Tony's musical journey probably began on our old upright piano, the centerpiece of our childhood livingroom. The tall wooden beheamoth doubled as our homes mantlepiece, since the house had no fireplace. Framed family photos and treasured knick knacks lined it's top. Stockings were hung from it at Christmas, and May family-rosary's were recited, kneeling before it. A crucifix hung on a nail at it's center, halfway from it's lid and the ceiling. We all banged on that piano from time to time, but most of never got past
Heart & Soul and
Chopsticks. Tony, on the other hand, was able to coax a little more music out of it. When company was gathered in the pink and green livingroom, Tony would be summoned at some point in the evening to perform his version of
Flowers of Spain. (Rody would be called in to do
the Twist. As far as I remember, Tim and I didn't have any parlor tricks.) In High School, Tony moved on to the tenor sax. Tony took up the saxophone as a compromise with our Dad, who refused to give him permission to play
football at
Saint Anthony's High School. As far as Dad could reason it, football was just too dangerous. In his mind, being in the
school band was just as cool as being on the football team.
AND you got to wear really cool band uniforms. Tony held out for a while. He actually attended team workouts, but eventually relented and got fitted for a band uniform. He took to the sax quickly and received a lot of encouragement from the Band Director. I still remember Mom telling and retelling the story of the night that the Director called upon Tony to stand and play a solo . She was really proud of that. At the time, the saxophone was an intricate and "sexy" component of the average teenage garage band.
Surf music was in it's prime, and every authentic
surf band had to have a sax player on board. So Tony linked up with some friends from SA, and within a short period of time he became a totally bitchen
Ricky Nelson looking saxophone player in a string of quality surf bands. Tony had a great time playing dances and clubs, but it wasn't long before he realized that the rock n roll
lead guitar was leaving the saxophone in it's raucous wake. Tony knew he needed to transition, and he did.
Tony's first guitar was actually Tim's - a six string western style guitar given to Tim by
Uncle Frank as a Christmas present. Even though our Dad had played guitar (and still does), we never had one in the house until Uncle Frank's gift. Tony immediately adopted that guitar and taught himself to play. It served him well until that fateful afternoon when he called Mom's bluff after she threatened to break it over his head "
El Kabong" style. She did. Maybe that's why she and Dad decided to surprise Tony with the Burns of London
Ampeg Wilddog Split Jazz electric guitar. I remember it was late in the afternoon and Tony was at work - probably
St. Mary's. Mom and Dad put the shiny new black and red Ampeg in it's case on the living room couch and waited excitedly for Tony to come home. I remember being excited too. I also remember thinking what a curious thing it was for them to buy him such a cool present when it wasn't even his birthday or Christmas or anything. I remember Tony coming home, and all of us watching him find the guitar. I also remember Mom asking him to plug it in and play something, and how Tony explained to her that the guitar needed an amp in order to make any sound. The Ampeg quickly found it's way to many amps, and Tony the rock n' roll lightening-fingered guitar hero was born.
I have Two vivid memories of Tony's rock band days:
1.)Tony's band was playing in our backyard on a warm Saturday afternoon. Every kid and teenager in the neighborhood was hanging in our driveway, straddling 10 speeds and stingrays or sitting along the fence and the back porch. Two
LB police rolled up in a black and white and advised our Mom that they had gotten a noise complaint. The police told our Mom that they were required to stop by, since a complaint had been made. But they added that there wasn't really any problem with the noise that early in the day. My mom then served both of them
lemonade and they hung around for about 20 minutes listening along with the rest of us.
2.) One Friday in early June, I went out with my buddies to walk the grounds at St. Maria Goretti at recess, and discovered a huge banner hanging on the front of the Church Hall. Large painted letters announced that
Tony and the Nightriders were going to be playing live at that weekend's Chiro dance.
Wow. My brother - a real celebrity. Rock on, Tony.
Rock on. -
Tom
