THE SHORT STORY
Andre Henry is an award winning R&B/Pop singer-songwriter & producer from Atlanta, GA. Often drawing comparisons to Stevie Wonder, John Legend, and Prince, Andre has probably best been described as an impassioned soul stylist working at the intersection of soul, pop, and jazz. In late 2007, he made a spontaneous choice to move to New York City, playing shows on the Lower East side and building a following--within 3 years, he could draw 60 people to a show with a week's notice. He followed the urban open mic circuit to Ashford and Simpson's Sugar Bar, where he eventually caught the attention of the iconic songwriting duo, and their daughter Nicole who became his manager. In 2011, Ashford and Simpson invited Andre to collaborate with them on Sir Cliff Richard's Soulicious album; on which, Andre arranged four songs, including Andre's original entitled Don't Say You Love Me (It'll Ruin My Day). Later that year, The ASCAP Foundation awarded Andre the Reach Out and Touch Award in Honor of Nick Ashford, an award to invest into the career of a promising songwriter. He is also a teacher and the worship director at Glad Tidings Tabernacle in TriBeCa.
THE LONGER ILLUSTRATED STORY
2011
DECEMBER
Andre Henry becomes the inaugural recipient of the ASCAP Foundation's Reach Out and Touch Award in honor of Nick Ashford. The Hopeless Romantics were invited to perform at the ceremony at Lincoln Center.
Andre receiving the award from the late Ashford's wife and life-long collaborator, Ms. Valerie Simpson (pictured above). Read more at The ASCAP Foundation Website and the article about the event at the Examiner's web article: The 16th Annual ASCAP Foundation Awards by Jim Bessman.
NOVEMBER
A keytar wielding Andre learns to sing the blues as The Hopeless Romantics perform a residency at Ashford and Simpson's Sugar Bar, reinterpretting classic songs from iconic songwriters from Muddy Waters to Janelle Monae.
During this residency, Andre's band is officially dubbed The Hopeless Romantics--a name originally assigned to them by accident while playing at a church in Long Island one month prior.
OCTOBER
ANDRE HENRY MUSIC Releases the critically acclaimed INSOMNIA EP, leading to a nomination for for Soul Tracks Best New Artist of 2011.
The range of material Andre delivers across a mere six track EP is pretty impressive, clearly demonstrating the songwriting chops of a seasoned veteran. I’m sure that he would rather not be pigeon-holed, but SoulCuts is putting him firmly in the box marked ‘Timeless’. -- Paul Cutting, SoulCuts.org. Read the whole review here: SoulCuts Ain't Sleepin' On Andre Henry
The self-confessed hopeless romantic now calls New York his home and is on a mission, it seems, to redefine the typical machismo definition of sexy. His version is more intellectual and much more heartfelt...The care and attention he pays to lyricism and arrangement is evident. -- SoulBounce.com, Bounce-Worthy: Andre Henry
Andre & The Hopeless Romantics perform an album release show for the Insomnia EP and the Sacred EP.
JUNE
Andre is invited to collaborate with legendary songwriting team Ashford & Simpson on Sir Cliff Richard's Soulicious album. Andre arranged 4 songs on the album, including one of his own songs entitled Don't Say You Love Me (It'll Ruin My Day)--the demo of which is above.
Don't Say You Love Me (Draft 5) by andrehenry
The album debuted in the 10 Ten on the Charts in the UK.
MARCH
By popular demand, Andre reaches into the vault to make previously unreleased tracks available--the result is THE SACRED EP.
JANUARY - MARCH
Andre decides to sell all of his possessions in order to fund the completion of the INSOMNIA EP. Within two weeks, Andre raises $1,200 in sales and donations from his fans.
ANDRE HENRY IS SELLING EVERYTHING HE HAS... from Andre Henry on Vimeo.
2010
NOVEMBER - DECEMBER
Andre Henry teams up with Jesse Fischer to produce the INSOMNIA EP at Elektrik Indigo Studios in Brooklyn.
SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER
Andre & HR begin a monthly residency at one of the most premiere NYC hot spots--Comix NYC.
2009
OCTOBER [TIL LATE 2011]
The Sugar Bar becomes a home and training ground for Andre as a performer, where Marvin Gaye's I Want You becomes his signature song for the next 2 years.
Nicole Ashford becomes Andre's manager, and Ashford & Simpson his "mentors in passing". The Sugar Bar's family of artists, patrons, and high profile clientelle (like Quincy Jones, Andre Leon Talley, and Whoopi Goldberg) help him develop as an artist as they give him feedback on his style, stage presence, and musical abilities.
SEPTEMBER
The band that would become The Hopeless Romantics comes together for Andre's first showcase at Ashford and Simpson's Sugar Bar, where the legendary songwriting duo first notice his ability as a writer.
JUNE 2008
Andre begins performing regularly at venues on the Lower East Side, and open mics on the urban open mic scene: including The Crash Mansion, The Village Underground, Shrine NYC, and Ashford & Simpson's Sugar Bar.
DECEMBER 2007
Andre suddenly becomes the worship director at Glad Tidings Tabernacle in TriBeCa.
Andre receives a theological degree from Southeastern University, takes a weekend trip to New York City, and decides not to return home to Atlanta.
2006 - MID 2007
Andre forms The Progressive Soul Orchestra. A year later, they do a mini-tour of the Northeast.
The Inspiration Network licenses Andre's song Bless the Lord.
While pursuing his degree, Andre works as a writer and arranger for the campus choirs at Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida.
Inspired by John Legend, John Mayer, and Jason Upton, Andre decides to take a more soulful approach to songwriting. His blending of sacred and secular music proves to be controversial at times.
2003
Andre leaves his hometown of Atlanta, and the Gospel Choir he founded and toured with in highschool, to study the Bible at Southeastern University.
