The Big Man on the Hammond B-3
Tony Zamagni was born in Boston, Mass. on November 13, 1952. In the year 1960 at 8 years old he began his first piano lesson in the 3rd grade at St. Patrick's School in Roxbury, Mass. In 1966 at 14 years old he joined his first neighborhood band and never looked back. At 16 years old he graduated to the notorious Combat Zone of Boston performing in strip clubs and with top show bands. In 1970 at 18 years old he toured with the Platters and for the next 7 years he would come and go numerous times. They named him Tony Z and that name carries on to this day.
At 27 years old he joined the funk band Miami and went on to perform and record for TK Records. At 28 years old he rejoined the Platters for the final time. From 29 years old to 36 He lived in Medford, Mass. and other states, basically where ever the music took him performing with his own bands and others.
At 37 years old from 1989 to 1991, Tony Z recorded and toured with Boston based blues guitarist Ronnie Earl.
In 1991 At 39 years old living in Quincy Mass., Tony Z packed up his chopped Hammond B-3 Organ in the back seat of his 1986 Toyota Corolla and with his 860 Leslie filling the front seat. He then stuffed his organ bench, tooth brush, and some cloths in the trunk and moved to Chicago, where he proceeded to tour and record with singer/guitarist Larry McCray, and within those years did many other performances and recordings (found in his discography).
In 1992 at 42 years old living in Chicago Tony Z recorded his original debut album, "Get Down With the Blues", released on Rounder's Tone-Cool subsidiary label in 1995. The outing is first-class, self-produced in Chicago's Streeterville Studios with stellar backing musicians: (guitarist) Duke Robillard, (drummer) Bernard "Pretty" Purdie, (saxophonist) Houston Person, (harmonica) Sugar Blue and (bassist) Johnny B. Gayden.
In 1995 Tony Z records his second album for Tone Cool, "Kiss My Blues" released in 1997 This record is another all original self-produced classic, recorded at Streeterville Studios with a legendary all-star cast including: Cornell Dupree (guitar), Bernard "Pretty" Purdie (drums) Chuck Rainey (bass), Lenny Pickett (saxophone) and Kim Wilson (harmonica). Also in 1995 Tony Z begins a 9 year run with Buddy Guy playing piano and organ touring and doing live recordings all over the world. Within these years between tours he records with various artists again (found in his discography).
In February 2004 at 51 years old Tony Z resigns from Buddy Guy and moves to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and for the next 2 years he relaxes from the last 34 years of being on the road and fine tunes his new original music and plans for the next project. In between time he preforms on his Hammond B-3 at Calvary Chapel FTL with their incredible worship team led by Pastor Clay Hicocks. From this team Tony Z has been working with (bass) extraordinaire Joe Falconeri and now in 2007 at 54 years old is passionately ready to record again to continue spreading his unique take on the Hammond B-3 Organ.
Tony Zamagni was born in Boston, Mass. on November 13, 1952. In the year 1960 at 8 years old he began his first piano lesson in the 3rd grade at St. Patrick's School in Roxbury, Mass. In 1966 at 14 years old he joined his first neighborhood band and never looked back. At 16 years old he graduated to the notorious Combat Zone of Boston performing in strip clubs and with top show bands. In 1970 at 18 years old he toured with the Platters and for the next 7 years he would come and go numerous times. They named him Tony Z and that name carries on to this day.
At 27 years old he joined the funk band Miami and went on to perform and record for TK Records. At 28 years old he rejoined the Platters for the final time. From 29 years old to 36 He lived in Medford, Mass. and other states, basically where ever the music took him performing with his own bands and others.
At 37 years old from 1989 to 1991, Tony Z recorded and toured with Boston based blues guitarist Ronnie Earl.
In 1991 At 39 years old living in Quincy Mass., Tony Z packed up his chopped Hammond B-3 Organ in the back seat of his 1986 Toyota Corolla and with his 860 Leslie filling the front seat. He then stuffed his organ bench, tooth brush, and some cloths in the trunk and moved to Chicago, where he proceeded to tour and record with singer/guitarist Larry McCray, and within those years did many other performances and recordings (found in his discography).
In 1992 at 42 years old living in Chicago Tony Z recorded his original debut album, "Get Down With the Blues", released on Rounder's Tone-Cool subsidiary label in 1995. The outing is first-class, self-produced in Chicago's Streeterville Studios with stellar backing musicians: (guitarist) Duke Robillard, (drummer) Bernard "Pretty" Purdie, (saxophonist) Houston Person, (harmonica) Sugar Blue and (bassist) Johnny B. Gayden.
In 1995 Tony Z records his second album for Tone Cool, "Kiss My Blues" released in 1997 This record is another all original self-produced classic, recorded at Streeterville Studios with a legendary all-star cast including: Cornell Dupree (guitar), Bernard "Pretty" Purdie (drums) Chuck Rainey (bass), Lenny Pickett (saxophone) and Kim Wilson (harmonica). Also in 1995 Tony Z begins a 9 year run with Buddy Guy playing piano and organ touring and doing live recordings all over the world. Within these years between tours he records with various artists again (found in his discography).
In February 2004 at 51 years old Tony Z resigns from Buddy Guy and moves to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and for the next 2 years he relaxes from the last 34 years of being on the road and fine tunes his new original music and plans for the next project. In between time he preforms on his Hammond B-3 at Calvary Chapel FTL with their incredible worship team led by Pastor Clay Hicocks. From this team Tony Z has been working with (bass) extraordinaire Joe Falconeri and now in 2007 at 54 years old is passionately ready to record again to continue spreading his unique take on the Hammond B-3 Organ.