James Brown, Albert King, BB King, Bobby Blue Bland, Earth Wind And Fire, Buddy Miles. Eagles, Jimi Hendrix and Led Zepplin. And all singing drummers.
Sounds Like
T.C. & The BB King House Rockers performing Pick up the pieces at BB King's Nashville
B.B. King Let the Good Times Roll clip
B.B. King Ain't Nobody Home
Music has always been a big part of Tony Coleman’s
life As a young toddler, his grandmother discovered that the
easiest way to soothe his cries was to place a transistor
radio inside his crib, tuned to whatever music was on the
airwaves. Growing up in Florida, he was raised on a steady
diet of soul, jazz, gospel, and rhythm & blues. Drawn to the
rhythm of the beat, Tony found that percussion came natural
to him, and picked up on drums at an early age.
While blues music was all around the community, from the
local radio stations to the ever-present juke joints, it was the music of James Brown that really got Tony excited about exploring music as a
full-time passion. With a new breed of soul-funk music that
pushed the drums as a dominant element, it was hard to ignore
the underlying rhythm of the music by (Mr. Dynamite.) When
Tony heard James Brown perform a line in the song (Cold
Sweat) that asked the band to “give the drummer some,” a
spark was ignited, and Tony knew, more than ever, that he
would become a full-time drummer.
Of course, when your father happened to be Canton (King)
Coleman, a famous band leader, radio disc jockey, and MC,
that would certainly encourage an interest in the world of
music. In fact, when James Brown was having some problems
with his record label over the recording of (Mashed Potatoes
- part 1,) it was King Coleman that provided lead vocals for
the original 1959 recording on Dade Records. While his father
may not be active in the industry anymore, choosing a life of
ministry over music, there was a time when (King) Coleman was
undoubtedly the biggest influence on Tony Coleman’s musical
career.
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. With 4 horn players, 2
guitarists, a bassist, a keyboard player, a lead singer,
back-up singers, dancers, and 2 drummers, it was a big change
for Tony Coleman as he entered the big time, touring with the
group in the Deep South in a converted double decker tour
bus. While Tony was still considered a minor when be was a
member of this group, he wasn’t allowed inside the clubs he
performed at, unless he was actually performing.
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, 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.
Hey Big Brother! I am so grateful to have you as my "family". Thank you for the shoulder to lean on, the wings under which you keep me safe, and pushing me to fly. It's an amazing life we live! Love you!!!!!!
hey Man awesome working with you today. hope we get to do it again sometime in the near future. haha and if you need a tech on down the road you let me know. peace
Happy 4th July!!!! «We hold these truth to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness» INDEPENDENCE, which hopeful word and of freedom... I always wish you throughout your life, to be able to be "independent" in your own choices to find the happiness....
Much much love Michèle
p.s. I await for you to France and I hope soon... (I wanted to come to Cahors but...)
