Rock N Roll Legend Andy Kim is celebrating another milestone this year, the 50th anniversary of the release of one of his best-known songs and biggest hits, ”Rock Me Gently”.
Check it out on YouTube here:
The Canadian singer, who charted hits from 1968 to 1971, starting with “How’d We Ever Get This Way” which went Top 20 on both sides of the border followed by “ So Good Together” and a cover of The Ronettes hit “ Baby, I Love You” had not had a top 100 single since September of 1971, and had been looking for a record label since early 1973.
We caught up with Andy to discuss this landmark anniversary.
“I remember after I wrote this song. I remember writing it on a Friday night around 8pm, it was raining and after I finished it, I knew I had to record it. I was unsigned at the time so I went to a studio in L.A. with my own money and booked some time. I didn’t know any musicians in Los Angeles so I went to the Musicians Union and booked four guys. That night four strangers showed up at the studio and within an hour and half we had a finished record. “And then the magic wheels began to turn.”
Listen on Spotify here: open.spotify.com/track/5ge31VkFC1tpyehS4XQnNd
A radio station in Detroit picked it up and started playing and right at that time a Capitol Records guy was in Detroit and heard the record and wanted to sign me to Capitol in L.A.” Rock Me Gently" debuted on the Hot 100 on June 22, 1974, and took 14 weeks to reach No. 1 in the U.S. on September 28. It also rose to No. 2 on the UK and Canada Singles Chart and No. 10 in Ireland. Even the instrumental B-side received substantial airplay on R&B stations.”
The icing on the cake was when the record went Gold and Capitol invited me to the offices because they “ had something for me.” I walked in and saw this frame wrapped in brown paper and suddenly this guy walks through the door and starts taking the paper off and it’s John Lennon! He looks at the Gold Record and says “Andy Kim!” Well, that was truly a magic moment.”
Amazing tale for a kid who grew up in a modest home in Montreal with big dreams and a determination to follow his dreams.“We didn’t have very much, no TV, I didn’t even have a guitar. But we had a radio and WABC in New York City had a very strong signal and I could hear all the latest trends and tunes and knew that was what I wanted to do, what I was meant to do, with my life.”
And what a life, a career, Andy has and is still having. “I’m living my best life right now. I’m performing, and working on new material to record and besides the 50th Anniversary of “Rock Me Gently”, this year will mark the 20th year of my holiday show, Andy Kim’s Christmas. I’m very proud of that, it’s for a great cause CAMH, and features some great talent. Hard to believe it’s been going for 20 years.”
“I’m a ‘I have one life and I’m going to live it to the fullest kind of guy’ and I have been truly blessed by all the opportunities afforded me.”
Andy Kim is a true Canadian treasure and here’s to many more years of him rocking us gently.
