It takes some special instruments and a unique perspective to appreciate the frustrating version of "success" that weaves in and through Tonio K.'s long strange trip of a music career. He should have been one of those critical reference points of the heady '70s and '80s, right up there with Warren Zevon and Joe Jackson. He had the wit, the sneer, the shades, and the major label hookups. But even with the odds in his favor, a hall-of-fame roster of supporting band members, and people like T Bone Burnett supporting him, it wasn't until he started putting his pen to work for other artists that his path emerged. On this episode, we visit with the elusive, and in some ways illusory, artist and songwriter for a rare exploration of his entire career. We'll examine his earliest days in the trippy psychedelic art rock scene, his stint with the late Buddy Holly's “Crickets,” his serious run at a solo artist career, and his late renaissance as the crafter of smash hits for an impossibly diverse list of artists that includes both a member of The Sex Pistols and Burt Bacharach. Tonio K. tells us the whole amazing story – and with the help of some friends, we have peppered the show with some extremely rare Tonio K. recordings and a brace of tunes that made him a darling of both the Christian and mainstream underground. And, as if THAT wasn't enough, Tom Willett – who signed K. to WHAT? Records in the '80s and worked alongside T Bone and others – joins us for the conversation as well.
The full music list, our special Spotify Mix, and more for this episode are available on the SHOW NOTES page at TrueTunes.com/Tonio1.
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God Gave Rock and Roll To You: The Clash of the CCM Historians w Dr. Leah Payne and JJT
@45RPM - Rolling Lost Tape with Jim Goodwin of The Call
Microdose: Propaganda
Microdose: The Choir
Microdose: Young Oceans
Microdose: Neal Morse
Microdose: Phil Cook’s Spiritual Helpline
Microdose: Natalie Bergman
Microdose: Sandra McCracken
Microdose: Terry Scott Taylor
Microdose: Steve Scott
Microdose: Taylor Leonhardt
Microdose: Michael Roe
Microdose: Amy Grant
Microdose: Charlie Peacock
Mylon LeFevre (In His Own Words)
@45RPM The Choir’s 1988 Classic LP ”Chase The Kangaroo”
@45RPM John Pantano (Pantano/Salsbury) On Their 1977 Larry Norman Produced LP ”Hit The Switch”
Loving The Alien: JJT & Allan Aguirre Talk Bowie (Plus Scaterd Few & Spyglass Blue on the Jukebox)
Special Edition: Couples Skate (Jukebox Takeover)
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