Tony’s love affair with jazz was ignited in 1984 when he was presented the opportunity to host a jazz programme on a hospital radio station. One of the few ways to broadcast legally in the UK back in the day. Since 1977, as a DJ he had been championing soul and jazz funk in his locale of north London, Herts & Essex. Then having just discovered the UK Jazz Dance scene this was a welcome opportunity to progress one step further.

That same year Paul Murphy released his first Phonogram compilation LP ‘Jazz Club 1’ which proved to be a valuable starting point for a new musical direction. In fact, Paul was Tony’s first ever radio interview, carried out at his long-defunkt Palladin Record label office in Soho.

Tony went on to present ‘Jazz First’ on BBC Essex for 5 years, establish a legal radio station for Harlow, East Herts annd West Essex, and become a promotor for Jazz at The Square One.

Tony is probably best known for his rare black music record business, ViRGO ViBES. During the 90s he would regularly be found stalling-out at London’s Black Music record fairs, Russ Dewbury’s Jazz Bop in Brighton and international record conventions in Paris, Utrecht and Milan.

In 2001, he left the UK for sunnier shores relocating to southern Spain. He continued to present jazz on local radio and helped promote the San Javier International Jazz Festival.

Read more about Tony in Mark ´Snowboy’ Cotgrove’s book “From Jazz Funk & Fusion To Acid Jazz”, the history of the Jazz Dance scene.