Andranik Madadian

Who is Andranik Madadian?

Andranik Madadian (Persian: آندرانیک مددیان, Armenian: Անդրանիկ Մադադյան, born April 21, 1959), better known by his stage name, Andy (Persian: اندی, Armenian: Էնդի), is a famous Iranian-Armenian singer-songwriter. He is a naturalized American and currently lives in Los Angeles, California.

Madadian was born on April 21, 1959 in Iran to ethnic Iranian Armenian parents. When the 1979 Iranian Revolution came, he left Iran for the United States.

Andy made it big when he joined Kouros and together formed a successful duo Andy & Kouros.

Andy & Kouros released 4 albums together: Khastegary (1985), Parvaz (1988), the hugely successful album Balla!, and finally 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".

Andy, known as one of the "Kings of Pop" in Iran, has released 15 albums since the start of his solo career including the multicultural album "And My Heart..." in 2000 where he sings in Persian, English, Spanish, Armenian, Arabic, and Hindi. Later that year, an American edition of the album was released by Mondo Melodia Records.

On July 21, 2009, Madadian performed at halftime during the Chelsea FC vs. Inter Milan game at the Rose Bowl.

On June 24, 2009, Andy, Richie Sambora and Jon Bon Jovi recorded a version of the Lieber 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, as well as the rest of the song which continues in English. The record was produced by Don Was and John Shanks and was registered at Henson Studio C, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California.