Hello All,
A while ago you might remember I was asking for words to the song Sonny Boy. Well my Dad (who I am still missing terribly) used to sing Sonny Boy to me when I was but a puppy. Indeed when I was naughty (often) he used to say " you listen here Sonny Boy..." The upshot of all this was that I really thought that my name was Sonny Boy for the first few years of my life

...... Well I wanted to record this song but my voice does not lend itself readily to dramatics! In fact it is all I can do to get my voice to stick to a recognisable melody However I was determined to record it and record it I have.

This may sound really stupid but in order to do the song some kind of justice I imagined that I was performing in a stage musical whilst recording this. The difference between the straight recording and this one is quite dramatic! Whilst I may have looked a little (well more than a little) stupid recording this (you should have seen me!!!) the result was worth it I think. It is by no means perfect but much better than I initially thought it would turn out. Have a listen and see what you think!

Sonny Boy

As a side note I thought it quite interesting that Bud G. DeSylva, who wrote Sonny Boy along with Al Jolson also collaborated with George Gershwin on 'Somebody Loves Me'.

Anyway.... hope you like it!
Very best to you all.
Tony (Sonny Boy) W


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www.tonywmusic.co.uk

[This message has been edited by Tony W (edited 11-16-2003).]

Tony check the link...it won't come up

Thanks Donny!
I put MP3 instead of mp3 in the link .....doh!

btw Donny I have not forgotten the flash thing.....watch this space (Well not this space exactly )
Best to you
Tony

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www.tonywmusic.co.uk

Ok.....Tony its sounds great....nice tune!!

Way To go....nice piano too.

Daddy would be proud!!!

[This message has been edited by Dnj (edited 11-16-2003).]

Tony. Great job. Performing from the heart makes all the difference in the world. Did you use Yamaha's "bright" piano on your recording.. I would have loved hearing you perform on a "real" piano[or a Roland}..Again great job..

Amazing performance Tony! Bravo! More!
DonM

Hi Fran,
I used the Live Grand patch on the 9000pro but I had just been messing with the EQ (I should learn to leave the settings alone ) so if it sounds a bit off then it is probably my fault and not all Yamaha's
A 'real' piano or a Roland..... To be fair I used to have the EM2000 and I adored the Piano voices on that board.

Thanks For the kind words all. It was sad and really nice to record this all at the same time if that makes any sense.

My partner has just heard this and said that I sound like I should be on the radio.....in the 1920's What a wit! I think it was meant as a compliment but one can never be sure in this house
Very best to all.
Tony


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www.tonywmusic.co.uk

Tony: I was really moved by your 'hearfelt' song rendition. Fittingly appropriate piano accompaniment as well. You're definitely invited to come visit me and play my Steinway anytime.

Interesting that you chose an Al Jolson song. I only recently discovered Jolson's terrific music as for years Jolson had been viewed as polictically incorrect by critics & the general public because of his roles performing in black face. In fact though, his black face roles was out of respect and admiration for black singers, and not a racsit parity as others claim. Whatever one feels about this, his masterful vocal style influenced many great vocalists that followed him. I'm really glad that Al Jolson is finally getting his due respect here in the US. I have recently begun to include some of his tunes (California Here I Come, You Made Me Love You, April Showers, Give My Regards to Broadway, Swanee, etc) into my shows and my audiences (young and old alike) really love it.

Tony, if you haven't already, I recommend you checkout Michael Feinstein's music which often include song tributes to Al Jolson: http://www.michaelfeinstein.com/

Scott

Scott, do you use blackface when you do the Jolson songs?
DonM

No. I use whiteface as Jolson was caucasian,

Seriosuly though, I really don't know what Jolson's blackface intention was really about, but after having seen the movie 'The Jazz Singer', I'm more convinced that his blackface performance was not meant as racist, but instead his way of honoring the great Bill Bojangles Robinson:
http://www.kathleenacademy.com/funzone/bojangls.html

Scott

Hi Tony,

I listened to your "Sonny Boy" and I thought it was perfect in every way. I could hear the sadness in your voice, I lost my 35 year old son on april this year and I can tell you that this song really hit me. Thanks for a wonderful rendition of it.

Wheelie.

Hi Scott,
Thanks for your kind words. If I ever get to play your Steinway make sure it is bolted to the floor! The ocean will be no barrier to me running off with it I used my old (very old) Technics PX-7 to control the 9000pro so that I had all the keyboard to play with. I had to learn it parrot fashion as well because i could not find the music for this. Given this I cannot claim credit for the arrangement but I am quite proud I managed to do it at all!

I have to admit I never gave the political implications a thought as I wanted to do the song because my Dad used to sing it to me. Still I do think that Jolson was acting out of respect as you say and certainly the times back then were very different and in some ways more innocent than today. Jolson was certainly a wonderful performer and I will always be grateful to my Dad that from a very early age he exposed me to all the great musicals, musical performers and music.

He had a great love of what he called 'real' music. He loved the musical films of Judy Garland, Doris Day, Gene Kelly, Fred Astair, and records were always playing in our house ..... everything from those above to Alma Cogan. I credit him with instilling in me a real passion for music. He taught me that no matter what else is going on in your life you can lose yourself in music like nothing else and that music can make most everything seem better.

Wheelie,
I am moved that you found some comfort in my rendition. Thankyou so much for saying so. I really do feel for you. As you know I lost my Dad a few months ago and although he was relatively young at sixty and I would give anything to have him back, it is the natural order of things I suppose that Father goes on ahead before Son.

I can only imagine what you must be going through to have lost a child. As I said before I consider that music is my Dads gift to me and the more I play and sing 'our songs' the closer I feel to him. I really hope that you have things to make you feel close to your Son. Being the same age as your Son I realise how little time you must feel you had with him, but count every day you had as a blessing and I am sure he will always be with you.
My very very best wishes for you and your family.

Tony

Hi Tony,

Thank you for your kind words and thoughts, I appreciate them. Also, thanks for the song.

Wheelie.

Wooooooooow! Great rendition of an old song I saw performed by Jolson when I was a youngster. Always loved this one and your piano expertise made it sound as good, if not better than the original.

Thanks Tony,

Gary

Tony,

My Dad left in "98. He went to Germany when I was a baby. When he came back from time to time he'd sing "Lilly Marlene". And another tune named "When the Post Man Delivered The Letter".

I'd better quit before my wife comes in and sees me like this and thinks I've lost my mind.

Wow old memories hurt and feel good at the same time.

Great Job Tony.... You've still got that cool sound!! You can tell it's Tony.. Oh almost forgot,, great new web site....
DJ

[This message has been edited by beachbum (edited 11-17-2003).]