Some years ago when Bruce Allen and I had offices in Gastown Andy Kim came to visit. I found him to be a most engaging personality. He had written and produced a new song and I thought it had potential and told him so.

Born in Montreal, Andy found fame in New York City at just 16 years old when he wrote How’d We Ever Get This Way? the first of nine Billboard Top 40 hits, including #1 songs Rock Me Gently and Sugar, Sugar, one of Billboard’s Greatest Songs of All Time. Over his epic career, Andy has sold over 30 million records.

Here’s one of my favorite commercials, featuring Andy’s music:

Andy has just been inducted into the Hit Parade Hall of Fame in the U.S. but this Canadian icon has never been mentioned in the Juno Awards honoring him as a great and successful Canadian talent.  Hey Andy, our Canadian medal winners from past Olympics have to buy their own tickets for any Olympic event. That is how much we revere our own.

Hit Parade Hall Of Fame creator John Rook says, “Andy Kim’s induction into the Hit Parade Hall of Fame is the result of his contributions to popular music. His creations of Sugar, Sugar, Baby I Love You, Be My Baby, Rock Me Gently and others continue to be heard on radio today years after they first topped the Hit Parade.”

Andy releases his new CD Happen Again with 10 brand new songs on March 30. He lives in Los Angeles and Toronto and produces under his own label, Iceworks. Andy Kim plans his first ever cross-Canada tour in 2010. Check out this Olympic tribute montage based on the title track: