In the four short years since that first gig Boy Wonder has become one of Philadelphia's most promising and interesting young artists delivering a high energy blend of Pop Music that blends Funk, Rock, Soul, Blues, Hip-Hop and Jazz. Born Andre Coles in West Philadelphia in 1982 to Rev Vincent Coles and Pamela Coles, he began his musical life signing in the church choir at the age of three and was turned onto Rock and Roll at the age of six after hearing The Police's Roxanne. Making music in various bands since the age of 17 and a veteran of the Philadelphia Music Scene by age 20 Boy recorded his first solo album Simplex which was released in 2003. The more focused Electric Love would follow in 2006 with many considering that to be the Genesis of The Boy Wonder sound. Along the way Boy Wonder and his backing band The Klique gained a reputation in Philadelphia for delivering high energy entertaining performances some even comparing him to a young Prince, "I was never comfortable with that comparison, Prince is a genius and I'm too tall." He would soon begin to garner the attention of management companies. He would sign with Valentino Entertainment in mid 2006 who began shopping his music to major record labels almost immediately.

In early 2007 less than a year after the release of Electric Love, Boy Wonder and the Klique went back to work to record Contact a title and song that holds a great deal of significance to him as an artist, "I really think that art is self expression right up until the point you show that art to someone else, then it's about connecting with them. If you can make Contact with someone else through your art you've done your job." Standout tracks such as "Body", "3000 Miles Away", and (I think we should) Breakup hint at the artists growth, newfound maturity, and strong belief in songwriting. "I looked at all my favorite artists; Sting, The Police, Prince, John Mayer etc. and the key to their success was writing great songs that made you feel something, and that all the technical skill won't help you if you're songs aren't good, it's the neighborhood I wish to live in someday"

The positive reception to the album made Boy one of the most in demand acts of 2007 playing seemingly anywhere that had a stage from Daytona to New York City, including residencies at O.N.E. at Rittenhouse and Lickety Split in downtown Philadelphia bringing his music to the people the old-fashioned way, "I haven’t really received a lot of help from the local music scene here so I decided early on the best way to do it was to do it myself." Boy has taken that D.I.Y. approach and applied it into booking and promotion producing band shows featuring himself and other local and regional artists under the name "the HYPE!" and continues to draw energetic crowds of all ages to various venues around the city recently playing a Sold Out show at World Cafe Live. "With the HYPE! I can personally guarantee that the entire evening will be good not just the 40 minutes I'm on-stage then all the bands get a chance to grow their audience."

In 2008 Mr. Wonder as he is affectionately called by his peers took over as the host of Philly Rising, World Cafe Live's popular Monday Night Open Mic event and in December he will releasehis fourht Album entitled Superego " I want to grow as a musician, as a songwriter, as a person, I want to get better, I want more people to see me and my band play, I believe in what I'm doing and having a blast I'm really hoping to break this thing wide open." In 2009 it looks like Boy Wonder might do just that.

Photo's by Tara Robertson