Tony Drake
More than a decade after releasing his debut single, "Let's Play House," on the small New York-based independent label Musicor, smooth-voiced Tony Drake (born Samuel Garner) found stardom as a songwriter. While he rarely recorded, in the 1970s his songs seemed to have lives of their own. Slated to be covered by Barbara Acklin, his tune "Living in the Footsteps of Another Man" was covered instead by the Chi-Lites, who included it on their million-selling album A Lonely Man in 1972. The tune went on to be covered by more than two dozen artists, including Jamaican reggae singer Delroy Wilson and British dance band the Pasadenas. "Let's Play House" provided Drake with a second hit when it was included on a multi-artist album, Soul of a Man, compiled by East Coast promoter/DJ Mike Boone in 1984. An international hit, the song was subsequently translated into Italian and recorded by La Pina e Soul Kingdom.
A native of Philadelphia, Drake grew up on his great grandmother's farm in rural Virginia. Inspired by the doo wop vocalists of the late '50s, he dreamed of becoming a star. Returning to Philadelphia at the age of 15, he started his apprenticeship as valet for doo wop group the Cruisers. Determined to make it on his own, Drake moved to New York and signed with a manager, Bunny Jones, who touted him as a "Tom Jones type" of pop singer. The hype backfired when a $10,000-a-week engagement in Las Vegas was canceled when the agent discovered that Drake was African-American.
Chicago-based doo-wop group the Flamingos had a major influence on Drake, who temporarily assumed the name Tony Hunt, the younger brother of Flamingos vocalist Tommy Hunt. Although he was rejected when he auditioned for the group, vocalist Terry Johnson took him under his wing and "taught" him to sing. Drake successful auditioned for the group in 1963. Drake seemed to be on the verge of realizing his dreams. His first single, "Let's Play House," was included in Billboard's "special merit spotlight," but Musicor failed to promote it and it disappeared from the charts.
Encouraged by R&B vocalist Jackie Wilson, Drake recorded a second single, "Suddenly" b/w "It Hurts Me More," with the Chi-Lites providing background harmonies, for the Chicago-based Brunswick label. Brunswick, however, did no more promotion than its predecessor, and the single failed to stir much attention. Meanwhile, another song, "The Sly, the Slick and the Wicked," recorded during time left over from Drake's session by Brunswick promotion director Gus Redman's "favorite" new signing, the Lost Generation, became a major hit.
Forced to take a job as a salesman with a clothing manufacturer, Drake didn't return to the recording studio until 1982, 12 years later. Although he released a single, "Human" b/w "Think About It," his bad luck continued as the Rissa-Chrissa label was dissolved shortly after the single's release. Tapes of his collaborations with influential Hammond B-3 organ player Jimmy Smith remain unreleased.
© Craig Harris /TiVo
Artistas similares
-
The Tony Drake Collection, Vol. 2 Then and Now
Varios - Editado por Sagarmusic el 01-01-2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Escape
Jazz fusión & Jazz rock - Editado por Next Music el 19-01-2024
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Shooting The Breeze
Jazz fusión & Jazz rock - Editado por Next Music el 01-09-2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
First Time in Forever
Jazz fusión & Jazz rock - Editado por Next Music el 25-08-2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Groove Therapy
Jazz fusión & Jazz rock - Editado por Next Music el 29-09-2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Restoration
Jazz fusión & Jazz rock - Editado por Tony Drake Music el 30-06-2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Casa De Alegria
Jazz fusión & Jazz rock - Editado por Tony Drake Music el 09-06-2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Tony Drake Collection collectors Choice Vol.1
Soul - Editado por Sagarmusic el 01-01-2003
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
-
Lofi Chill
Electrónica - Editado por Tony Drake Music el 08-03-2024
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
Speak Softly My Love (Live)
Jazz - Editado por Next Music el 14-03-2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Days of Wine and Roses (Live)
Jazz - Editado por Next Music el 14-03-2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
Standards My Way - David Ricky Live with Tony Drake (Live)
Jazz - Editado por Next Music el 08-12-2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
And I Love You So (Live)
Jazz - Editado por Next Music el 14-03-2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
On a Clear Day (You Can See Forever) (Live)
Jazz - Editado por Next Music el 14-03-2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
What a Wonderful World (Live)
Jazz - Editado por Next Music el 14-03-2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo