Andrew Roachford

"Roachford" redirects here. For the album, see Roachford (album).

Andrew Roachford MBE
Roachford performing with Mike + The Mechanics in 2011
Background information
Born	(1965-01-22) 22 January 1965 (age 60) London, England
Genres	Pop rock R&B soul
Occupations	Musician singer songwriter
Instruments	Vocals keyboards percussion
Years active	1987–present
Labels	Columbia Absolute Peppermint Jam SPV M3 Sony BMG
Member of	Roachford Mike + The Mechanics
Website	roachford.co.uk

Andrew Roachford MBE (born 22 January 1965) is a British singer-songwriter and the main force behind the band Roachford, who scored their first success in 1989 with the hits "Cuddly Toy" and "Family Man". He has also had a successful solo career.

He was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2019 Birthday Honours for services to music.[1]

Early life and career

Andrew Roachford was born in London, England to parents of West Indian descent. A band of the same name was formed in 1987, the line-up featuring Andrew Roachford (vocals, keyboards, percussion), Chris Taylor (drums), Hawi Gondwe (guitars) and Derrick Taylor (bass guitar).[2] By 1988, the band were touring, supporting acts such as Terence Trent D'Arby and the Christians.[2] Shortly afterward, a seven-album recording contract with Columbia was signed.[2] They went on to have a string of success throughout the 1990s, becoming Columbia's biggest-selling UK act for ten years.[3]

Roachford released his first solo studio album, Heart of the Matter, in 2003. His next studio album Word of Mouth was released in June 2005 under the band name Roachford. In 2010, Roachford joined Mike + The Mechanics along with Tim Howar. The following year the band's seventh studio album The Road was released featuring Roachford and Howar as lead vocalists, as well as their eighth studio album Let Me Fly (2017).

Roachford collaborated with Beverley Knight on his studio album Twice In a Lifetime, which was released in September 2020. It charted at number 31 on the UK Albums Chart. This was the first Roachford album to chart in the top 40 after a 23-year absence, last charting in 1997 with Feel.

Discography

Albums

Year	Album details	Peak chart positions								Certification
		UK [4][5]	AUS [6]	AUT [7]	GER [8]	NZ [9]	SWE [10]	SWI [11]	US [12]
1988	Roachford Released: 9 September 1988 Label: CBS	11	—	—	—	—	48	—	109	BPI: Gold[4]
1991	Get Ready! Released: 1991 Label: Columbia	20	176	—	36	—	49	—	—
1994	Permanent Shade of Blue Released: 30 March 1994 Label: Columbia	25	2	—	52	11	—	—	—	ARIA: 2× Platinum[13] BPI: Gold[4]
1997	Feel Released: 29 September 1997 Label: Columbia	19	61	47	37	—	—	50	—
2000	The Roachford Files Released: 9 October 2000 Label: Columbia	88	316	—	—	—	—	100	—
2003	Heart of the Matter Released: 4 August 2003 Label: Absolute Released under the artist name Andrew Roachford	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2005	The Very Best of Roachford Released: 30 May 2005 Label: Columbia	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	Word of Mouth Released: 27 June 2005 Label: Peppermint Jam/SPV	—	—	—	88	—	—	—	—
2011	Where I Stand Released: 10 April 2011 Label: M3 Records	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	Addictive Released: September 2011 Label: M3 Records	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2013	This Beautiful Moment Released: 2013 Label: M3 Records	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2016	Encore Released: 2016 Label: M3 Records	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2020	Twice in a Lifetime Released: 11 September 2020 Label: Sony BMG	31	—	—	68	—	—	72	—
2024	Than And Now Released: 1 March 2024 Label: Sony BMG		—	—		—	—		—
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Singles

Year	Single	Peak chart positions										Album
		UK [4][5]	AUS [6]	AUT [7]	FRA [14]	GER [15]	IRE [16]	NED [17]	NZ [9]	SWI [18]	US [19]
1988	"Family Man"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Roachford
	"Cuddly Toy"	61	73	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"Find Me Another Love"	100	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1989	"Cuddly Toy" (re-release)	4	—	—	—	49	7	17	—	—	25
	"Family Man" (re-release)	25	157	—	—	—	18	—	—	—	—
	"Kathleen"	43	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1991	"Get Ready!"	22	—	—	35	43	—	—	—	—	—	Get Ready!
	"Stone City"	77	—	—	—	—	—	58	—	—	—
	"Innocent Eyes"	91	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"Higher"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1994	"Only to Be with You"	21	18	—	—	57	—	44	24	—	—	Permanent Shade of Blue
	"Lay Your Love on Me"	36	26	—	—	55	—	—	7	—	—
	"This Generation"	38	53	—	—	60	—	—	32	—	—
	"Cry for Me"	46	103	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1995	"I Know You Don't Love Me"	42		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1997	"The Way I Feel"	20	105	—	—	91	—	—	—	46	—	Feel
1998	"How Could I? (Insecurity)"	34	198	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"Naked Without You"	53	—	—	—	—	—	71	—	—	—
	"Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now" (MOBO Allstars)^+	47	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1999	"Walk Away" (PF Project feat. Roachford)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2000	"From Now On"	90	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	The Roachford Files
2001	"Run Baby Run" (Bustafunk feat. Roachford)	—	—	—	11	—	—	—	—	60	—	Bustafunk (Bustafunk album)
2003	"The Pressure"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Heart of the Matter
2004	"Pop Muzak" (Mousse T. with Roachford)	—	—	14	—	19	—	—	—	73	—	Word of Mouth
2005	"River of Love"	—	—	—	—	—	—	85	—	—	—
	"Tomorrow"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2007	"Ride the Storm" (Roachford & M.Y.N.C. Project)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"Ride the Storm" (Remix) (Carl Kennedy vs M.Y.N.C Project feat. Roachford)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2010	"Survive" (Laurent Wolf feat Andrew Roachford)	—	—	—	9	—	—	—	—	—	—	Harmony (Laurent Wolf album)
2011	"Wishing You Knew"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Addictive
	"Complicated"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2019	"Love Remedy"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Twice in a Lifetime
2020	"What We Had" (featuring Beverley Knight)[20]	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

• ^+ "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now" by MOBO Allstars was a charity single released collectively by MOBO Award nominees in 1998, reaching No. 47 on the UK Singles Chart. The artists featured on the recording were Another Level, Beverley Knight, Mica Paris, Damage, Nine Yards, Don-E, Hinda Hicks, Celetia, Dina Carroll, Dru Hill, Shola Ama, Truce, Misty Oldland, Ultimate Kaos, Kleshay, Lynden David Hall, Kele Le Roc, East 17, Conner Reeves, Des'ree, Cleopatra, Glamma Kid, Honeyz, Kelle Bryan, Roachford, Byron Stingily, Alyson Brown, D'Influence, Michelle Gayle, Ignorants, Soundproof, Tony Dortie, David Grant and Carrie Grant.

References

1. "No. 62666". The London Gazette (Supplement). 8 June 2019. p. B20.
2. Colin Larkin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music (Concise ed.). Virgin Books. p. 1019. ISBN 1-85227-745-9.
3. Biography Roachford.co.uk. Retrieved 5 November 2009.
4. UK chart peaks:
   • Top 100 peaks, other than "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now": "Official Charts > Roachford". The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved 30 May 2017. N.B. This site displays 'compressed' chart peaks (exclusion rules applied) between positions 76−100.
   • Top 200 peaks from November 1994 to December 2010: "Chart Log UK 1994–2010 > The Rabble Army – RZA". zobbel.de. Retrieved 30 May 2017. N.B. This site displays 'uncompressed' chart peaks (no exclusions applied) for positions 76–200, between November 1994 and May 2001.
   • "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now": "Official Charts > MOBO Allstars". The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
5. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 465. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
6. Australian (ARIA) chart peaks:
   • "Cuddly Toy": "The ARIA Report issue 223, week ending 22nd May, 1994: Chartifacts column". Imgur.com (original document published by ARIA). Retrieved 24 September 2015.
   • Top 50 peaks: "australian-charts.com > Roachford in Australian Charts". Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
   • Top 100 peaks from January 1990 to December 2010: Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (pdf ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 237.
   • "This Generation": "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 2 Jul 1995". Imgur.com (original document published by ARIA). Retrieved 30 May 2017. N.B. The HP column displays the highest peak reached.
   • All ARIA chart peaks to 26 October 2018: "Response from ARIA re: Roachford ARIA chart history, received 26 October 2018". Imgur.com. Retrieved 3 January 2019. N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.
7. "austriancharts.at > Roachford in der Österreichischen Hitparade" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
8. German albums chart peaks:
   • Get Ready!: "Roachford – Get Ready! (album)" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
   • Permanent Shade of Blue: "Roachford – Permanent Shade of Blue (album)" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
   • Feel: "Roachford – Feel (album)" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
   • Word of Mouth: "Roachford – Word of Mouth (album)" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
9. "charts.nz > Roachford in New Zealand Charts". Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
10. "swedishcharts.com > Roachford in Swedish Charts". Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
11. "hitparade.ch > Suche nach: Roachford (alben)" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
12. "Roachford Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
13. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1995 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
14. "lescharts.com > Roachford dans les Charts Français" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
15. German singles chart peaks:
    • "Cuddly Toy": "Roachford – Cuddly Toy (single)" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
    • "Get Ready!": "Roachford – Get Ready! (single)" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
    • "Only to Be with You": "Roachford – Only to Be with You (single)" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
    • "Lay Your Love on Me": "Roachford – Lay Your Love on Me (single)" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
    • "This Generation": "Roachford – This Generation (single)" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
    • "The Way I Feel": "Roachford – The Way I Feel (single)" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
    • "Pop Muzak": "Mousse T. with Roachford – Pop Muzak (single)" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
16. "The Irish Charts – All there is to know > Search results for Roachford (from irishcharts.ie)". Imgur.com (original source published by Fireball Media). Retrieved 30 May 2017.
17. "dutchcharts.nl > Roachford in Dutch Charts" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
18. "hitparade.ch > Suche nach: Roachford (songs)" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
19. "Roachford Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
20. Millar, Mark (12 March 2020). "ROACHFORD has announced a new single 'What We Had' featuring BEVERLEY KNIGHT". xsnoize. Retrieved 19 August 2020.

External links

• Roachford official UK site
• Andrew Roachford at AllMusic
• Andrew Roachford discography at Discogs
• Andrew Roachford at IMDb