Andrew Strong

Andrew Strong is an Irish singer from Dublin, born in 1973. He comes from a musical family: his father, Rob Strong, is a rock singer who is still active in the music business.

Early bands and The Commitments

He starts singing at 11 and forms his first band, Perfect Stranger, in 1987 with school friends. In 1989 he joins League of Nations, where he plays mainly original material while still at school. In 1990 he is invited to sing for Alan Parker and is then cast by John Hubbard as Deco Cuffe in The Commitments. He is a member of The Commitments and, after the film’s release, he performs only with that group at film premieres in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Dublin, as well as at a Bette Midler charity show at the Universal Amphitheater in Los Angeles, the Grammys and The David Letterman Show.

Film, soundtrack and awards

The Commitments is released in 1991 and receives critical acclaim. Its soundtrack sells more than 12 million copies. Strong is nominated for a BAFTA for Best Supporting Role and also for a Grammy for his contribution to the film.

Touring and collaborations

After the film’s release, he tours Europe, the USA and Australia in 1992 because of demand to see him perform live. He also tours Europe with Elton John, performing at Parken Stadium in Copenhagen and the Olympic Stadium in Stockholm. He appears on stage with Bryan Adams in Adelaide, performs with David Gilmour at a free Amnesty International show in Nottingham, and also performs with Prince at the RDS in Dublin. He wins Best New Comer at the Telcom Awards, presented by Mike Mills of R.E.M.

Solo recordings

In 1993 he records his first solo album, Strong, in New York at The Hit Factory for MCA Records, produced by Danny Kortchmar. The album reaches platinum sales. Between 1993 and 1994 he tours Europe and also tours with the Rolling Stones on eight dates of the Voodoo Lounge tour, with Lenny Kravitz on the Are You Gonna Go My Way tour in Switzerland, and with ZZ Top in Germany.

He guests on Nathan Cavaleri’s record Working On It for Epic Records and appears on the soundtrack song “Working On It” for the film Camp Nowhere. In 1995 he moves to Los Angeles to write new material and performs with the original Blues Brothers Band at House of Blues venues in Los Angeles and Boston.

In 1996 he works with producer Marty Fredriksen at Rumbo Studios in Los Angeles on his second album, Candy Coated Frown, which he co-writes with original material; MCA International shelves the album.

Later albums and festival work

In 1997 he tours Europe at festivals with Deep Purple and Meat Loaf. In 1998 he tours the USA and records two duets with Danish singer Jette Torp, which sell more than 100,000 copies in Denmark.

In 2000 he records Out Of Time at Puk Studios for CMC Records, produced by Jan Sivertsen. The album features R&B, soul and rock covers, reaches the top 10 in Scandinavian charts for 35 weeks, and achieves platinum sales. Ray Charles presents him with a gold record for the album in Denmark.

In 2002 he records Gypsy’s Kiss at Puk Studios, again working in a relaxed studio setting. The album mixes half original songs co-written by Strong with cover versions, and is produced by Jez Coad and Jan Sivertsen for Rec Art EMI. It reaches the top 20 across Scandinavia and achieves platinum sales. That year he also performs at the Princess of Norway’s wedding in Trondheim.

The Boneyard Boys and later activity

In 2003 he forms The Bone Yard Boys with Bent Larsen Petersen, a partnership that continues. Their music draws on contemporary rock and includes shades of Bowie, U2, Soundgarden and Sly. He writes and records with the group, and by 2004 they are performing at European festivals.

In 2005 he records “When I’m Coming Home” in Los Angeles for the film Brothers, directed by Susanne Bier. He also prepares a greatest hits release. In 2006 Sony BMG releases Greatest Hits, which includes songs from his earlier recordings and a couple of new tracks co-written by him. He tours Europe and Australia in 2006 and 2007, while continuing to write and record with The Boneyard Boys.

He continues touring Europe’s festival circuit in 2008, and in 2009 makes his first US East Coast tour since 1998 while also recording with The Boneyard Boys. In 2010 he tours the US West Coast and plays festivals in Europe. In 2011 he begins recording a Bone Yard Boys album and reunites with The Commitments for a 20th anniversary tour in Ireland, ending with a sold-out show at Dublin’s O2 Arena. That run raises 30,000 euros for the Irish Cancer Society.