André Cymone facts for kids

Quick facts for kids André Cymone
Cymone in 1982
Background information
Birth name	Andre Simon Anderson
Born	(1958-06-27) June 27, 1958 (age 67) Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
Genres	Minneapolis sound new wave funk
Occupation(s)	Musician singer songwriter record producer
Instruments	Bass guitar piano drums brass section vocals
Years active	1974–present
Labels	Columbia Blindtango
Associated acts	Prince, Jody Watley, Adam Ant, Pebbles, Tom Jones

André Cymone (born Andre Simon Anderson; June 27, 1958) is an American musician. He is a talented bassist, songwriter, and record producer. He was once the bass guitarist for Prince's touring band. This was before Prince's band became The Revolution.

In 1981, Cymone left Prince's band to start his own music career. As a solo artist, he released several popular albums. These included Livin' in the New Wave, Survivin' in the '80s, and A.C.. These albums mixed new wave and funk styles. This blend led to many hit R&B songs. His song, "The Dance Electric", was written by Prince. It reached number 10 on the R&B charts in 1985. Later, Cymone helped write and produce hit songs for other artists. This included "Looking for a New Love" and "Real Love" for his then-wife, Jody Watley.

Cymone is known for creating new and exciting music in the late 1970s and 1980s. He helped make Minneapolis a famous music city. His stage name, Cymone, comes from a different spelling of his middle name, Simon.

André Cymone: Music Journey

Early Life and Music Beginnings

André Cymone was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. His father, Fred Anderson, was also a musician. His mother, Bernadette, worked as a social worker. André was the youngest of six children.

A young Prince later moved into the Anderson home. This happened because Prince had difficulties at his own home. Prince's cousin, Charles Smith, started a band called Grand Central. He later invited Cymone to join. The band also included Cymone's sister Linda and Morris Day. They later changed their name to Champagne. This was because people confused them with another funk band. Around 1975, Pepe Willie, who was married to another of Prince's cousins, started the funk band 94 East. Cymone and Prince were both members of this band.

Starting a Solo Career

In the late 1970s, Prince released his first album, For You. Prince then asked Cymone to be the bassist for his touring band. Cymone played with Prince until 1981. He left the band after some disagreements with Prince.

Later, André and Prince worked out their differences. Cymone then released three solo albums. These were Livin' In The New Wave (1982), Survivin' in the 80s (1983), and AC (1985). For a long time, these albums were hard to find. But now, all three have been updated with extra songs. His most successful song as a solo artist was "The Dance Electric". Prince wrote this song, and it was on Cymone's AC album.

Producing and New Music

Cymone became a successful music producer. He is well known for producing music for Jody Watley. They were married and have a son together. He has also produced and written songs for many other artists. These include Evelyn "Champagne" King, Pebbles, Jermaine Stewart, The Girls, Pretty Poison, and Adam Ant. In 1988, Cymone produced three songs for Phil Thornalley's album Swamp. He also helped write the song "Under My Skin" for that album.

His song "Better Way" was sung by James Ingram. It was featured on the Beverly Hills Cop II movie soundtrack in 1987. In the late 1980s, Cymone stepped away from the public eye. He focused on raising his children and other creative writing projects.

Recent Projects and Albums

In September 2012, Cymone released a digital song called "America". This song helped support United States President Barack Obama's re-election campaign. All the money from the song went to the campaign. The song was available for download online. People who bought "America" also got a preview of a new song called "American Dream".

In 2012, Cymone shared that he was working on a new album. This ended his 27-year break from singing. In May 2013, Cymone released a demo song called "My Best Friend". It was a six-minute acoustic song. He said it was a tribute to his mother, Bernadette Anderson.

Later in May 2013, Cymone appeared on an online video chat. He talked more about writing "My Best Friend". He also shared his hopes for his new album. In November 2013, his new album, The Stone, was available for pre-order. Fans could buy special packages, including signed CDs. The Stone was officially released on February 18, 2014.

André Cymone released his sixth studio album, 1969, on April 7, 2017. It was available on Bandcamp and iTunes.

Music Albums and Songs

Albums

• Livin' in the New Wave (1982)
• Survivin' in the 80's (1983)
• A.C. (1985)
• The Stone (2014)
• Black Man In America EP (2016)
• 1969 (2017)

Singles

• "Livin' in the New Wave" (1982)
• "Kelly's Eyes" (1982)
• "Survivin' in the 80's" (1983)
• "Make Me Wanna Dance" (1983)
• "What Are We Doing Here" (1983)
• "Body Thang" (1983)
• "The Dance Electric" (1985)
• "Satisfaction" (1985)
• "Lipstick Lover" (1985)
• "America" (2012)
• "American Dream" (2012)
• "Trayvon" (2013)
• "Naked (Harts Remix)" (2014)
• "Vote" (2014)
• "Bounce" (2015)
• "Give Peace A Chance (2015)" (2015)
• "VOTE! 2018" (2018)
• "Our World Is On Fire" (2020)
• "Funk is Alive" (2024)
• "Hot Funk in the Summertime" (2024)

See also