Andy Stokes

With roots in soul stretching back to the early 1980s, Andy Stokes functions as an R&B songwriter and vocalist whose potent yet measured delivery echoes Charlie Wilson of the Gap Band and Emanuel Johnson from Enchantment. Born in Portland, Oregon, he entered the music scene in 1983 upon joining Cool'r, the ensemble assembled by former members of Pleasure. That outfit issued the independent album Let's Talk About It in 1986, followed by the A&M-released Cool'r in 1989. Throughout those years Stokes also contributed vocals to the claymation retro-R&B project known as the California Raisins. After Cool'r disbanded, he pursued a solo path that began with the 1993 single "Test of Time" and continued with the 1995 album About Time. Although his recording activity remained sporadic through the 2000s—highlighted by his appearance on Let the Good Times Roll: A NW Tribute to Ray Charles—he maintained a steady presence as a live performer. Late in that decade he received several regional music honors, culminating in his induction into the Oregon Music Hall of Fame. His solo catalog resumed with the Full Circle EP in 2016 and the Now EP in 2018, the latter featuring the single "Best Day Ever."