Tony Coleman
The Man Behind the Legend
Drums were certainly an ongoing passion for a young Tony Coleman. His school
notebooks were often filled with doodles illustrating his musical aspirations,
creating little stick figures of different musicians. Until he purchased a
real drum set, he would often carve old tree branches into the shape of
drumsticks using kitchen pots and pans for the drums. As a young junior in
high school, Tony got his first professional gig backing up a local disc
jockey that wanted a live drummer to accompany him at the regular teen dance
parties. Playing alongside all the latest records, Tony developed his skills
by playing with all sorts of popular music. Around town, word was getting out
that the show to see was (Rudy A Go Go and Tony Coleman, the funky drummer.) A
short time later, opportunity knocked when a regional soul!R&B band by the
name of Bobby Wiffiams and the Markings offered Tony an opportunity to join
their assemblage. Bobby Williams and the Markings were a popular 14 piece band
in the James Brown mold of music, mixing popular cover songs with some
original compositions ... In 1973, Tony was ready to try something different
when he enlisted in the US army. After 3 years of military service that took
him to different parts of the world, Tony moved back to Florida. He enrolled
in graphic design courses at night school. After realizing that he wasn’t
reaching any career goals in this particular situation, he decided to live out
his real dreams, and move out to Chicago in 1977 with some old Army buddies to
create a new music group. The group fell apart. As luck would have it,
Cloridale Walton,
was a singer with the
Otis Clay
band. Cloridale made a point of introducing Tony to
Otis Clay,
whose band had just dissolved, with only his guitar player,
Leonard Gill, remaining. As bassist Russell Jackson was also looking to join a
group. Now Otis Clay had a new rhythm section. The years with
Otis Clay
were an exciting time for Tony Coleman, as he toured around the world, and
recorded a live concert in Tokyo. Working with a world-renowned band, many new
doors were opened to Tony. He had plenty of opportunity to meet and mingle
with other great musicians, doing occasional back-up shows for
Buddy Guy,
O.V. Wright, and
Tyrone Davis,
to name but a few. After a jam session with
B.B. King
and the
Otis Clay
Band at a Chicago club,
B.B. King
decided he liked what he heard, and hired members of the
Otis Clay
Band to become his new touring band. Keeping only his drummer from his
previous touring band,
B.B. King
performed with two drummers for a few months. Tony returned to Chicago, and
rejoined the
Otis Clay
Band for a tour of Japan. As one of the most sought-after drummers in the
Chicago blues community, Tony was weighing different options when he received
an offer from
Johnnie Taylor
to play in his band. So Tony moved to Dallas in 1980, where he worked
full-time with
Johnnie’s band. After a few years with
Johnnie Taylor,
Bobby Bland
offered Tony a position with his band, and Tony moved from Dallas to Memphis,
where Bobby was headquartered. For years, Tony worked with
Bobby Bland.
All this time,
B.B. King
kept in touch with Tony, letting him know in no uncertain terms, that if there
was ever an opening for a drummer in his band, B.B. would like to work with
Tony again. During the middle of a tour featuring both
B.B. King and
Bobby Bland,
B.B. needed a drummer, and Tony wound up performing in both bands before
rejoining B.B.’s band full-time. Working with
B.B. King
has been one of the fuffilling moments in Tony’s life. Reuniting with his old
band mates Leonard Gill and Russell Jackson, Tony was honored to work with the
man recognized all over the world as the world’s greatest blues ambassador.
For ten years, Tony worked with B.B. before deciding in 1999 that it was time
for him to do his own thing. Things have certainly not slowed down for Mr.
Tony Coleman, as he takes his great talents to new levels. He continues to
record, tour, write, and play a bit of golf when he gets the chance. Expanding
on his career options, he’s appeared in a commercial for the Calloway Golf
Company, showcasing his talents as an actor and songwriter. He’s also written
a few jingles for Northwest Airlines, and continues to explore new avenues in
the entertainment industry. In 1998, he was voted the (best R&B drummer)
by his peers in the DRUM MAGAZINE. He has also been nominated best R&B
drummer many times in MODERN DRUMMER MAGAZINE.
(quoted from Tony Coleman's page at myspace.com)
Visit Tony Coleman's official website at tonycolemanmusic.com.
Visit Tony Coleman's official website at tonycoleman.fr.
Visit Tony Coleman's page at myspace.com.
Visit also these related Sites:
Biographical Information on Tony Coleman
Tony Coleman biography at nga.ch. Word document.
Various Articles on Tony Coleman
Article and audio file at mog.com.
Article at usa.mapexdrums.com.
Tony Coleman Photos
Several Tony Coleman photos by Dragan Tasic.
Three Tony Coleman photos by Dragan Tasic.
Several Tony Coleman photos at drummerworld.com.
Tony Coleman Audio Files
Tony Coleman - What's it Gonna Take. MP3 file, runtime 03:35.
Tony Coleman Videos
Second Aveanue & The Blues with Tony Coleman.
Drummer Tony Coleman in The Bob Rivers Show, 1, Feb 15, 2008. Runtime 09:00.
Drummer Tony Coleman in The Bob Rivers Show, 2, Feb 15, 2008. Runtime 04:48.
Tony Coleman and the House Rockers with Clarence Dobbins. Runtime 05:01.
Tony Coleman & The BB King House Rockers. Runtime 07:06.
Tony Coleman al Blues in Town 2005. Runtime 01:42.
Tony Coleman Big Show al Blues in Town 2005. Runtime 03:33.
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