Andranik Madadian (Persian: آندرانیک مددیان, Armenian: Անդրանիկ Մադադյան, born April 21, 1958), better known by his stage name, Andy (Persian: اندی, Armenian: Էնդի), is a famous Iranian singer-songwriter. He is a naturalized American and currently lives in Los Angeles, California with longtime girlfriend Shani. CAREER Beginnings Andy was born on April 21, 1958 in Tehran, Iran to ethnic Iranian Armenian parents. He is seen by many as an important figure in Iranian pop music from the 80's and 90's. He started his career with promoter Alireza Amirghassemi in the early 1980s [edit] Duo in Andy & Kouros Main article: Andy & Kouros Andy amade it big when he joined Kouros and together formed a successful duo Andy & Kouros. The two were first introduced at a Siavash Shams concert by Siavash himself who was a good friend of Andy. Andy & Kouros released 4 albums consecutive albums: Khastegary (1985), Parvaz (1988), the hugely successful album Balla! and finally Goodbye (1991), an ominous title as the duo split in 1992, with both Andranik Madadian and Kouros going on to have successful individual solo careers. [edit] Solo career Andy, known as the "King of Pop" of 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 also released. On July 21, 2009, Madadian performed at halftime during the Chelsea FC vs. Inter Milan game at the Rose Bowl performed in front of over 40 World Cup soccer players and tens of thousands of screaming fans. He canceled his tour for scheduling appearance for the Rose Bowl event. [edit] Collaborations * After a ten year split of the duo, in 2002 Andy and Kouros were reunited together to perform for a sold-out audience in San Jose, California. And once again in 2004. * In 2007 Andy and Kouros appeared in a remake of their big hit "Nilofar" released by Farez featuring Andy & Kouros.[1] * 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 introduction Persian language is done by Andy. The rest of the song is in English language by both Bon Jovi and Andy Madadian. The record was produced by Don Was and John Shanks and was registered at Henson Studio C, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California. The handwritten Persian sign in the music video translates to "we are one".[2] * In 2009, Andy & Kouros engaged in a sold-out international tour together in the Iranian diaspora (North America, Europe, Australia). * Andy & Kouros are scheduled to perform together on May 1st 2010 once again in San Jose, California (the same venue that hosted their initial reunion concert eight years ago).