# Andy (singer)

Andranik Madadian (Persian: آندرانیک مددیان, Armenian: Անդրանիկ Մադադյան; born April 22, 1958), better known by his stage name Andy, is an Iranian singer-songwriter and actor. He immigrated to United States and currently lives in Los Angeles. He sings in several languages including Persian, Armenian and English.

## Career
### Duo in Andy and Kouros

Andy first gained recognition when he joined Kouros Shahmiri and they formed the successful duo Andy & Kouros, going on to release 4 albums together: Khastegary (1985), Parvaz (1987), the hugely successful album Balla (1990), and Goodbye (1991). The two split in 1992, with both Andy and Kouros going on to have successful individual solo careers. The two reunited several times after that point. In 2002 and 2004, they performed together for a sold-out audience in San Jose, California. In 2009, Andy & Kouros they went on an international tour together in the Iranian diaspora, and performed together again in May 2010. They also appeared together on a music video by Farez remaking their hit "Niloufar".

### Solo career

Andy has released 16 albums as a solo artist. His last three singles have ranked No. 1 in the charts. In 2013, Andy was nominated for Best Male Artist, Best Live Act, and Best Entertainer of the Year at the World Music Awards. The following year, he was presented with the "Millennium" award at the Big Apple Music Awards in New York City. On January 17, 2020, Andy was honored by the Hollywood Walk of Fame With his star being the 2,684th star.

### Other collaborations

On June 24, 2009, Andy, Richie Sambora and Jon Bon Jovi recorded a version of the Leiber and Stoller standard Stand by Me, described by producer Don Was as a "worldwide solidarity with the people of Iran". The Persian introduction is done by both Andy and Jon Bon Jovi, and the rest of the song continues in English. The record was produced by Don Was and John Shanks and was registered at Henson Studio C, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California. He participated in a prestigious recording session for World Peace One, which featured some of the world's most successful artists uniting to promote peace. In 2014, Cherokee Music Productions released the humanitarian single, We Hear Your Voice which brought together 15 international stars from 11 countries to inspire fans and followers to find common ground and heal the divide between nations.
In March 2016, Andy released a duet with La Toya Jackson called "Tehran".
In April 2019, Andy released a duet with Algerian singer Khaled called "Salama So Good".
In January 2020, Andy released an English song titled "The Good Fight", which was featured in the motion picture "American Fighter“.

## Personal life

Andy married his longtime girlfriend and artist Shani Rigsbee on November 11, 2011. Around 1992, the couple began working and touring together. Soon after, they discovered Shani had ovarian cancer, and she had an early hysterectomy in 1992. The couple is associated with cancer-related charities and has performed together for the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life.

## Awards and honors

On January 17, 2020, Madadian was awarded the 2684th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, becoming the first Iranian to receive the honor. His star is located at Highland Avenue at 6810 Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles.
* Best International Album, Armenian Music Awards (2004)
* Best International Album, Armenian Music Awards (2006)

## Discography
### Albums
#### Andy & Kouros

| Year | Title | Notable Tracks | Notes |
| 1985 | Khastegary | Three of Us Madar | Duo album |
| 1987 | Parvaz | Chi Mishod Restless Niloufar Topoli | Duo album |
| 1990 | Balla | Balla Leila Negah Sheytoon Bala Khodaye Asemoonha Don't Go Away | Duo album |
| 1991 | Goodbye | Strange Love Yasaman | Duo album |

#### Andy

| Year | Title | Notable Tracks | Notes |
| 1977 | Future Features | * Eshghe A Issar * Walking in the Rain * Today's Just Like Tomorrow | First solo album |
| 1992 | Beegharar | * Beegharar * Entezar * Dokhtar Irooni * Sheytanat * Ghasre Kaghazi * Shabgard | Solo album |
| 1993 | Laili | * Yeh Roozi Tange Ghoroobe Asemoon | Collaboration, featuring Bijan Mortazavi and Hassan Shamaizadeh |
| 1994 | Tanhaee | * Tanhaee * Cheshmaye Naaz * Naaze Naaz | Solo album |
| 1996 | Devoted | * Sarsepordeh * Dokhtare Bandar * Tavalod | Solo album |
| 1998 | Silk Road | * Az Khod Gozashteh * Orere Seero * Melli Poosha | Solo album |
| 1999 | Ghahremanane Vatan | * Ghahremanane Vatan | Collaboration/Single, featuring Leila Forouhar and Dariush |
| 1999 | Nune | * Chera Ashegh Shodam | Single |
| 2000 | And My Heart... | * Yalla * Rayhan | Solo album, includes 7 songs in Persian, 1 in English, 1 in Spanish, 1 in Armenian, 1 in Arabic, and 1 in Urdu |
| 2000 | And My Heart... | * Yalla * Rayhan * Hotel California | Solo album, American Edition – includes 7 songs in Persian, 3 in English, 2 in Spanish, 2 in Armenian, 1 in Arabic, 1 in Urdu, and a Persian version of the Eagles' "Hotel California" is included. |
| 2001 | Yaran | | Collaboration, featuring Pyruz, Paksima, and Hamid Nadiri |
| 2002 | Khalvate Man | * Che Khoshgel Shodi * Negahe Aval * Shaghayegh | Solo album, includes 4 remixes of the 2000-hit "Rayhan" |
| 2003 | Orere Seero | * Orere Seero * Garoun Garouneh | Solo album, Andy's first all-Armenian album |
| 2004 | Platinum | * Aroosak * Salame Asheghouneh * Ghesseye Baran | Solo album, "Salame Asheghoone" and "Sahraei", written by Leila Kasra, were featured in the motion picture House of Sand and Fog. |
| 2006 | City of Angels | * Mohem Nabood * Gole Bandar * Daram Miram Beh Tehran | Solo album, 11 original songs and 5 remixes on 2 CDs, a cover of the song "Marde Tanha" originally sung by Farhad as well as a remix by Nami are found on the first and second CD, respectively. An edited version of the song "Tanine Solh" written by Leila Kasra and sung by Andy, Kouros, Fataneh, Moein, and Morteza is included. "Daram Miram Beh Tehran" is featured as the soundtrack of the animated film "Babak and Friends – A First Norooz". |
| 2007 | Airport | * Foroudgah * Salam * Deltang * Zamooneh | Solo album, 13 original songs and 3 remixes |
| 2021 | Love Songs | | Solo album |

### Non-album singles and collaborations

| Year | Title | Notes |
| 2009 | Stand by Me | With Richie Sambora and Jon Bon Jovi |
| 2014 | We Hear Your Voice | Humanitarian track and collaboration with 15 other artists |
| 2014 | Far and Away | "Guardian Angel" Movie Soundtrack with Shani |
| 2015 | Parya khanoom | Humanitarian track and collaboration with 15 other artists |
| 2016 | Tehran | Duet With La Toya Jackson |
| 2019 | Salama So Good | Duet with Algerian singer Khaled |
| 2020 | The Good Fight | From motion picture "American Fighter" |

## Videos/DVDs

* The Journey
* Orere Seero
* Platinum
* City of Angels
* Balla!
* Andy Live at the Kodak Theatre

## Filmography

| Year | Title | Role |
| 2003 | Irangeles | Andy |
| 2003 | House of Sand and Fog | Wedding Singer |
| 2005 | The Keeper: The Legend of Omar Khayyam | Ali Ben-Sabbah |
| 2005 | Our Yard 3 (Armenian: Մեր Բակը 3) | Cameo |
| 2010 | Lost Journey: Lost Journey | Mr.Zand |
| 2013 | Shirin in Love | Andy |

## Gallery

* Andy in a Persian New Year Concert, Arena Oberhausen, March 2014