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