 96 — "Ordinary Kind of Girl"
"Rainbow Ride" 49 — — 43 — — "Resurrection" Rainbow Ride
1969 "I Hear You Say (I Love You Baby)" — — — — — — Cottique Records
"Tricia Tell Your Daddy" 110 — — — — — Steed Records "Foundation of My Soul"
"Baby, I Love You" 9 31 — 1 15 — "Gee Girl" Baby I Love You
"So Good Together" 36 — 37 15 38 — "I Got to Know"
1970 "A Friend in the City" 90 — — 19 — "You"
"It's Your Life" 85 — — — — — "To Be Continued"
"Be My Baby" 17 24 24 6 36 — "Love That Little Woman"
1971 "I Wish I Were" 62 40 — — — — "Walkin' My La De Da"
"I Been Moved" 97 — — 39 — — "If I Had You Here"
1972 "Love The Poor Boy" — — — 71 — — Uni Records "A Love Song"
"Who Has The Answers?" 111 — — — — — "Shady Hollow Dreamer" Andy Kim
"Oh What a Day" — — — — — — "Sunshine"
1974 "Rock Me Gently" 1 40 33 1 31 2 Capitol Records "Rock Me Gently Part II" Andy Kim (Capitol)
"Fire, Baby I'm on Fire" 28 — — 15 — — "Here Comes The Mornin'"
1975 "The Essence of Joan" — — — — — — "Rock Me Gently Part II"
"Mary Ann" — — — — — — "You Are My Everything"
1976 "Oh, Pretty Woman" — — — — — —
1991 "Powerdrive" — — — — — —
2004 "I Forgot To Mention" — — — 10 — — Iceworks Records I Forgot to Mention
2010 "Happen Again" — — — — — — Angel Air Records Happen Again
2015 "Longest Time" — — — — — — Arts & Crafts It's Decided

Notes

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  1. ^ a b 5 December 1946 is cited by VH1, United Press International, and Rolling Stone,[2][3][4] while 5 December 1952 is cited by sources including AllMusic and Billboard Books.[1][5] 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.[8]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Bush, John. "Andy Kim". AllMusic. Retrieved 30 October 2009.
  2. ^ "Today in Music: a look back at pop music". United Press International. Retrieved 31 October 2009.
  3. ^ "Today in Music: December 5". VH1. Archived from the original on 8 December 2009. Retrieved 31 October 2009.
  4. ^ Holly George-Warren; Patricia Romanowski; Jon Pareles (2001). The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll. Touchstone. p. 25. ISBN 978-0-7432-0120-9.
  5. ^ a b c d Fred Bronson (2003). The Billboard Book of Number 1 Hits. Billboard Books. p. 377. ISBN 0-8230-7677-6.
  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. ^ But note that, under "About Andy", Andy Kim's site says "He found fame in New York City at just 16 years old when he wrote How'd We Ever Get This Way?"
  9. ^ "Andy Kim: 2016 Inductee To Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame". FYIMusicNews.ca. 27 October 2015. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
  10. ^ "Sugar, Sugar by The Archies". Songfacts. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
  11. ^ Kim Cooper; David Smay (2001). Bubblegum Music Is the Naked Truth. Feral House. p. 44. ISBN 978-0-922915-69-9.
  12. ^ Darryl Sterdan, Qmi Agency (9 April 2010). "Andy Kim back with new album | Music | Entertainment". Edmonton Sun. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ "Top 50 Canadian Chart". RPM Magazine. Vol. 13, no. 23. 25 July 1970.
  15. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 301. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  16. ^ "Steed Album Discography". Bsnpubs.com. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
  17. ^ a b c Mary Dickie (29 November 2005). "Andy Kim gets into the holiday spirit". Jam.canoe.ca. Archived from the original on 15 January 2013. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
  18. ^ 2006 Andy Kim Christmas Show, as aired on Mix 99.9
  19. ^ Grant, Lee (5 November 2007). "Lee Grant's Outtakes". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  20. ^ "Jeep Liberty – Pouring In". Cutwater (advertising agency). Archived from the original on 3 November 2009. Retrieved 31 October 2009. From menu, select Work --> Jeep to TV ad.
  21. ^ Sterdan, Darryl (11 April 2010). "Andy Kim making it happen". The Recorder and Times. Brockville. Retrieved 4 November 2010.[permanent dead link‍]
  22. ^ "Andy Kim – "Longest Time" (audio) (Premiere)". PopMatters, 26 January 2015.
  23. ^ "SOCAN". Socan.com. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
  24. ^ Volmers, Eric (27 October 2019). "Chilliwack, Andy Kim, Cowboy Junkies, Bobby Curtola honoured in first Canadian Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony". Calgary Herald. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  25. ^ "Masai Ujiri, Kent Monkman appointed to Order of Canada". Toronto Star, June 20, 2023.
  26. ^ "Order of Canada appointees – June 2023". The Governor General of Canada. 30 June 2023. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
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