Andy (singer)
Iranian singer and actor
title: "Andy (singer)" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1958-births", "living-people", "20th-century-iranian-male-singers", "iranian-pop-singers", "iranian-singer-songwriters", "iranian-male-singer-songwriters", "american-male-pop-singers", "american-male-singer-songwriters", "armenian-language-iranian-singers", "ethnic-armenian-male-actors", "singers-from-tehran", "exiles-of-the-iranian-revolution-in-the-united-states", "iranian-people-of-armenian-descent", "caltex-records-artists", "taraneh-records-artists", "naturalized-citizens-of-the-united-states"] description: "Iranian singer and actor" topic_path: "science/biology" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_(singer)" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Iranian singer and actor ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox musical artist"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Andy |
| image | Andy Madadian Live in Armenia August 5th 2025 Hamalir.jpg |
| caption | Andy Live in Armenia 2025 |
| birth_name | Andranik Madadian |
| {{Nastaliq | آندرانیک مددیان}} |
| Անդրանիկ Մադադյան | |
| native_name | {{Nastaliq |
| Անդի | |
| birth_date | |
| genre | Pop, dance-pop, rock, soft rock |
| occupation | Singer, songwriter, actor |
| instrument | Guitar, bass guitar |
| years_active | 1977–present |
| label | Pars Video, Caltex, Taraneh Records, Avang Music, Cherokee Music Group |
| spouse | Shani Rigsbee |
| website | |
| associated_acts | Aghasi، Hossein Tohi, Shahram Shabpareh |
| :: |
| name = Andy | image = Andy Madadian Live in Armenia August 5th 2025 Hamalir.jpg | caption = Andy Live in Armenia 2025 | birth_name = Andranik Madadian {{Nastaliq|آندرانیک مددیان}} Անդրանիկ Մադադյան | native_name = {{Nastaliq|اندی}} Անդի | alias = | birth_date = | birth_place = | genre = Pop, dance-pop, rock, soft rock | occupation = Singer, songwriter, actor | instrument = Guitar, bass guitar | years_active = 1977–present | label = Pars Video, Caltex, Taraneh Records, Avang Music, Cherokee Music Group | spouse = Shani Rigsbee | website = | associated_acts = Aghasi، Hossein Tohi, Shahram Shabpareh
Andranik Madadian (, ), better known by his stage name Andy, is an Armenian-Iranian singer-songwriter and actor. 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 duo Andy & Kouros, going on to release 4 albums together: Khastegary (1985), Parvaz (1987), the 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. In 2002 and 2004, they performed together for a sold-out audience in San Jose, California. In 2009, Andy & Kouros 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 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".
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 2,684th 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
Studio Albums
Andy & Kouros
::data[format=table]
| Title | Year | Notable tracks |
|---|---|---|
| Khastegary | 1985 | • Madar |
| • Three of Us | ||
| Parvaz | 1987 | • Topoli |
| • Ma Hame Irooni Hastim | ||
| • Niloufar | ||
| Balla | 1990 | • Balla |
| • Sheytoon Bala | ||
| • Negah | ||
| • Leila | ||
| • Khodaye Asemoonha | ||
| Goodbye | 1991 | • Atish Pareh |
| • Yasaman | ||
| • Ameneh | ||
| :: |
Andy
::data[format=table]
| Title | Year | Notable tracks | Album details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Future's Feature | 1977 | • Eshgh o Issar | |
| • Walkin' in the Rain | |||
| • Today's Just Like Tomorrow | |||
| Beegharar | 1992 | • Dokhtar Irooni | |
| • Sheytanat | |||
| • Beegharar | |||
| • Entezar | First solo album following his split of duo with Kouros | ||
| Tanhaee | 1994 | • Naaze Naaz | |
| • Tanhaee | |||
| • Cheshmaye Naaz | |||
| Devoted | 1996 | • Dokhtare Bandar | |
| • Ghesseye Eshgh | |||
| • Sarsepordeh | |||
| • Tavalod | |||
| Silk Road | 1998 | • Be Kasi Nagoo | |
| • Az Khod Gozashteh | |||
| • Orere Seero | |||
| • Melli Poosha | |||
| And My Heart... | 2000 | • Yalla | |
| • Rayhan | Solo album. An international version was released in 2001 including 7 songs in Persian, 3 in English, 3 in Armenian, 2 in Spanish, 1 in Arabic, and 1 in Hindi. A cover of Hotel California by the Eagles is included in the later version. | ||
| Khalvate Man | 2002 | • Che Khoshgel Shodi | |
| • Shaghayegh | Solo album, including an Armenian version of "Topoli", a Spanish version of "Yalla", and 4 remixes of "Rayhan" | ||
| Orere Seero | 2003 | • Orere Seero | |
| • Garoun Garouneh | First all-Armenian solo album | ||
| Platinum | 2004 | • Areh Areh | |
| • Aroosak | |||
| • Salame Asheghouneh | Solo album. "Salame Asheghoone" and "Sahraei", written by Leila Kasra, are featured in the 2003 film House of Sand and Fog. | ||
| City of Angels | 2006 | • Khoshgela Bayad Beraghsand | |
| • Mohem Naboud | |||
| • Gole Bandar | |||
| • Daram Miram Beh Tehran | Solo album, including 11 original songs and 5 remixes. A cover of "Marde Tanha" by Farhad and a remix by Nami are included. A new version of "Tanine Solh" written by Leila Kasra and originally performed by Andy, Kouros, Fataneh, Moein, and Morteza is included. "Daram Miram Beh Tehran" is featured as the soundtrack of the animated film "Babak & Friends: A First Norooz". | ||
| Airport | 2007 | • Faghat Yeh Negah | |
| • Bee To | |||
| • Salam | |||
| • Zamouneh | Solo album, including 13 original songs and 3 remixes | ||
| :: |
Singles and Collaborative Albums
::data[format=table]
| Title | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Laili | 1993 | Collaborative album with Bijan Mortazavi and Hassan Shamaizadeh |
| Ghahremanane Vatan | 1998 | Single, collaboration with Leila Forouhar and Dariush |
| Nune | 1999 | Two-track single including a cover of "Chera Ashegh Shodam" |
| Yaran | 2001 | Collaborative album with Paksima, Pyruz, and Hamid Nadiri |
| Stand by Me | 2009 | With Richie Sambora and Jon Bon Jovi |
| We Hear Your Voice | 2014 | Humanitarian track and collaboration with 15 other artists |
| Far and Away | 2014 | "Guardian Angel" motion picture soundtrack featuring Shani |
| Parya khanoom | 2015 | Humanitarian track and collaboration with 15 other artists |
| Tehran | 2016 | Duet with La Toya Jackson |
| Salama So Good | 2019 | Duet with Algerian singer Khaled |
| :: |
Filmography
::data[format=table]
| 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 () | Cameo |
| 2010 | Lost Journey: Lost Journey | Mr.Zand |
| 2013 | Shirin in Love | Andy |
| :: |
Gallery
Andy - Persian New Year - Oberhausen Arena - Nowruz - March 2014.JPG|Andy in a Persian New Year Concert, Arena Oberhausen, March 2014
References
Sources
- Tehran Magazine. Choose the Best: Andy, Mansour, or Shahram Kashani Issue 476. Page 72-76
References
- (2007). "Weekend Forecast". Los Angeles Times.
- (June 28, 2009). "BBC فارسی – ايران – بون جووی و اندی در حمایت از تظاهرکنندگان ایرانی خواندند (Bon Jovi & Andy Supporting Iranian Demonstrators)". BBC.
- (July 31, 2012). "We Hear Your Voice".
- (October 6, 2015). "La Toya Jackson To Drop Farsi Duet With Iranian Singer Andy Madadian". idolator.com.
- "La Toya Jackson on Twitter". [[Twitter]].
- (April 17, 2019). "Khaled & Andy - Salama So Good".
- (2011). "Andy and Shani Wedding Pictures and Video". Armenian Pulse Radio & Entertainment.
- (November 14, 2011). "Report: Andy & Shani's Wedding (Photos)". Nabz.com.
- (June 2013). "Andy Madadian - interview with Lia Martirosyan and Chet Cooper".
- (Jun–Jul 2013). "ANDY – Music + Charity = Millions of Fans". ABILITY Magazine.
- Minazad, Orly. (January 20, 2020). "Op-Ed: A Walk of Fame star may seem silly, but it means a lot to us Iranians".
- Levin, Sam. (January 16, 2020). "'An American dream': singer Andy Madadian becomes first Iranian on Hollywood's Walk of Fame".
- (January 19, 2020). "Iranian-Armenian music star Andy Madadian gets star on Hollywood Walk of Fame".
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