Kevin Drew Steps In for Tom Cochrane at Andy Kim's All-Star Fundraiser

When inclement winter weather kept Canadian rocker Tom Cochrane -- best known for his early '90s hit 'Life is a Highway' -- from appearing at veteran musician Andy Kim's annual Christmas fundraiser in Toronto on Wednesday night, Broken Social Scene's Kevin Drew was happy to fill in.

"Alright! We are going to do this for you," he told the capacity crowd at the Mod Club theater. Then, with lyrics in hand, he led the talented house band through a rousing rendition of Cochrane's 'Boy Inside the Man.' Drew then took a moment to rib Toronto's newly elected right-wing mayor Rob Ford before introducing the event's host with due reverence.

"We are here on such a lovely evening to support a great cause -- and for this man, Andy Kim," Drew said.

Don't feel bad if you don't recognize the name. You probably still know his music.

In the early 1960s, when Andy Kim was 16-years-old, he packed up and moved from Montreal to New York City to become a songwriter. Over the course of his career, he had a hand in nine Billboard Top 40 hits, including writing 'Rock Me Gently' and co-writing the Archies' 'Sugar Sugar,' which went to number one and sold millions of records worldwide. He also had the likes of Wilson Pickett, Tom Jones, Ike and Tina Turner and Bob Marley cover his songs. By the late '70s, however, Kim seemingly vanished from the music business.

Watch Andy Kim Perform His 1974 Hit 'Rock Me Gently'
Now, prompted by the support of a new generation of songwriters, including Drew, Ed Robertson of Barenaked Ladies, and Ron Sexsmith, Kim is enjoying a renaissance.

Each December, for the past six years, he has called upon his supporters to help raise funds for a local charity. For the second year in a row, proceeds from his all-star fundraiser benefited the Regent Park School of Music, a unique not-for-profit music school in one of Toronto's dodgiest neighbourhoods. With the help of charitable donations, the school is able to purchase musical instruments for underprivileged kids, and offer affordable high-quality music education to the city's youth. It's a cause that's close to Kim's heart.

"Give a kid an instrument, and they will never be lonely," Kim said at one point during the benefit.

And while performing on the Mod Club's stage, he certainly wasn't lonely. Closing the show with his two biggest hits, 'Sugar Sugar' and 'Rock Me Gently,' Kim welcomed Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson, Drew and his Broken Social Scene wingman Brendan Canning, Luke Doucet, Sexsmith and reformed '80s new wavers Platinum Blonde back to the stage. As the snow fell outside, the all-star band churned out these infectious radio hits for a good cause.

Rest assured, the beaming smiles on audience members' faces could have melted even Ebenezer Scrooge's cold-dark heart.