Tony Messina is a native Philadelphian. He is a pop/jazz singer/songwriter who has appeared live in concert from in the US and internationally at jazz festivals, theatres and nightclubs. Tony has enjoyed Sold-Out shows from coast to coast: recently at the Metropolitan Room, Kitano and the Iridium Jazz Club in New York City, the Cuillo Center for the Arts in Palm Beach, FL, the Invisible Theatre in Tucson, AZ and the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles. “Excellent, not to miss,” says the New York Post. Variety says “Dangerous, May be habit forming.” Cabaret Scenes magazine noted, “Tony is an easy going entertainer, comfortable with his audience, possessor of an admirable voice and a crowd pleaser.” A few years back, Tony was invited to sing for Tony Bennett who was being honored by the Sons of Italy Organization. Messina caught the attention of Larry King who was Master of Ceremonies and President Clinton who was in attendance. He performed at the Oslo Jazz Festival as well as the New Orleans, Nantucket and the Kansas City Jazz Festival. He also performed for the American Ambassador to Norway. Messina’s musical presentation was an original tribute to George and Ira Gershwin, Cole Porter and Johnny Mercer along with some of Messina’s original compositions.
Messina has performed with such entertainment luminaries as Nancy Sinatra, Frank Sinatra Jr, Kenny Rogers, Stan Kenton, Lionel Hampton, Louie Bellson, Paul Smith, Alan Broadbent, Don Friedman, David Letterman, Johnny Carson, Joan Rivers, Rodney Dangerfield, George Carlin, Merv Griffin, Mel Brooks and for the Chairman of the Board himself, who was a major fan! After many recordings and performances while living in New York, Tony took a break from singing and moved to Hollywood where he wrote many screenplays while sharpening his acting skills for the big screen and television. He acted on “The Young and the Restless,” “General Hospital” and two Mel Brooks films, “History of the World” and “Life Stinks.”
Messina’s rich warm voice allows him to share meaningful renditions of his first CD with all original compositions. On his 2009 release, Soft Nights in Vegas, (R & M Jazz Records 1982), Messina sings with an earthy, warm glowing tone spinning exciting mood swings. His interpretations are sheer beauty, an affair of enchantment. From the swinging, “Ol Blue Eyes,” the fun “Mile High Club” and the soulful “Not Every Man Lives” to the mellow and moving take on “Lifetimes” which is now the title song for the Internationally known short film, “She and He,” Messina covers the bases abundantly, making sure there is something for every fan and admirer of “great” music. WHLI-AM in New York has chosen Tony’s Soft Nights as one of their top 50 CDs for 2007. His previous CD release is the ever popular, Rated R: For Romantics Only. Tony’s new CD, Tony Live in NYC at the Iridium Jazz Club will be released in 2010.
Messina has wowed listeners and reviewers alike. The Palm Beach Post says Tony is, “Irresistible.”The San Francisco Chronicle claims “Tony owns the audience with each cascade of musical magic.” Harrison Ford considers Tony to be “a great talent” and Sarah Jessica Parker ranks Messina as “Sensational.” Speaking of Messina, Steve Martin proclaims, “A marvelous singer with an ebullient sense of swing!” Nicole Kidman enthuses “You’re special, I love your style!” Ben Stiller says “Cool man, very cool.” Frank Sinatra noted Messina’s “great voice and intonation”, and Barbara Sinatra continues to be “dazzled” by Messina’s talent. It’s time to discover Tony Messina!
Larry Rose/Ingenuity Productions
110 West End Avenue #13H, New York, NY 10023 (917) 797-1767 lrose888@aol.com/www.tonymessina.com
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