One of the world’s most famous singers who has sold more than 20 million records is gearing up to perform to a more intimate stage than he’s used to.
Tony Christie, famous for singing about The Way To Amarillo is going back to his roots for an evening of traditional songs from his roots in County Mayo.
For the gig, he will be backed by Irish band Ranagri who play harp, flute, bouzouki, guitar and whistles.
The evening is the culmination of 20 years work looking at some of the traditional folk songs from Ireland and making them relevant for a 21st century audience.
A post on Ranagri’s website explains how the band and Tony got together after a gig in the 1990s: “We sat around the kitchen table until the early hours of the morning, having a few drinks and singing old folk songs from a shared heritage; the songs we remembered our parents singing; songs of great joy and deep sorrow.”
Over the past couple of years the Tony and Ranagri have been making good on that promise and are ready to bring their songs to the Thames Valley on Monday, June 27.
Tony Christie has sold over 20 million records worldwide and he is celebrating his 50th anniversary in music, his first single having been released in 1966 on CBS Records.
As a teenager he and a friend formed The Grant Brothers, touring hospitals and working mens’ clubs. After they parted Tony joined northern club sensations The Counterbeats until leaving to go solo in 1966.
He was spotted by mod-guru and Who producer Shel Talmy and was soon winning awards. At one such ceremony he met manager Harvey Lisberg, who promised to make him a star.
At the start of 1971 Las Vegas hit the charts and after that the international hits began to flow. These were big songs for a big voice and they were followed by big tours, establishing a large and loyal fan base.
In 1991, old fan Jarvis Cocker sought out Tony to collaborate on Walk like a Panther which was a top 10 hit and re-introduced him to a new generation of fans. This new found popularity was taken to new heights in 2005 with the re-release of Is This the Way to Amarillo in Phoenix Nights, prompting a British tour and the release of his triple platinum “Definitive Collection” album.
After that followed a new album of collaborations with Sheffield’s finest music makers (including Artic Monkeys, Jarvis cocker, The Human League and The All Seeing Eye) Made in Sheffield, which was a major commercial and artistic success. His most recent album, Now’s the Time, explored the soul side of his early career. Tony spent most of 2013 flying backwards and forwards to Nashville while recording an new album which is scheduled for release later in the year.
Tony, whose real surname is Fitzgerald has also just recorded an album of traditional Irish songs with the Celtic folk band Ranagri.
The album entitled The Great Irish Song Book was released on Wrasse Records in September 2015.
They will be appearing at Nettlebed Folk Club in Nettlebed’s Village Hall.
The music starts at 8pm.
For more details call the box office on 01628 636620 or log on to www.nettlebedfolkclub.co.uk
