Andy Madadian's Concert in Philadelphia breaks records
Last week, the first capital of the United States, witnessed a Concert for Peace at Drexel University's historic and prestigious Auditorium, by Iranian American pop star Andy Madadian (event link). The successful event, sponsored by Drexel's International Graduate Student Association (IGSA) is thought to have broken several records according to concert producer Classic Persian. The number of ethnicities attending the Concert for Peace was perhaps a record in Philadelphia's history of ethnic music concerts. There were American and immigrant fans of Iranian, Armenian, Azerbaijani, Afghan, Tajik, Greek, Uzbek, and African ancestries.
The event, the largest Iranian American event to date in Philadelphia, was also the first Iranian American concert that sold its tickets entirely online (at Kodoom.com, the US-based Persian News/Events Hub). Traditionally, Persian and ethnic concerts sell majority of tickets through restaurants, grocery stores and via phone reservations. There was also no alcohol served before or during the family-oriented event that attracted fans ranging in age from 5 to 95 years old!
Andy and his professional band (Verej Ajounian, Andrew Payam Behjatnia, Orbel Babayan and Arbi Kalosian) who flew from California, used a short break as an opportunity to visit the City of Brotherly Love and stop at Philadelphia's Museum of Art and the popular statue of Rocky Balboa (pictured above). On stage, American musician Ray Patsch from New Jersey joined them on the percussion (right side, pictured below).
Andy and the promoters insisted on making the concert affordable for students, which was made possible by business sponsors: Capital Health of New Jersey, under leadership of CEO Al Maghazehe; Rowan University, under leadership of Dr. Ali Houshmand; Hummus Grill, Local area's home to healthy, fresh, affordable Mediterranean Food; and Fazeli Winery and Vineyards, Premium Southern California wines inspired by the ancient traditions of Persia.
About Andy Madadian
Born in Iran to an Armenian family (Armenians are Gregorian Christians, part of Eastern Orthodox Church), Andy Madadian - known by his stage name Andy - is a genuine multi-cultural phenomenon who resides in California now. He is perhaps Iran's best known musician and the only one who has performed with Whoopi Goldberg, Bon Jovi, Chris De Burgh (British-Irish), Latoya Jackson, Ragheb Alama (Lebanese) and many other notable, as well as emerging, world musicians. Andy's music has even been used in popular Bollywood movies.
In 2009, during the reformist movement in Iran and in solidarity with people's quest for democracy, human rights and peace, he performed a bilingual (Persian, English) version of "Stand by Me" with Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora and Friends. The viral video has been viewed 8 million times.
In 2013, Andy sang John Lennon's "Imagine" along with Whoopi Goldberg and many other peace activists and artists in The One World Concert at Syracuse University before Dalai Lama, celebrating peace, music and common ground.
Although the conservative Ayatollahs have officially banned his happy dance-evoking style of pop music in Iran, many Iranians know most of his songs by heart and play them, secretly, at homes, cars, weddings and parties. Even Iran's state-run TV recently played part of his music while chastising the Iranian athletes who, while traveling in Canada and the United States, posed in pictures with Andy.
Andy flew from Philadelphia to Abu Dhabi as a special guest of the Formula 1 races. He is currently working on his joint production with Latoya Jackson (pictured below):
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