ANTONIO
(TONY) NEWTON
BIOGRAPHY
"Antonio Newton, super genius, will go down in history as one of the most vital path-forgers of our era" …Music critic Randali of Mean Street Magazine.
History notes that a fallen apple was the inspiration for Sir Isaac Newton's Theories of universal gravitation. But legendary fusion master-musician-composer Antonio (Tony) Newton, founder of Los Angeles-based world-rock-fusion orchestra vanguard, -- never had much time for apple orchards. Recording studios and concert stages were his classrooms. John Lee Hooker, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Gary Moore and Allan Holdsworth were his classmates. Drawing from this wealth of experience and professional relationships, Newton has emerged as a multifaceted composer/producer and musician (vocals, electric bass, and keyboards) and applied his pioneering concepts in harmony theory and composition to successfully integrate a variety of musical genres. Strap yourself in for some heart stopping, spirit moving, mind-bending musical expression.
Profusely
creative, high energy, innovative, sensitive yet dynamic would be a few
terms that could describe the artistry of music prophet Antonio (Tony)
Newton, who stands as one of the most progressive, creative and influential
music artists of this contemporary music era! Chances are you've heard
Newton, a performer on over 25 million selling Gold recordings. Born and
raised in Detroit Mi., Newton began his career first on piano at age seven,
beginning professionally at the tender age of thirteen, playing bass guitar
with blues legends John Lee Hooker, T-Bone Walker, Little Walter and
other classic artists on the urban blues circuit.
This was not without receiving initial recognition as an accomplished
saxophone and woodwinds player in various orchestras and ensembles. Newton
gained swift acclaim as one of the Midwest's most prominent bassists through
his association with Motown records. Newton was discovered by Motown
executive Hank Cosby while playing in Detroit Blues clubs at the age of
18. He was chosen to replace James Jamerson as touring bassist
with Smokey Robinson and the Miracles so that Jamerson could concentrate
on studio recording exclusively. Within two years Newton became Music
Director. He also toured with all of the Motown artists such as: Diana
Ross and the Supremes, Martha and the Vandellas, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder,
Four Tops, Temptations, Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5, Spinners,
and others. While at Motown from time to time, playing with the "Funk
Brothers" he left his trademark of solid, hard driving, and deftly
clever grooves on such timeless hits as "Where Did Our Love Go",
"Baby Love", "Stop In The Name Of Love", "Nowhere
to Run" on the east coast, and on the west coast, "ABC', "Never
Can Say Goodbye", "Don't Leave Me This Way", and many
others. Also a little unknown fact is that Newton and James Jamerson played
together as 2 basses on the above Motown Hits. Newton was also the bassist
for the famed 1965 European Motown Review tour, mentioned in the film,
"Standing in the Shadows of Motown".
In the following years, Newton gained swift acclaim as a prominent bassist in the music industry through his fat bass sound, deftly clever lines, and solid grooves on many hit recordings for Motown, Holland-Dozier-Holland, Warner Bros, CBS, Atlantic and others, continuing in the tradition and inheriting the musical bass torch of his mentor and friend, Motown staff bass legend, the late, great funk brother, James Jamerson. Newton (known as the baby funk brother, being the youngest at 16) went on to establish himself as one of the most versatile musician-composers-producers in his field. He recorded and toured with rock, pop and r & b's most celebrated figures -- Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Smokey Robinson (whom he served as bassist and music director,) Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, Little Richard and many others. Newton was staff bassist for the talented songwriting-producing team Holland-Dozier-Holland and their Invictus-Hotwax label playing on several hits for artists, Freda Payne, 100 Proof, 8th Day, and others. Tony played on other Detroit recording studio-labels classic hits ie: Stax "The Dramatics, What You See is What You Get", "Johnny Taylor's, Part Time Lover", and more. He also gained recognition as one of the founding fathers of fusion, as bassist-composer-vocalist in the acclaimed jazz-rock fusion group: "The Tony WiIIiams Lifetime" penning the fusion classics, "Snake Oil", and "Red Alert", sweeping the globe with their intense, high-energy, complex style, cited historically in the "Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll." He was also an integral member of British hard rock group "G-Force" with veteran guitarist Gary Moore. The multi-talented Newton fondly remembers these times as "special" when reflecting back as this is when he met and worked with Sharon Arden-Osborne, his then manager, and Ozzie Osborne showing up at some of G-Force's English concert tour gigs (The Osborne's beginnings). Newton's prolific talents include writing and producing classic rock songs and instrumentals. These include, "You Kissed Me Sweetly", and "I Trust Your Loving", "Dancing" Newton, degreed in classical composition and piano from LACC and Mt. St. Mary's College, of Los Angeles, his formidable keyboard artistry featured in the Novaphonic series music catalog, are used in many film and video soundtracks, i.e.: "The Martin Luther King Awards," and "Fields of Wrath", The Cesar Chavez plight of farm workers story. Newton is also a former touring music director, keyboardist, and producer-writer ("Hold On") for Grammy Award winning vocalist, Thelma Huston. Performing professionally for over 3 legendary decades, from rock, funk, soul, fusion and new age jazz, from soundtracks to a Summit Symphony in seven movements, from inspiring solo piano and keyboard performances to masterly, heart thumping, power packed, high energy bass grooves, like we said earlier, chances are you've heard contemporary adult music artist-icon Antonio Tony Newton
Continuing in the commercial rock tradition of his former group, Interscope recording artists "Newton's Law," however now using the addition of expanded orchestrations and arrangements, as well as a new level of high-energy intensity, hip-hop rhythms and complex instrumental compositions along with masterful hit crafted songs of romance, love, and personal challenges in life complete this powerful music formula. Today Newton's time is spent with his WHITE DOVE ORCHESTRA project, which represents, the culmination of his compositional influences and interests. Being a true creative recluse, in his spare time, Newton, a prolific composer-songwriter of a massive body of musical works including the landmark "NOVAPHONIC SOUND" theory series, an innovative scientific music harmony discovery by Newton, is also an avid computer enthusiast and author-writer of over fifteen books on music, computer tech, philosophy and self-help. Additionally, he lectures, conducts workshops as well as teaches privately and at local schools and community colleges occasionally.
Additionally, Newton's bass work is featured on Academy Award winning movie soundtracks to include "Breathless" and "An Officer and a Gentleman". Performing professionally for over 3 legendary decades, from rock, funk, soul, fusion and new age jazz, from soundtracks to a Summit Symphony in seven movements, from inspiring solo piano and keyboard performances to masterly, heart thumping power-packed, high energy bass grooves, like we said earlier, chances are you've heard legendary bassist Antonio (Tony) Newton. Now Tony has come full circle returning to his Detroit roots hit making music and legendary musician friends the "Funk Brothers". Getting the call from Jack Ashford, Tony enlisted his longtime Motown friends drummer, Quintin Denard, and Guitarist Marvin Marshall. Tony and Quintin, known as the "Hit Masters" provide one of the most funkiest and solid groove making Bass/Drum teams in the history of the Motown era musical sound. Together with the guitar excellence of former Supremes Guitarist Marvin Marshal they represent and express the ultimate essence and spirit in concert with Jack Ashford, Joe Hunter and the legendary Motown sound.
A master of both music and word, Newton's lyric content reaches deep philosophical levels of prose and meaning while musically achieving new frontiers of creative compositional expression in sound, form, style and technique. Rock hard and ferociously funky songs like "Love and Money", "One People One Planet", a World Peace offering, along with high-energy impact instrumental compositions such as Newton's searing rock production-arrangement of classic master composer, Gustav Holst's "Mars" from his legendary epic Symphony, "The Planets," along with powerful Newton originals "Sunset Crusin" and "Hollywood Bop", finds the "INIMITABLE" ANTONIO TONY NEWTON delivering a dynamic and enlightening blend of emotionally charged, heartfelt musical performances providing eclectic music lovers worldwide with a profound and exciting listening experience in recordings or concert "on point" with innovative 21st century master artistry, universal global appeal and today's top 100.
*
Music with vision - NA Music Guide,
* Antonio Newton, a monumental master - MS Magazine, Los Angeles