Columbus and Regional Band Members
Louis Tsamous Drums
Robert Kraut Guitar
Steve Purcell Drums
Josh Hill Guitar
Matt Wagoner Drums
Derek DiCenzo Guitar
Jim Rupp Drums
Don Hales Guitar
Tom Carroll Guitar
Gene Walker Sax
Various International Artists I work or have worked or recorded with:
Pat Martino
Vito Rezza Drums
Ted Quinlin Guitar
Adam Nussbaum Drums
Lewis Nash Drums
Harvey Mason Drums
Byron Landham Drums
Bobby Durham Drums
Clarence Penn Drums
Bruce Forman Guitar
Russell Malone Guitar
Peter Bernstein Guitar
Paul Bollenback Guitar
Plas Johnson Sax
Red Holloway Sax
Sonny Fortune Sax
Kenny Ramton Trumpet
Sarah Morrow Trombone
Eric Neymeyer Vibes
Steve Yeagar Vibes
Kevin Mahogany Vocal
Jimmy McGriff Organ
Doctor Lonnie Smith Organ
Gene Ludwig Organ
Gene Ludwig Organ
Craig Ebner Guitar
Jake Langley Guitar
Daryl Green Drums
Brian Pardo Guitar
Influences
Jimmy Smith, Jimmy McGriff, Don Patterson, Larry Young, Jack McDuff, Johnny Hammond Smith, Richard Groove Holmes, Doctor Lonnie Smith, Brian Augar, Keith Emerson, Rick Wakeman, Santana, Eric Clapton, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Thelonessel Monk, Oscar Peterson, Bobby Pierce, Hank Marr, Jim Russell, Joey DeFrancesco and many more....
Biography
Celebrated Hammond B-3 Jazz Organ wizard Tony Monaco began his keyboard life at age eight, on the accordion. When he was twelve, his destiny as a jazz organist was sealed when he first heard Jimmy Smith. An enthusiastic student, Tony began working in Jazz clubs as a teenager in his native Columbus, Ohio, guided by local organ gurus Hank Marr and Don Patterson. For further inspiration, he studiously absorbed the mastery of Jimmy McGriff, Richard "Groove" Holmes, Charles Earland, Jack McDuff, and Dr. Lonnie Smith. All would play a role in the development of his musical palette. On Tony's sixteenth birthday, his prayers were answered. He received an encouraging phone call from Jimmy Smith, who soon became his Mentor/Teacher. Four years later, Jimmy Smith invited Tony to come play at his club in California--a peak lifetime experience for Tony. From 1980 to 2006, Tony stood by his family businesses and married to have three daughters, while running Monaco’s Palace Italian restaurant for ten years while performing weekly in the lounge. Tony then entered the food brokerage industry peaking towards Torchbearer status with SYSCO foods. Always inspired by music, Tony then went to work as an assistant Broadcast producer for a prominent ad agency learning his production skills and playing gigs at night to continue supporting his family. After graduating from college with a B.S.B.A. from Franklin University in 1989, Tony's occupation changed again to supervisor of Monaco Concrete ( “my Father needed a good manager and my daughters were getting close to going to college!”). During a recessed Midwest housing market, Tony and his brother closed the business in November 2006 and fortunately Tony’s musical successes and inclinations were already flourishing as he now completely pursues his passions. In April 2000, Tony met fellow jazz organist Joey DeFrancesco, who offered to produce a debut CD for him. This collaboration resulted in the critically acclaimed "Burnin Grooves”. The international success of the recording served as the catalyst for regional and national tours.This success was followed by two more releases for Summit Records that received critical acclaim and significant sales, charting in the Jazzweek Top 10. In September 2003, Summit Records released "A New Generation”, a unique recording featuring both Tony's and Joey DeFrancesco's Trios. They recorded the project using two "Hammond-Suzuki New B3's" as Tony was awarded a major endorsement role with Hammond and Suzuki. As Tony’s reputation has grown, he has been blessed to play with some of greatest musicians in jazz, including Mel Lewis, Lewis Nash, Red Holloway, Plas Johnson, Sonny Fortune, Jon Faddis, Adam Nussbaum, Bruce Forman, Harvey Mason, Chester Thompson (drummer) Herlin Riley, Matt Wilson, Jeff Clayton, Terrell Stafford, Eric Alexander, Late Bobby Durham, Russell Malone, Peter Bernstein, Paul Bollenback, Bruce Forman, Kevin Mahogany, Victor Lewis, and Pat Martino. An ardent student of the organ, it's no surprise that Tony is an accomplished teacher as well. In addition to private students, classes and clinics, Tony has produced a series of instructional DVDs titled "Playing Jazz Hammond" that have quickly become indispensable for any serious student of the organ. Tony has decided to expand his catalogue and has created MotherHenMusicEd.com where he will soon be adding Gospel organists, Beginner & Primer series, Piano, etc…. Presently, Tony maintains the busiest world touring schedule imaginable, including festival appearances in Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Germany, Italy, Scotland, Holland and Spain, as well as Canada and the US. In 2007, Tony celebrated a special anniversary, celebrating 40 years as a musician and appearing on the cover of Keyboard Magazine. Tony’s drive as an innovator and missionary continues to carry forward his passion for the Hammond Organ. Now Executive Producer of the Summit Records subsidiary Chicken Coup Records, he has recorded and released CDs for several undiscovered organists around the globe, and his role as educator has allowed him to spread and cultivate many new hopefuls to the art of the jazz organ.
Tony continues his mission to raise awareness and appreciation of jazz organ and its importance in genres as diverse as traditional Gospel, RnB and Modern Jazz. He is now Hammond/Suzuki’s prime instrument endorser worldwide. Tony has recently joined touring and playing with Pat Martino. He has begun expanding his educational series to include other organist and styles with his new MotherHenMusicEd.Com to be launched in the Spring, 2009. He is formulating new strategies and record deals using his network through Chicken Coup Records to help himself and his peers advance in this ever changing music market and utilize new technologies and markets. He has begun writing his first book "The New Music Business " as he hopes to share and teach our future greats the new way of doing business in the Music Industry today. In August 2009, Tony turns 50 years old as he prays to continue to play his music around the world !!!!!!
Caro TONY, grazie per la tua immensa bravura...E' stato un piacere poter suonare con te, in TUSCIAJAZZ, ...Ho imparato molto...Spero di vederti presto, con stima, MAURO BOTTINI
Ciao Tony, thank very much you for the add!!! Next time in Sardinia we will do a Trio toghether with Jason Brown... :-)) That's a big wish... A Sardinian Friend!!!
Hola Tony. Hello. Thanks for being friends. I've listened your music, all albums. I think your style is so great. And the Willie Pooch's album is great too. I hope you can come to Spain soon. A lot of hugs.
Ciao Amici, una grande news per il Concorso Flores 2009! Quest'anno al primo classificato va una borsa di studio del valore di 500 Euro offerta dalla famiglia FLORES , la coppa di Vincitore del 1° Concorso Luca Flores 2009, e 4 CONCERTI da tenersi a Firenze nella stagione 2009/2010 offerti da TEATRO METASTASIO PRATO (Metastasio Jazz 2010), Musicus Concentus, Scuola di Musica e Arte Il Trillo, Trattoria 4 Leoni. INOLTRE LE ISCRIZIONI SONO STATE PROROGATE AL 10 LUGLIO! Forza, vi aspettiamo numerosi!
Hi Tony, How are you doing ?!.. So busy here.. that's good !!.. Here's my next week tour poster... Love from Shem & Michel. http://www.michelbenebig.com
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