Antonio (Tony) Newton, who stands as one of the most progressive, creative and influential music artists of this contemporary music era! Chances are you've heard Newton, a performer on over 25 million selling Gold recordings. Born and raised in Detroit Mi., Newton began his career first on piano at age seven, beginning professionally at the tender age of thirteen, playing bass guitar with blues legends John Lee Hooker, T-Bone Walker, Little Walter and other classic artists on the urban blues circuit.
This was not without receiving initial recognition as an accomplished saxophone and woodwinds player in various orchestras and ensembles. Newton gained swift acclaim as one of the Midwest's most prominent bassists through his association with Motown records. Newton was discovered by Motown executive Hank Cosby while playing in Detroit Blues clubs at the age of 18. He was chosen to replace James Jamerson as touring bassist with Smokey Robinson and the Miracles so that Jamerson could concentrate on studio recording exclusively. Within two years Newton became Music Director. He also toured with all of the Motown artists such as: Diana Ross and the Supremes, Martha and the Vandellas, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Four Tops, Temptations, Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5, Spinners, and others. While at Motown from time to time, playing with the "Funk Brothers" he left his trademark of solid, hard driving, and deftly clever grooves on such timeless hits as "Where Did Our Love Go", "Baby Love", "Stop In The Name Of Love", "Nowhere to Run" on the east coast, and on the west coast, "ABC', "Never Can Say Goodbye", "Don't Leave Me This Way", and many others. Also a little unknown fact is that Newton and James Jamerson played together as 2 basses on the above Motown Hits. Newton was also the bassist for the famed 1965 European Motown Review tour, mentioned in the film, "Standing in the Shadows of Motown".
In the following years, Newton gained swift acclaim as a prominent bassist in the music industry through his fat bass sound, deftly clever lines, and solid grooves on many hit recordings for Motown, Holland-Dozier-Holland, Warner Bros, CBS, Atlantic and others, continuing in the tradition and inheriting the musical bass torch of his mentor and friend, Motown staff bass legend, the late, great funk brother, James Jamerson. Newton (known as the baby funk brother, being the youngest at 16) went on to establish himself as one of the most versatile musician-composers-producers in his field. He recorded and toured with rock, pop and r & b's most celebrated figures -- Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Smokey Robinson (whom he served as bassist and music director,) Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, Little Richard and many others. Newton was staff bassist for the talented songwriting-producing team Holland-Dozier-Holland and their Invictus-Hotwax label playing on several hits for artists, Freda Payne, 100 Proof, 8th Day, and others. Tony played on other Detroit recording studio-labels classic hits ie: Stax "The Dramatics, What You See is What You Get", "Johnny Taylor's, Part Time Lover", and more. He also gained recognition as one of the founding fathers of fusion, as bassist-composer-vocalist in the acclaimed jazz-rock fusion group: "The Tony WiIIiams Lifetime" penning the fusion classics, "Snake Oil", and "Red Alert", sweeping the globe with their intense, high-energy, complex style, cited historically in the "Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll." He was also an integral member of British hard rock group "G-Force" with veteran guitarist Gary Moore. The multi-talented Newton fondly remembers these times as "special" when reflecting back as this is when he met and worked with Sharon Arden-Osborne, his then manager, and Ozzie Osborne showing up at some of G-Force's English concert tour gigs (The Osborne's beginnings). Newton's prolific talents include writing and producing classic rock songs and instrumentals. These include, "You Kissed Me Sweetly", and "I Trust Your Loving", "Dancing"
