We are thrilled to announce that the melodic, timeless and dreamy new single ‘Growing Old’ from ‘Tony Michael’ is now on our A-List Playlist. Listen out for this soothing and touching single every couple of hours, and also as a special POWERPLAY at 4:15 PM London UK time for the next month
WHO IS TONY MICHAEL?
Tony Michael will be completing his new album, with the title song,” In the shadow of a famous man”. Which is Expected to hit the charts after almost 40 years away from the Music scene.
Tony was born in Brooklyn New York. At the early age of 4, his biological father deserted the family leaving Tony to grow up without a father figure. His Grandfather helped raise Tony. But granddad was a very strict Italian Immigrant who had an impeccable work ethic.
Tony was very close to his Mother Marie (nick named Mickey), who is now at rest in the Lord. Mickey was everything to Tony, and was very supportive of Tony’s love for music. Mickey was Tony’s inspiration. Some of his fondest memories as a child, was when his uncles would put him on the dining room table and have Tony sing for the whole family and they would throw money on the table cheering the little guy on.
Tony was an active child with an active mind. He was ahead of most children his age. His mother once told me, I quote. “When asked what he wanted to be when he grew up, my son always said, “a boxer, a priest, a detective and a singer”.
DISNEYLAND
Tony’s uncle worked for years at Technicolor and sent Tony to meet with his friend Ron who worked at Disneyland. When Tony arrived in Disneyland, he was asked if he could sing. Of course, Tony was quick to respond with a yes. And that began the beginning of a major league music career.
Through his position at Disneyland, Tony met some prosperous figures in the entertainment industry. Thus, lead him to the beginning of his career as a singer/songwriter. Tony and his new band, Good News soon began playing the concert circuits.
Tony was given the title by New York Disc Jockey Jack Avery as the “Enchanter” of music, who mesmerized his audience whenever he performed. His style came out of his heart and took the fans to an emotional roller coaster ride. Bringing them his proven original music and a well-rounded show including a segment honoring the King of Rock and Roll, as he portraits Elvis’s music from the perspective of a close and personal friend in a fashion unique to anyone else. This was not an imitation but a testimony of the King of Rock-N-Roll.
TONY MICHAEL BRINGS DOWN THE HOUSE!
Tony is a holder of the Memphis top 100 recording award and a two-time recipient of the Nashville Gold Eagle award both in 1986 and 1987. His hit song HURT which was a remake of the 1954 version originally performed by Roy Hamilton, and later versions by Timi Yuro as well as Elvis himself.
Tony and his manager Jerry (JB) were responsible for exposing some of the major rip-off Music companies in Nashville. Headlines read “Tony Michael brings down the house” of the corrupt entertainment Industry cheats who dirtied the Industries Music Row reputation for many years.
Recognized nationally as well as internationally, Tonys version of “HURT” sung with such feeling, and ending climaxing with a vocal range of stupendous control, aired on many of the major radio stations in the US as well as Japan and various European countries.
This made Tony Michael a household name in the entertainment industry.
This writer, Kat Carpenter the daughter of Rick Carpenter, Music Promoter/Manager, as told by my dad, had the distinct pleasure of meeting Tony Michael in the late 1970s in Long Island New York. They became close friends as my dad began promoting Tony. It was as if they were put together by some divine encounter.
Dad went on to tell me about the New York concert. The story goes like this. “I felt as though I had known him for years. There was nothing synthetic about this entertainer, on or off the stage”. He spent a majority of his career performing for many charitable causes such as United Cerebral Palsy, March of Dimes, Cancer research and the fight for Missing and exploited Children. A giving person who cared only to be able to put a smile and a bit of happiness into those hearts of so many.
IT ALL CAME TO A SUDDEN HALT
Tony Michael was going places as a well-known figure in the entertainment industry and then it all came to an abrupt halt. Tony was asked to perform a benefit show for the terminally ill patients at the Northridge Hospital, in Northridge California after his 1981 USA Tour. Tony who always found it difficult to say no, he went on to perform that evening.
I remember it well. It was a small group of about 30, so just the guitar and his voice were adequate. As I spoke with the family and friends of some of the patients, I could feel their emotions, and I felt the presence of something phenomenal in the air that I can only describe as calming and peaceful, that which I have only witnessed in church when I was a young lad. There wasn’t a dry eye in that hospital ward which included myself. As I listened, the comments were flowing with the tears of joy and sadness all wrapped up together in the ward. The thing that stood out the most in my mind and heart that very night was the father of a young girl who hadn’t much more time on this earth, he told me, I quote “I cannot ever in my life repay what Tony gave my daughter this day”. You see his daughter has not responded in any physical manner in the last six years after her accident. “When Tony sang the song “I Believe”, She looked up at me squeezed my hand with tears running down her cheeks and she smiled and I knew at that moment she was finally at peace.”. “Two days later she passed away”.
How can you ever repay anyone for a gift so precious. This is what Tony is made of. He stood out from the rest. “It was in the middle of the next song when Tony collapsed. He was already at the hospital and it was like total chaos. He was admitted and no-one could get near him with round the clock security at his door. I knew then that something was seriously wrong. I spoke with his manager a few days later and was told that Tony suffered from a minor stroke brought on by physical exhaustion. It was then that Tony vanished for nine years.
MOVING ON
I later found out that his accountant, Richard (Dick) White had embezzled all of Tony’s assets and left him almost penniless. Tony had an investment in a Detective agency in Studio City California. And so, what did he do? Tony began to establish himself as a successful Private Investigator and specialized in Child abduction cases. His rate of recovery was staggering with a track record of recovering 95% of the agency cases. When asked how he was able to maintain a 95% success rate. Tony gave all the credit to God, claiming that “The good Lord put me in the right places at the right time”. Tony ran a highly sophisticated Agency for several years until one day he was working on a kidnaping child case which led him to uncover a cartel ring that utilized piolets from a top airline company to get their drug and precious stones into the United States.. Due to the failed attempts on Tony’s and his family’s lives, he decided to move out of California and maintained a low profile.
WHERE IN THE HECK IS THE BULL MOUNTAINS
It was now 1989. Nine years later when I was tipped off that TONY MICHAEL, was found. He was appearing at a place called the Tumbleweed Saloon somewhere in a place called THE BULL MOUNTAINS Montana. Of course, I had to fly there to see if it truly was the legend I once grew to care about. I remember getting off the plane in Billings Montana. It was a Saturday evening. I had a Limo waiting. He took me about 60 miles to the Tumbleweed Saloon. I found it to be a friendly atmosphere. It was almost as if I went back in time to the old west, cowboys everywhere, and of course I was in my three-piece suit and a fedora hat. I remember a cowboy approaching me and said, “You need to get rid of that hat and get Cha a real cowboy hat”.
As I made my way through the crowd, I noticed the homemade stage with hay bails all around it. It reminded me of the Grand Ole Opry house. The show began with a selection of local talent, which later I was told that Tony worked with these folks to get them ready for this show. I though to myself that Tony came here to a place most of us have never heard of and harnessed this local talent into a group of Las Vegas show personalities. Suddenly it got really quiet with the announcement that Tony Michael was on stage.
The place exploded just as it once was when Tony performed his concerts. He came out from behind the stage. Thinner, older, yet somehow his voice was untouched by the scorn of time. He appeared confident as he always was. The shrills from the girls brought back long-ago memories. The excitement was still there just like a fine wine, Tony appeared to have gotten better in time. It really was him, I was so excited that I couldn’t wait to get back to my office and begin to let the world know that TONY MICHAEL was alive and well. The news media grabbed ahold of the story and low and behold I was reunited with my talented friend. I couldn’t persuade him to let me bring him back where he belongs, on stage.
ABUSED, TROUBLED, NEGLECTED AND ABANDONED YOUTH
Tony told me that he founded the Chapel of Hope Ministries and for 13 years he and the love of his life Melinda, housed and counselled abused, troubled, neglected and abandoned children. He stated that he and his wife ministered to over 400 youth from all walks of life. And that it all abruptly ended as he went on to explain how the church had been set on fire and burned to the ground.
It was no surprise to me that in 2021 Tony was recognized and awarded the 2021 American Christian Patriot of the Year award. For his work as a Pastor, counselling and Pastoring to the youth and to the broken families from all over the country. Tony was also working as a Counselor at the County Youth Detention Center. Tony brought the very first Church services to that facility. And as if he didn’t do enough, while he was Pastoring, he also donated his time for six years with the Musselshell County Sheriff’s Department and became a reserve Deputy that the community grew to trust and get help from.
SAYS WHAT HE MEANS AND MEANS WHAT HE SAYS
This is the heart of the man I came to know as TONY MICHAEL. A man who says what he means and means what he says, and will overcome all obstacles to achieve whatever task that is put before him.
When asked how he achieves all these things, he gives credit first to God and secondly his dear wife MelLinda, which Tony claims as his better half.
LEAVING A LEGACY
Another 34 years had passed, only to find Tony once again now living in Nevada. I had my daughter Kat locate him and she and I convinced Tony to let us release his music. He was apprehensive and gave excuses like, “Rick my friend I am seventy years old with a head missing hair, what in the world have I got to offer”? I said, “I’m ninety-one years young and am ready for a comeback”, Next I made the only statemen I could have, the statement that I knew would hit him where it matters most. I said, “how about a Legacy for your children and grandchildren.” Tony finally accepted the partnership because he wanted to leave his children and grandchildren a Legacy of his music.
SO HERE WE ARE TODAY
So that brings us all current. At the age of 70, Tony is getting ready to release his album with a whole lot of persuading from myself and my daughter.
You will soon be hearing his music and there is no doubt that it will move to the charts even though my Dads long time friend doesn’t care about fame.
We believe God has given RCI Communications and Glory Music the privilege to fulfill a lifelong destiny. There is no doubt in our minds that the Legacy Tony will leave for his loved ones will stand the test of time and, will also be a Legacy for the music Industry.
Written by Rick & Kat Carpenter
Ron Carpenter; Artist Management & Public Relations: Associated News Service
