Tony Backhouse took a B.A. (English), and B.Mus. (Composition) at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, and later completed a graduate course in Ethnomusicology (focussing on blues and gospel music) at Memphis State University, USA.
He has composed and performed music for NZ radio, theatre and film and worked in NZ funk/soul bands, including Mammal (who recorded one LP with poet Sam Hunt) and the Crocodiles (who recorded two albums and won three Recording Industry Awards in 1980 including Best Group).
Since relocating to Australia in 1981,Tony sang and/or played guitar with Renée Geyer, Joe Walsh, Jenny Morris, the Umbrellas and Jump Back Jack, and arranged and recorded backing vocals for Dave Dobbyn, Tim Finn, Vince Jones, Kate Ceberano, Harry Manx (Canada) and others.
Around 1985, Tony became deeply influenced by the Black gospel tradition and subsequently became involved more in community music, choral directing and running vocal workshops. He founded a cappella quartet the Elevators (1985-1990), a cappella gospel choir the Café of the Gate of Salvation (1986+), a cappella gospel choir the Honeybees (which he directed from 1996-2001) and a cappella quartet the Heavenly Light Quartet (1996+ ). In 1990 he co-founded the Sydney A Cappella Association, and co-ordinated the SAA and published its journal Oral Majority for five years.
Tony had songs recorded by Jenny Morris, Renée Geyer, the Dynamic Hepnotics, the Umbrellas, and others, and has contributed to film soundtracks, including Sweetie (Jane Campion), and Brain Dead (Peter Jackson). He has arranged vocals for Tim Finn, Vince Jones, Kate Ceberano, Harry Manx and others.
Tony was the recipient of the Contemporary A Cappella Society of America’s 1993 Contemporary Recording Awards for Best Song and Best Soloist (Runner-up); the Café of the Gate of Salvation received Best Album (Runner-up) Award; and recipient of composer commissions from the Song Company, from the Australia Council to write music for the Café of the Gate of Salvation and the Sydney Childrens’ Choir.
In 2006, his song Lost In The Heavenly Light was nominated for the Australian Classical Music Awards for Vocal Work of the Year.
He has sung solo and with Black choirs in churches in the USA, and taught and performed at the 1995 West Coast A cappella Summit, California. He has acted as tour leader and musical director for six gospel tours of the USA, taking participants to immerse themselves in the Black church tradition.
Since 1987, Tony has been running vocal workshops throughout Australia and New Zealand, Canada, the UK, France and Samoa, and has been a solo performer at festivals throughout Australia. He has worked with (and been instrumental in setting up) many community choirs in Australia and New Zealand, and run workshops in educational institutions and in the corporate sector for enterprises such as BNZ and the All Blacks.
Tony contributed entries on Gospel Choirs and A cappella Singing to the Currency Companion to Music and Dance in Australia (2003). He has published two African American gospel songbooks A cappella – Rehearsing For Heaven (first published in 1995; the accompanying double CD was released in 2003) and Move On Up (2005).
Tony's current activities include:
• Teaching a cappella traditions, (public workshops, choirs, schools, festivals and seminars)
• Composing and arranging for vocal ensembles and choirs
• Directing and singing the Heavenly Lights
• Recording original music (playing guitar, bass and singing) with Peter Dasent (award-winning film composer, director of the Umbrellas) and Fane Flaws (film director, composer).
• Writing string quartet arrangements of popular songs for the Lounge Quintet.
my class is singing some gospel songs at the moment and it was soo good you came and had a visist, the choir is still continuing with this type of song which is kewl :) hehe.
Hey tony how are you in the sunny north. I would love to do some gigs up your way .if there is a venue I should contact let me know Tracey. loooooove you and miss you xx
There's an a cappella arrangement of a traditional tune from somewhere or other up on my profile. Please excuse the dodgy recording technology. Your informed comments would be greatly appreciated should you feel moved to have a listen to my humble efforts. warmest regards, Hxo
Omigod ... I did as you requested and it still bounced back again! But all the facts you'll ever need to face are now posted on the SS notice board! Enjoy the Sunny North! B xo
what is it about myspace you can't face? hey, why don't you record that mindblowing arrangement of yours (you know the one I mean) and post it here so I can listen to it whenever? love ya TJB & that gorgeous M! mwa mwa Hxo
Hey Tony, how r u and Marianne? look i made Masteredit into the digital age!!. Do post me and let me know what u think of my 3 songs on here. They were mixed by John Stuart and myself and mastered by William Bowden. Hope u like em. Also 'last cheese for miles' sign on 'David' is hilarious ;-)
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