Tony Middleton Receives Raves

**From Publisher Scott Barbarino: MAC Award Nominee Tony Middleton has a lot of upcoming gigs in the near future. You need to check him out. NiteLifeExchange is pleased to offer the following reprints of two recent articles on Tony. The first article below is by Peter Burns in the UK, who published at: http://www.soulmusichq.com/ and is working on Earshot 15, the 1st of 4 articles featuring Tony, which will be out after May.

The second article below is by Artie Wayne, who has had over 250 covers recorded by such artists as Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Tony Orlando and Dawn, Pat Boone, Helen Shapiro, The Magic Lanterns, Rick Nelson, Paul Anka, Cher and The 5th Dimension.

He currently publishes here:
http://artiewayne.wordpress.com/2009/05/07/a-long-overdue-spotlight-on-singer-tony-middleton/

***CLICK on all images to enlarge***

In my last Tony Middleton feature, I complained that there was very little of his music available on CD or download. Most of the vinyl issued over the past 50 years has become rare and collectable and so prohibit ably expensive. It seems Tony got tired of waiting for the reissue companies to get round to it, so in 2003, he issued a CD himself. He has a big voice in the tradition of Roy Hamilton and Billy Eckstine, and now more fans can hear him to greater effect on the sensational Paris Blues. "Let Me Down Easy," "Sitiest People," "A Garden In The Ghetto," pick any track you like from the 20 song scan from his catalogue, and you won't be disappointed. "Blackjack" was Cash Box record of the week when it was issued in late 1958. The song examines the downside of gambling with a storyline in the tradition of "Stagger Lee." "The Universe" covers much the same ground as "Unchained Melody" that Tony cut for Big Top, and is also included here. Of course, he's worked with many great producers, writers and arrangers during his long career and both sides of his 1962 United Artists single "Drifting" (that has a flavour of the sides cut by Ben E. King at that time) and "Memories Are Made Of This," a Leiber & Stoller production, and an interesting remake of Dean Martin's hit that also found favour with the Drifters in 1966. One track here that is also available as a download is "Count Your Blessings" was cut in New York on the Triumph label in 1958, and features King Curtis. It's a song that's reminiscent of Tony's best early work with the Willows. As a longtime Tony Middleton fan I was delighted to be able to buy this CD and finally obtain some of his earliest solo recordings. This is an unofficial collection dubbed from vinyl onto CDR and it's not available everywhere. I got my copy from www.cdbaby.com

Tony's only other previous CD was the Broadway soundtrack recording of Cabin In The Sky, a theatrical production that also starred Rosetta LeNoire and Ketty Lester from 1963. Middleton is featured on 4 (of the 17) songs, the title track "Cabin In The Sky" and "Not A Care in the World" (w/ Rosetta LeNoire) plus "Love Me Tomorrow" and "Living It Up" (w/ Ketty Lester) issued in the USA on Angel Records (1993). This was just one of the many hit Broadway productions Tony starred in, others being Little Augie, Porgy & Bess,Purlie, etc. A recent email from Middleton fan Linda Kofstad told me about another unofficial TM CD Memories Are Made Of This (Cat King Cole 1009), that I rapidly obtained from This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This compilation features 29 tracks including "Sweet Baby of Mine" (that's not listed on the cover). Even accounting for 8 duplications it still leaves us with 21 previously unavailable tracks. His solo work has such a rich variety and on this compilation is "My Little Red Book" (a hit for Manfred Mann, but cut first by Tony) made with Bacharach, "You Spoiled My Reputation" and "If I Could Write A Song," were made with Johnny Pate and "Don't Ever Leave Me/To The Ends of the Earth," with Klaus Ogermann, that sold well in New York and was nominated for a Grammy in 1972. These were 3 of his greatest singles and other fine tracks include "Spanish Maiden," "My Home Town," "Return to Spanish Harlem," "Harlem Lady" and "If You Had to Break Somebody's Heart." Tony Middleton is one of the unsung greats, a completely original singer with a voice like a husky baritone sax. All these tracks stand up well today and it's great to finally have the chance to listen to them when I choose to.

Having gone this far with the liberation of Middleton's long lost catalogue, let's push for the gems still awaiting CD issue like his very first solo outing I'm On My Way/ Lover, Lover (issued on Saxony in 1956) and perhaps the rarest are the recordings made in France on 3 EPs Adam & Eve, a song from the soundtrack of Eva, Joseph Losey's dark drama set in Venice, with a great score by Michel Legrand (issued in the UK on Phillips in 1962). The two other EPs were released only in France on Versailles Records in 1963 and 1964. The first contained "Meet Me at Madison Square," "I Can't Stop Loving You," "Well I Told You" and "Oh Yeah Ah Ah." The second featured 4 more songs, the Mel Torme classic "Comin' Home Baby," "Feel So Bad," 'Listen to My Heart" and "Night After Night." The American singles often cut on small independent labels were pressed in small runs like "Ruby Tuesday" (Toy 1972), "Rooter, Rooter Grind" (Cotton 1975), "Since I Found You" (Joker) added to '"Angela" (A&M 1969), "It Wouldn't Have Made Any Difference/Lovelight" (Columbia 1973). Tony recorded with Burt Bacharach again in 1972, this time in a duet with Cissy Houston when they cut "Come to You," and issued on Burt's Living Together album (A&M). I may have missed a couple down the years but to my reckoning these 17 tracks would complete the Middleton singles catalogue. The only vinyl album that Tony actually cut in his long career was Swingin' For Hamp, recorded for Concord in 1979 with the great jazz pianist Ellis Larkins and his Trio. This album was dedicated to Lionel Hampton and produced by Ruby Fisher, who co-wrote most of the songs. Tony sings on 7 of the 10 tracks, in a style that comes remarkably close to the "live" performances that he's made, and is still currently making, at a number of New York clubs and venues. His dates at Destino Restaurant, 891 First Avenue, and Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street, with pianist Jesse Elder have proved very popular. The Middleton magic is now in constant demand and in the past few months he's appeared at Sunday Brunch Blue Note on 131 West 3rd Street, The Anderson Centre for Performing Arts, Binghamton University, NY, The Landmark Theatre Syracuse, Enzo's Jazz @ The Jolly Madison Tower, 22 East 38th Street, and occasionally plays a date with the Willows, such as Westbury Music Fair. Another highlight was at Long Island University in March, where Tony performed songs from his Doo-Wop past in a show entitled Clay Cole & the Rock 'n' Roll Years at the Brooklyn Paramount (1954-1967). His program might feature any of the superb songs he's recorded in the past but Tony's performances have never been restricted specifically to his recorded catalogue. At a recent gig at the Metropolitan Room in Feelin' Good, a new menu featured "Stardust," "Cabin in the Sky," "When It's Sleepy Time Down South,"  "I Got Love," "Georgia on my Mind," "Lady," "Route 66," "You Turned your Back on Me," "Yesterday," "New York, New York," "Wonderful World," "All the Things You Are" and "Church Bells May Ring." Reviewer Oscar E Moore, who was in attendance, described the show as an "...amazing musical journey" and reported "Tony sang with a warmth, passion and sensitivity that showed off his smooth, lower sultry range, his belting top notes and easy going, velvety, thick as molasses tones. And his back up trio is one of the best I have ever heard. A classic Billy Kaye on drums, Rob Adkins on bass and the exceptionally talented, 25 year old Jesse Elder on piano". Similar levels of praise came from Faith Aarons who went to Destino with her son, J Records Urban Promotion Manager Russell Jones, to celebrate her birthday that by all reports was a very busy night, as Tony's manager Phyllis Cortese was also belatedly celebrating her birthday. Faith described Tony as Mr. Conviviality, as well as being a great singer he took time out to talk to her between sets. "He had the room tapped." She intends to return on a quieter night to listen closer to Tony's set. Ms. Cortese is also a gracious lady and it seems that she has recently brought Tony into the limelight once again. So if you're travelling to the Big Apple, or are lucky enough to live near or in New York, catch him '"ive" if you can, it's a unique experience. Check out the dates and venues on his website This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Unfortunately some of us can't get to see Mr Middleton perform, even though he is clearly at a peak as both fans and music critics have testified. The Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs nominated Tony for the 2009 MAC Award as Male Jazz/ R&B Vocalist of the Year, but sadly, the honor went to Jack Donahue. So for those of us unable to make the journey to New York in the near future, more of his wonderful music is available on CD than ever before. In addition to the music discussed above, his earliest recordings with the Willows - The Best Of The Five Willows (Allen SCD 6000) is still available and a number of compilations feature single tracks - Keeping The Faith 4CD, Castle (Paris Blues), The Doo Wop Box 1 4CD, Rhino (Church Bells May Ring), Rockin' Doo Wop, Sequel (Let's Fall In Love), Festival of Groups, Sequel (Earth Cousins), Big City Soul – The MGM Story, Goldmine (To the Ends of the Earth) and most recently, an interesting collection of Latin/soul tracks The Soul Of Spanish Harlem (BGP) features "Already Satisfied," a great track that Tony cut with percussionist Bobby Matos on Speed in 1969. Also another way to hear/ see our hero in action is on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0wkKBIARao where there are several versions of Paris Blues to view, To The Ends Of The Earth, Spanish Maiden, My Little Red Book and a few with the Willows Love Bells, Church Bells May Ring and Let's Fall In Love among them, with new videos coming on line all the time. From 11 May 2009, five new songs have been posted on YouTube, all recorded at Metropolitan Room in New York, with the Jesse Elder trio. Check out Lady on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GZNsMERigk and thereabouts you'll also find Georgia, Yesterday, Evil Eye and At Last. After a long career working in the soulmine both with the Willows and as a solo performer, Tony Middleton is at last getting some of the long overdue recognition due to him and there's never been a better time to obtain his back catalogue or to catch him live. (peter burns)

A LONG OVERDUE SPOTLIGHT ON SINGER TONY MIDDLETON!
by Artie Wayne

Although Elvis Presley was one of the most imitated singers in the world, his own influences beyond the men who wrote songs for him, like Otis Blackwell ("Don't Be Cruel," "All Shook Up"), Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller ("Hound Dog," "Jailhouse Rock"), were the demo singers who showed him how the songs were envisioned by the writers.

Malcolm Dodds, David Hill, Bill Giant, and Tony Middleton were all among Elvis' favorite demo singers...and Tony Middleton was one of mine. Tony always added a little extra to his demonstration of a song, which Elvis appreciated and appropriated whenever he could.

I first met Tony, the former lead singer of the Willows ("Church Bells May Ring"), in the late '50s with my friend Sid Wyche ("Whole Lotta' Shakin' Goin' On" Wyche/Williams), at one of the first demo sessions I ever went to. I was excited to meet the man who sang the demo for Sid's song, "Big Hunk Of Love" (Wyche/Schroeder), which Elvis recorded. Although I don't remember the name of the song on this session, I do remember Tony's brilliant, stirring performance that seemed so effortless.

I could easily understand why Elvis was inspired by him, as well as Ben E. King who even got his adlib, "People Let Me Tell Ya' Now," from one of Tony's demos.

He's appeared on Broadway as the lead in Cabin in the Sky and was the featured singer in Purlie starring Melba Moore. Tony Middleton's music is sought after by music enthusiasts and collectors all over the world.

When I reconnected with him on Facebook, I googled his name and found a video of "Paris Blues" from 1962, and you can see a little bit of what I'm talking about:

(Artie Wayne)