Skip to main content

Tony Gideon

 


Tony Gideon | Uncredited/Spotify | tc407

Theodis Freeman "Tony" Gideon was born in Clayton, Alabama on 19 January 1938. He was a member of the vocal group The Daylighters but also was making recordings on his own. The book “Chicago Soul” by Robert Pruter mentions this recording. Mr Gideon has been in contact with us, and informs us that he had known Leonard Chess since 1958. “Wah too si” was originally issued on Miss Records, a subsidiary of Bea and Baby Records, where Mr Gideon and Narvell Eatmon were working as producers. Mr Gideon was the first person to record a “Watusi” song.

When they picked up the record for distribution, Chess changed the name of one side from “Wah too si” to “Watcha gonna do” to avoid conflict with a then current recording by The Vibrations. The record was made in 1960 and released on Chess in 1961. Mr Gideon had been involved in vocal groups since the mid 1950s. He was called up for National Service in 1961 and sings on the recording “Oh Mom teach me how to Uncle Willie” which was issued in the UK on Sue.

Mr Gideon has very kindly confirmed that the photograph above is of him. The photograph dates from 1983/4 and was taken when he was recording at 2120 South Michigan Ave (the former home of Chess Records!) with his then business partner Gerald Sims.

Mr Gideon returned to Birmingham, Alabama in 1987 where he operates the business Sound Mindz Entertainment Inc.

I would like to thank Mr Gideon for getting in touch and for his invaluable help in compiling this item.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Meditation Singers

  Meditation Singers LP cover | Vinyl Beat | tc306 The Meditation Singers, a long running Gospel music group, first recorded in the 1940s and at one time included Della Reese. The group, at the time they were recording for Checker in 1966, were Ernestine Rundless, wjo founded the group, Donna Hammonds, Verlene Rogers, Marie Waters, Patricia Lyles and Victoria Beasley. Ernestine Rundless was born in Egremont, Mississippi on 4 May 1914 and died on 7 February 2007. Donna Hammonds is undocumented. Verlene Rogers died in Las Vegas, Nevada, after a long illness, on 27 August 2020. Marie Waters is undocumented but is known to have been the older sister of singer Della Reese. Patricia Lyles was born in 1943 and died in 1978. Victoria Beasley is undocumented.
Post a Comment
Read more

Anthony La Mont

  Lamont Dozier | Uncredited photographer/Creative and Dreams | tc494 Lamont Herbert Dozier (La Mont Anthony) is a well known record producer, song writer and singer.  He is best known as a member of the Holland-Dozier-Holland producing and writing team who were behind big successes for The Supremes and The Four Tops. He co-wrote and produced 14 US Billboard number 1 hits and 4 UK number one hits. Mr Dozier was born in Detroit, Michigan on 16 June 1941 and began singing for some small Detroit labels with groups including The Romeos before joining up with Brian and Eddie Holland in 1962. Their first successes for Motown were for Martha and The Vandellas. He split with the Hollands in 1972 to pursue a solo career.  The recording on CheckMate was made around 1961. Mr Dozier and the Holland brothers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990. Mr Dozier moved to California and has spent some time teaching music. He was a Trustee of NARAS and chaired its Advocacy...
Post a Comment
Read more

Chuck Berry

  Chuck Berry | Rolling Stone | tc036 Charles Edward Anderson “Chuck” Berry was born on October 18, 1926 in St Louis, Missouri.,  He traveled to Chicago in May 1955, and met Muddy Waters, who suggested he contact Leonard Chess of Chess Records. The resulting record of "Maybelline", based on the country song "Ida Red", sold over one million copies and set a high standard – a combination of amazing guitar playing, developing the playing style of T Bone Walker, which inspired whole generations of musicians, and composing articulate descriptive songs. He became known as "The father of rock and roll". His lyrics concentrated on teenage life and consumerism.  Berry has had a number of spells in prison for a variety of offences including offences against the Mann Act and of tax evasion. Having been ripped off, Berry insisted on being paid cash in a paper bag which he transferred to his attache case. Although mainly associated with Chess Records, Berry signed with...
Post a Comment
Read more