Tony Adamo

Artist Information

Biography

Tony Adamo Gil-Scott Heron Mark Murphy

Website: http://randomactrecords.com/
On his latest effort, and debut recording for
Random Act Records, TONY ADAMO has created a
unique genre: “HipSpokenWord.” Built on the
wisdom of musical wizards like Gil-Scott Heron,
Mark Murphy, Jack Kerouac and hip/hop master
rappers, Tony speaks the Truth through his poetic
musings. With preeminent players like producer
Mike Clark (drums), Richie Goods (bass), Delbert
Bump (organ), Michael Wolff (piano), Bill Summers
(percussion) and Tim Ouimette, Rob Dixon, Derek
Gardner and even Tower of Power's own physician of the funk, Stephen "Doc" Kupka. This release will turn heads and blow minds: Tales of travails and triumphs, told in the hippest of ways! Tony speaks/sings his way through the
urban landscapes of Jazz, Funk and Soul.
From the title track “Miles of Blu,” a nod to the
dark prince of Jazz, to “JB,” an homage to the
Godfather of Soul, to a down-home “BBQ” and
asking “America R We Free,” Tony tells it like it is
in his own mesmerizing manner.
The Grooves are infectious, the moods evocative,
the music sizzling and the words – HIP! “MILES OF
BLU” takes listeners on a swinging journey,
culminating in a funky good time!
Fred Harris Random Act Records
Tony Adamo's Exuberant Jazzy Take On Tower Of Power's Funk Classic
Adamo and his producer/guitarist Jerry Stucker take Tower of Power's classic funk number and give it a more sinewy vibe, elasticizing the vocals and the bass, while crackling up the song's more timpanic elements. This exuberantly self-assured remake recalls the Acid Jazz insouciance of the early 90s while harkening back to the Big Band era and the Vegas-y stylings of suave masters of self-confidence such as Tom Jones and Al Jarreau. Adamo has a brash self-assuredness and a sense of showmanship that's neither unearned nor in your face. You can almost picture him taking a drag from an unfiltered or sipping from a martini in between some of his spoken-word lines. And the arrangements are crisp, solid and spicy--punctuating Adamo's vocals and his been-there sung-that attitude.
www.strokeland.com
www.myspace.com/tonyrocadamo

Devon Jackson
Magazine Editor - Freelance Music Journalist

Devon Jackson has written about music and film for a variety of publications--from Entertainment Weekly and The Village Voice to Rolling Stone and Details. He is also the author of Conspiranoia! and currently the editor of Santa Fean magazine





Singer Tony Adamo Reviewed By Ken Spellman-Soundcheckny Radio

Website: http://www.strokeland.com/StrokelandJazz/TonyAdamo/Tracks/TonyAda[...]
Singer/songwriter Tony Adamo and his producer/guitarist Jerry Stucker have re-grooved the Tower of Power (TOP) songs "What Is Hip" and "This Time It’s Real," and have added their unmistakable smooth groove to these TOP hit classics. Adamo and Stucker have reimagined "What Is Hip" in a totally fresh and hip style that pays homage to, but never attempts to duplicate, the classic Tower of Power original.

"What Is Hip" is a pleasant and refreshing project that reflects back on a legendary time in music history where REAL INSTRUMENTS were played. No Garage Band, Live, Fruity loops here buddy!

On top of that Tony and Jerry dared to cover one of the most famous songs to garner appeal from jazz enthusiasts, lovers of funk, and R&B. This is the type of music that SHOULD be on the radio as it was when "Tower Of Power" initially released it.

As I listened I was rewound back in time to pleasant summer days of my youth refining my skills as a percussionist. It was a time to be HIP and this was the anthem.

The song opens with funky percussion, light keys and spoken word which immediately grab your attention. The horn sections softly remind you of the "Tower Of Power" horns and the overall flow casts you back into the street scenes of movies like "Superfly, Car Wash, and Lady Sings the Blues". The song progresses at a hip pace, no rush, no pressure, we'll get there when we get there!

When we got to the end of the song I had to play it again until I finally downloaded it to my IPhone, got in my baby Benz and took to the streets of Manhattan, from The Trade Center in complex in lower Manhattan, up the West Side highway to 125th Street and i was Hip".

This one gets lot's of Stars **** out of five and I encourage you to visit their sites and buy both their current projects.

Urban AC radio and the few Jazz stations out there get on this one! You can believe we're playing it on Soundcheck!
www.strokeland.com

Ken "Special K" Spellman
Founder / CEO - Soundcheck Incorporated
Ken Spellman - Founder / CEO - Soundcheck Incorporated
www.soundcheckny.com





Tony Adamo and Al Schmitt at Capitol Studios-now that’s hip!
Los Angeles, California
Fred Harris
www.strokeland.com

Tony Adamo and Al Schmitt at Capitol Studios…now that is hip! Singer songwriter, Tony Adamo was at Capitol Studios, Hollywood, California recently with the legendary fifteen time Grammy winner producer, Al Schmitt. Schmitt completed the final mix on three new songs from Adamo’s, WHAT IS HIP CD scheduled for release in 2011. Recording engineer, Steve Genewick, assisted Schmitt in Studio “C.” Jerry Stucker, producer of all of Adamo’s music was also on hand to lend his producing skills to Adamo’s power house vocals and new perspective on soul music. Adamo’s new tunes are soul cookin’ with a splash of funk to spice things up.
Later this year Horndriven Radio’s, Raoul Fernandez will be the first to preview and play one of the new cuts from Adamo’s CD. You can find Tony Adamo’s music on Stephen “Doc” Kupka’s Strokeland Records. Doc is the co-founder of Tower of Power, the greatest all time horn driven funk band





Tony Adamo is Soul Funkin' at Studio Trilogy
Fred Harris, Urbanzone Productions
Los Angeles, California

Strokeland record artist, Tony Adamo and his guitarist/producer, Jerry Stucker, recently recorded at Studio Trilogy, San Francisco, California. Stucker was at the recording helm with Justin Lieberman co-owner of Studio Trilogy, assisting. Stephen “Doc” Kupka, co-founder of the super- funk group, Tower of Power, and Mike Clark of Herbie Hancock and the Headhunters were there to record on Adamo’s new CD release. “Doc“ Kupka laid down his legendary bari sax groove while Mike Clark added his kool struttin’ drumming to Adamo's nu-soul vocal cover of the Temptations hit, "The Way You Do The Things You Do."
Also on this new CD release you will hear Clark’s drumming and Kupka’s horn playing on Adamo's innovative and totally out rendition of the Tower of Power hit, "What Is Hip." “Doc” Kupka who co-wrote this tune with Emilio Castillo said the following: "I love Tony’s version! He evokes the beatnik-bongo days of my youth and gives a whole new slant to a hard-charging funk tune. Congrats to both Tony Adamo and Jerry Stucker!"
More info on Tony Adamo at www.strokeland.com







Tony Adamo Jerry Stucker
Funk Dialogue Somethin' Else
The smash Funk /Pop song "No Strings" written by Tony Adamo and Jerry Stucker. Is now a blowin' the funksters away as a instrumental.Featuring Jerry Stucker on guitar with members of Tower of Power's horn section.In a year's time "No Strings" has made 200 radio Playlists and counting. You can dig the instrumental and vocal cuts at www.myspace.com/tonyrocadamo
Tony Adamo is a www.strokeland.com Record Artist



Tony Adamo's No Strings on Lasvegasweekly's Top 25 for 5th week in a row at #9 http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/mp3/top/2010-06-25/




Tony Adamo's "What Is Hip" in LasVegasWeekly TOP 25

Rank Song Artist Last week Times in top 25
1. Safety Nets and Fastened Windows Sprockets 1 146 Add to playlist
2. One More MIle Poppermost 6 88 Add to playlist
3. Backs Turned Newsense 18 3 Add to playlist
4. Slow Ride NAWGAHYDE 12 10 Add to playlist
5. Kristen Poppermost 15 118 Add to playlist
6. Separate Ways Erudite 11 10 Add to playlist
7. Hen Shirt in the Jupon 13 6 Add to playlist
8. Fight Em With Your Rock Taking Dawn 8 32 Add to playlist
9. Tubthumping One Hit Wonders 20 15 Add to playlist
10. Episode 74: A mythological failure Josh Bell Hates Everything 20 6 Add to playlist
11. What is Hip Tony Adamo not available 1 Add to playlist
12. Waste My Ears Black Camaro 7 14 Add to playlist
13. Brand New Skin The day after... 22 10 Add to playlist
14. Four Pieces Gray Matter Academy 5 8 Add to playlist
15. Shipwreck in a Bottle The Study Band 21 19 Add to playlist
16. Something Like Paradise IMPACT 5 14 Add to playlist
17. Lies Broke Love Old Iron Sights 11 4 Add to playlist
18. What it's Like to be Sad Rushmore Beekeepers 11 5 Add to playlist
19. The River Dreaming of Lions 16 10 Add to playlist
20. Groove Therapy Tony Adamo not available 1 Add to playlist
21. Gone Soul'd Out 24 11 Add to playlist
22. No Strings Tony Adamo not available 1 Add to playlist
23. Pendulum Control the Chaos 17 2 Add to playlist
24. Myself Poppermost 9 66 Add to playlist
25. Over Devilcar 11 5 Add to playlist

View all freely available MP3s on LasVegasWeekly.com!



DOWNLOAD THE NEW TONY ADAMO EXCLUSIVE PRE-RELEASE!

Tony Adamo and producer Jerry Stucker have re-imagined two classic Tower of Power hits in a fresh, hip, and icy cool style that you've just got to hear.

Just released is Tony's hot new remake of the classic Tower of Power tune "WHAT IS HIP?" and it's available TODAY for download as an MP3 file. Strokeland's own Stephen Kupka, the Funky Doctor, plays on the track along with jazz great Eddie Henderson on trumpet.

Already released here on Strokeland is Adamo's cool rendition of "THIS TIME IT'S REAL", another great classic Tower of Power tune. This smooth, funky arrangement by Jerry Stucker, covered by Strokeland Records artist Tony Adamo, was written by Tower of Power co-founders, Stephen 'Doc' Kupka and Emilio Castillo. Mic Gillette, who has arranged and recorded on six Adamo/Stucker songs, wrote a funk show-time arrangement for this new cover and laid down the brass. Tom E. Politizer of TOP was brought in for the lead solo, and Doc Kupka, the Funky Doctor himself, anchored the horn section.





Tony Adamo /Positive listening Radio

Category: Music

Patty Molloy www.positivelistening.com Radio

Tony Adamo is one of the most promising singers out there today. Can’t wait to hear his newest tunes! Adamo’s new CD will hit the streets May 2010. Tony Adamo is a Strokeland Records recording artist.Strokeland Records is owned by Stephen “Doc” Kupka of Tower of Power fame.
www.strokeland.com
www.myspace.com



Music News from Strokeland Records/Tony Adamo
Strokeland Records Strokeland artist Tony Adamo will soon be at Talking House Studios in San Francisco with his Producer, Jerry Stucker. Stucker will be mixing "What is Hip" and "This Time It's Real". Adamo has recorded slamming remakes of both Tower of Power hits. The Talking House team has provided ... See Moreservices for many of the world's best-selling Grammy®-winning recording artists, as well as talented San Francisco-based independent artists. http://tinyurl.com/ThisTimeItsReal


Strokeland Artists Funk up the Airwaves for HornDrivenRadio
Fred Harris, UrbanZone Productions


The triple threat funk jazz station, HornDrivenRadio, owned and operated by Raoul Fernandes is featuring the music of Strokeland Records Recording artists. Some of the high voltage funk and soul jazz artists that start the funk dialogue rollin’ with their heavy souln’ music are: Stephen “Doc” Kupka, Tony Adamo,Strokeland Super Band, Roger Smith, Mic Gillette, Larry Braggs, Santa Fe and The Fat City Horns, John Lee Sanders, Bruce Conte, Jon R. Smith, Chad Rager, and DoctorFunk.
Stephen “Doc” Kupka, one of the founding members of the super funk-soul band, Tower of Power, is president of Strokeland Records and Steve Finch is the Director of Operations. Man can ya dig it? Strokeland Records artist’s music is makin’ up HornDrivenRadio’s playlist! It’s goin’ be out of this world and the next world too! Mo’ funk and groove please! For more info go to Strokeland.com or Horndrivenradio.com





Tony Adamo’s Voice N’ Soul Music
Fred Harris, Los Angeles, California
UrbanZone Productions

Strokeland recording artist, Tony Adamo, got a new perspective of Voice N’ Soul when his long time guitarist/producer, Jerry Stucker got down with it at Capitol Studios and Mastering, at the historic Capitol Records Building, Hollywood, California. He brought in the big fat funk jazz beat of Stephen ‘Doc’ Kupka (Tower of Power, Strokeland Records) and Neil Larsen (Diana Krall, B.B. King, Greg Allman) for Adamo’s cover of the Tower of Power classic, “What is Hip,” written by Kupka and Emilio Castillo. The arrangement by Jerry Stucker with Adamo’s “good gracious that’s a whole lot of soul vocal and spoken hip word” is so far removed from the original, that ‘Doc’ “dug the hell out of it.”
The “What is Hip” line up: Mike Clark (drums), Eddie Henderson (trumpet), Richie Goods (bass), Neil Larsen (organ), and Jerry Stucker (guitar). Eddie Henderson in the horn section and ‘Doc’ Kupka (bari sax) is mo’ funk and groove than anyone can handle.
Tony Adamo’s new release will drop in 2010 and “What is Hip” will be available as an MP3 download on ‘Doc’ Kupka’s Strokeland Records soon. For more information go to www.strokeland.com





Tony Adamo Mic Gillette
Category: Music
Mic Gillette music legend with Tower of Power writes Tony Adamo's horn arrangements http://micgillette.com
Info on Tony Adamo www.strokeland.com


Tony Adamo Mike Clark and What It Is

Singer Tony Adamo's Guitarist/Producer Jerry Stucker. Has Super drummer Mike Clark playing on four cuts on Adamo's up coming music release for 2010.Clark's stunning drum works with Herbie Hancock and the Headhunters. Has solidified his place in Funk history.Mike Clark's 2008 CD, Blueprints of Jazz Volume One. Was voted one of the best CDS of the passed ten years by Downbeat magizine.You can dig Adamo and Clark on the soon to be released cover of a Tower of Power legendary song,"What Is Hip."
www.strokeland.com



Tony Adamo's Guitarist/Producer Jerry Stucker will be flying into Phoenix,AZ next week. Stucker will be recording drummer Steve Gadd on two of Tony adamo's new music tracks. Fred Harris Urbanzone Productions
www.strokeland.com

JazzTimes Magazine says our jazz MP3s are 100% free. There is no catch. Tony Adamo No Strings From the album Straight Up Deal on STROKELAND RECORDs Download at jazztimes.com


Horndrivenradio.com 10-26-09

We are also glad to have back in our rotation the new TOP cover song from Tony Adamo "This Time It's Real". Tony's music can be found at www.strokeland.com. Lastly, we are continuing to play three songs from Greg Adams new project "East Bay Soul".



TONY ADAMO IS ROLLIN’ WITH A LEAN MEAN FUNK MACHINE
Franki LaMantia, New York City, New York
www.strokeland.com

Tony Adamo kicks it into high gear with help from the rollin’ lean mean funk machine: Eddie Henderson (trumpet), Mike Clark (drums), and Richie Goods (bass). Adamo’s long time guitarist/producer, Jerry Stucker, brought this mighty trio of great players together at Dubway Recording Studios, New York City. There the three recorded on two songs for Adamo’s new 2010 release. One of the songs is a second cover of a Tower of Power hit song. The other song is a cover of a 70’s pop hit that also grooves with the bad to the bone vibes of the legendary guitarist, Blackbyrd McKnight. Mcknight recently recorded on two cuts for Adamo’s new CD. “This Time it’s Real,” is Adamo’s first cover of a TOP hit song. It can be downloaded at www.strokeland.com. Strokeland Records is owned by the Stephen ‘Doc’ Kupka, a founding member of Tower of Power.
DIG THE PLAYERS:
Eddie Henderson (trumpet) is now on staff at Juilliard School of Music. His bio-gigs include: Herbie Hancock, Art Blakey, John Handy, Joe Henderson and Charles Earland.
Mike Clark’s (drums) Blueprints of Jazz Volume 1 is listed as one of the best new CDs of 2008, Downbeat Magazine. Clarke’s bio-gigs include: Herbie Hancock and the Head Hunters, Wayne Shorter, Al Jarreau, Joe Henderson and Larry Goldings.
Richie Goods (bass) is an alumni of Berkley School of Music. Good’s bio-gigs include: Head Hunters, Christine Aguilera, Michael Wolff, Whitney Houston and his band, Nuclear Fusion.
Blackbyrd McKnight’s bio-gigs include: Herbie Hancock, the Head Hunters, Funkadelics, Sonny Rollins, George Clinton and the Pfunk All Stars, Bootsy Collins and Charles Lloyd.



GET HIP TO IT!
Denver's Smooth Jazz Radio Station KKHI 101.9 is spinning Tony Adamo's cover of the Tower of Power hit "This Time It's Real". Request it at kkhi1019.com
www.strokeland.com
www.myspace.com/tonyrocadamo


Horndrivenradio Spins Tony Adamo
Also, we continue to play three songs from “Sage” who just released their 40th Anniversary CD (a three song CD, in advance of their full CD coming out in 2010). Still in the mix as well is a new song from “East Bay Soul” titled “Survival Of The Hippest” (CD due out in September of this year), and an offering from “Tony Adamo”, which is a cover of the “Tower Of Power” classic, “This Time Its Real” (this song can be purchased as an MP3 directly from “Strokeland Records”.
HornDrivenRadio.com
Internet Radio Station Dedicated to Horn Driven Rock, Soul, Funk, & Jazz
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- A STROKELAND FIRST! DOWNLOAD THE NEW TONY ADAMO EXCLUSIVE PRE-RELEASE! www.strokeland.com

For the first time ever, Strokeland Records is releasing the full version of a new song for download long before the CD is released. Tony Adamo's hot new remake of the classic Tower of Power hit "This Time It's Real" is available TODAY for download as an MP3 file.

You can DOWNLOAD THE FULL SONG TODAY from right here on the Strokeland web site with no copy protection hassles.

This smooth, funky arrangement by Jerry Stucker, covered by Strokeland Records artist Tony Adamo, was written by Tower of Power co-founders, Stephen 'Doc' Kupka and Emilio Castillo. Mic Gillette, who has arranged and recorded on six Adamo/Stucker songs, wrote a funk show-time arrangement for this new cover and laid down the brass. Tom E. Politizer of TOP was brought in for the lead solo, and Doc Kupka, the Funky Doctor himself, anchored the horn section.

Adamo's smooth, sensuous vocals and a hot TOP horn section, along with a killer rhythm section make this song the sound of the summer.



DOWNLOAD "THIS TIME IT'S REAL" NOW!



TONY ADAMO This Time It's Real (single) Strokland Records / UrbanZone Records smoothjazz.com

Singer/songwriter and Strokeland Records recording artist, Tony Roc Adamo and producer/guitarist Jerry Stucker have teamed up to re-work Tower of Power’s tune, “This Time It’s Real.” The result is an intoxicating smooth groove that breathes new life into the TOP classic. Great minds think alike… as when the duo brought the remake idea to Tower’s Doc Kupka, he had already been thinking of ideas on retooling the tune! Reportedly Kupka was very impressed with the arrangement ideas on “This Time It’s Real” and gave the green light to re-record it. Not just that… but he also joined in the horn section in the recording session and is featured on the remake with current TOP saxman Tom Politzer as well as Mic Gillette along with A-List musicians including organist Neil Larson (Gregg Allman, BB King). The song is a smash and is currently being featured in high rotation on SmoothJazz.com Radio and will be included on Adamo’s 2010 album release. ~SANDY SHORE smoothjazz.com




TONY ADAMO COVERS TOWER OF POWER
Fred Harris
Los Angeles, CA

Singer-songwriter, Tony Adamo and his producer-guitarist, Jerry Stucker have re-grooved the Tower of Power (TOP) song “This Time It’s Real,” and have added their unmistakable smooth groove to this TOP hit classic. Adamo told us that during a recent meditation he had a musical insight about the music for a cover for this tune. He brought the idea to his producer, Jerry Stucker who immediately contacted “Doc” Kupka about a remake. This was when they discovered that “Doc” had been thinking about retooling “This Time It’s Real” along with several other TOP tunes. “Doc” was knocked out when he heard the rough mix and gave the high sign for them groove on.
The horn section for Adamo’s new cover of “This Time It’s Real” is made up of current TOP members, “Doc” Kupka, Tom Politzer (solo) and returning member, Mic Gillette, who wrote the horn arrangement for the remake. “Doc” suggested Adamo take a listen to several other TOP classics including “Recapture the Magic” and “Knock Yourself Out.” Adamo and Stucker now have several other TOP tunes simmering on the back burner.
On August 1st, Sandy Shore of Smoothjazz.com is launching a national radio promo for “This Time It’s Real.” This song will definitely be added to Adamo’s new 2010 CD release. For more information go to www.mypace.com/tonyrocadamo




Tony Adamo and Rhythm and Jazz Radio
Category: Music

RHYTHM & JAZZ RADIO

Rhythm & Jazz Radio now has Tony's "This Time It's Real" on it's playlist! Stop by and enjoy Rhythm & Jazz!
www.rhythmandjazz.com www.strokeland.com www.myspace.com/tonyrocadamo


Raoul Fernandes of horndrivenradio.com reports. Your song"This Time It's Real" is scoring a 4 out 5 with the listeners. Sandy Shore of Smoothjazz.com goes national with radio marketing for "This Time It's Real" Aug 1st. The horn section is made up of current Tower Of Power members Doc Kupka, Tom Politzer and returning member Mic Gillette. Guitarist/producer Jerry Stucker brought in R&B/Soul -legend drummer, James Gadson (Bill Withers, Herbie Hancock and Quincy Jones),The organist Neil Larson (Gregg Allman, B.B. King, Whitney Houston), and Reggie McBride on bass (Stevie Wonder, Al Jarreau, Keb’Mo’)
www.strokeland.com www.myspace.com/tonyrocadamo




As we mentioned last month, Strokeland Records artist Tony Adamo is releasing a cover song from the Eastbay's own “Tower Of Power”. Tony and record producer/guitarist Jerry Stucker, have dusted off the classic “This Time It’s Real”, and added their own “take” to the song.

“This Time It’s Real” is the first song from a new CD (Untitled) to be released by Tony Adamo in 2010. It will soon be released for airplay, but you can hear it here first, at HornDrivenRadio.com. We currently have this new offering in our rotation, and it will play three times in our nearly nine hour rotation.

Guitarist/producer Jerry Stucker brought in R&B/Soul -legend drummer, James Gadson (Bill Withers, Herbie Hancock and Quincy Jones),The organist Neil Larson (Gregg Allman, B.B. King, Whitney Houston), and Reggie McBride on bass (Stevie Wonder, Al Jarreau, Keb’Mo’) to record the rhythm tracks on the song. The horn section is made up of current Tower Of Power members Doc Kupka, Tom Politzer and returning member Mic Gillette.

For more information on Tony Adamo, please visit Tony at www.myspace.com/tonyrocadamo
Posted by Raoul Fernandes



HornDrivenRadio.com will be the first U.S. radio station to break Tony Adamo's new MP3, “This Time it’s Real.”

Tony Adamo’s New Strokeland Records Release
Fred E. Harris, Los Angeles, CA


The soul funk artistry of Strokeland recording artist Tony Adamo is about to hit the radio airwaves in the form of a previous hit song written by Tower of Power (TOP) co-founders Stephen “Doc” Kupka and Emilio Castillo. TOP members, Doc Kupka, Tom Politzer and returning member Mic Gillette add their funky horns to this cover song, another funk pop hit to be.
In keepin’ his ear to the street, guitarist/producer Jerry Stucker added R&B/Soul -legend drummer, James Gadson (Bill Withers, Herbie Hancock and Quincy Jones),The funked-out organist Neil Larson (Gregg Allman, B.B. King, Whitney Houston), and the soulful playing of Reggie McBride on bass (Stevie Wonder, Al Jarreau, Keb’Mo’).
Jim Santella of L.A. JAZZ SCENE MAGAZINE digs Adamo’s strong original style and says, “He sings with the bold character of a man who knows how to entertain, recalling pop singers Tom Jones, David Clayton-Thomas and Brook Benton, as well as jazz singers Al Jarreau and Mark Murphy.” With Tony Adamo’s smooth funk vocals, the triple threat of TOP horns and the rhythm section applying pressure to the groove, this song will be the sound of the summer. Horn Driven Radio (Raoul Fernandez) will be the first U.S. radio station to break this new MP3, “This Time it’s Real.”
For more information on Adamo go to: www.myspace.com/tonyrocadamo
www.strokeland.com




Tony Adamo’s Soul Funk Session/Strokeland Records
Fred E. Harris
Los Angeles, CA


Matt Boudreau’s Broken Radio Recording Studio, San Francisco, California was the perfect sound back drop for the soul funk artistry of singer-songwriter Tony Adamo’s smooth funk vocals and Jerry Stucker’s in the pocket production of a new cover for a Tower of Power (TOP) hit tune. The funky knockin’ song covered by Strokeland Record artist, Tony Adamo was written by Tower of Power co-founders, Stephen “Doc” Kupka and Emilio Castillo. This historical session was photographed by famed photographer, Mark Leialoha.

When “Doc” got hip to this new Adamo/Stucker arrangement he was in the groove and immediately signed on for the horn section. Mic Gillette, who has arranged and recorded on six Adamo/Stucker songs, wrote a funk show time arrangement for this new cover. Tom E. Politizer of TOP was brought in to do the lead solo. This funkifided TOP horn section combination blew the roof right off the Broken Radio Recording Studio sending their funky musical vibes into the soundosphere! At the end of the recording session “Doc” suggested two more TOP songs for Adamo to cover. Keep your ear to the streets for more to come.
www.strokeland.com
www.myspace.com/tonyrocadamo




TONY ADAMO’S NEW GROOVE COVER ON A TOWER OF POWER TUNE
Fred Harris, UrbanZone Records
Los Angeles, CA

Singer-songwriter, Tony Adamo’s producer, Jerry Stucker was back in Los Angeles at Capitol Studios and Mastering working on new music tracks for Adamo’s new CD release.
In the mixed bag of Adamo/Stucker originals recorded at Capitol is a liquid cool cover of a song written by Tower of Power’s (TOP) Stephen “Doc” Kupka and Emilio Castillo. “Doc” was so funkified after hearing this fresh, new groove cover with Adamo’s distinctive, smooth funky vocals and Stucker’s in the pocket arrangement, that he immediately signed on to head up the horn section for this tune. Organist, Neil Larsen laid down his smooth funk grooves on this hip to the bone new jam while drummer, James Gadson boosted the beat and kept the funk rollin to this new funk pop hit to be.
Tony Adamo recently became a Strokeland Record artist. Strokeland Records is owned by the legendary Stephen “Doc” Kupka of TOP fame. For more information on Tony Adamo go to www.myspace.com/tonyrocadamo or www.strokeland.com



STROKELAND WEEK ON HORNDRIVENRADIO.COM!

It's STROKELAND week on HornDrivenRadio.com! That's right... nothing but real-deal East Bay Soul and jazz, Strokeland style... and it's available 24/7. Our good friends at HornDrivenRadio.com are featuring ALL the Strokeland artists from now through next week. This is a perfect chance to discover a Strokeland artist that you weren't familiar with such as Tony Adamo,Mic Gillette,Strokeland Super Band,John Lee Sanders,Larry Braggs or hear some of your favorites at work or at home. Stop by and listen and tell 'em Strokeland sent ya!Stephan Doc’ Kupka, the legendary baritone saxophonist and founding member of the super funk/rock band, Tower of Power (TOP), founded Strokeland in 1998 with Andy Ebon as Director of Operations. In 2006 Steve Finch took over as Director. www.serokeland.com


STROKELAND RECORDS DIGS TONY ADAMO’S FUNKY GROOVE
Fred Harris, UrbanZone Records
Los Angeles, CA

Tony Adamo, power house singer/songwriter has been signed by Strokeland Records for music distribution and entertainment PR. Strokeland is home of the East Bay (Oakland/San Francisco) soul music sound. ‘Doc’ Kupka, the legendary baritone saxophonist and founding member of the super funk/rock band, Tower of Power (TOP), founded Strokeland in 1998 with Andy Ebon as Director of Operations. In 2006 Steve Finch took over as Director of Operations.

Strokeland will oversee the sale and distribution (America and Europe) of Adamo’s CD, STRAIGHT UP DEAL produced by guitarist/producer, Jerry Stucker. Listen for past TOP alumni members in the horn section along with ‘Doc’ Kupka. Mic Gillette wrote the horn arrangements for “No Strings, Groove Therapy, Up in It, and Mercy, Mercy, Mercy.” “Groove Therapy,” written by Adamo/Sucker is about the funky doctor, ‘Doc’ Kupka himself. Take a listen to this extremely funky groove at www.strokeland.com

More info on Tony Adamo at www.myspace.com/tonyrocadamo




For more info on artist, Tony Adamo go to www.myspace.com/tonyrocadamo




Info on Tony Adamo: www.myspace.com/tonyrocadamo and CDBaby





Mike Clark's Fat Beats for Tony Adamo

Singer-songwriter, Tony Adamo's long time producer-guitarist, Jerry Stucker and drumming icon, Mike Clark were in New York City at the Bedford Studios laying down tracks for Adamo's new CD. Andy Tommasi assisted producer, Jerry Stucker at the Quad Eight board. Clark gained worldwide fame as one of America's foremost jazz and funk drummers while playing with Herbie Hancock's group, The Headhunters. It is widely accepted that Clark is one of the few in the category of Elvin Jones and Tony Williams to have changed the fundamental language of the drums.

Clark recently recorded on Tony Adamo's CD, STRAIGHT UP DEAL. Adamo's been getting rave reviews. No wonder, top musicians dig his music and want to record with him. Stuart Hamilton of Amazon.co.uk said "The first thing that leaps out at you is the voice. Imagine, if you can, Lou Rawls fronting Tower of Power." Sandy Shore of Smoothjazz.com put Adamo on the same note with Santana, Jefferson Airplane/Starship and Tower of Power and a whole handful of jazz greats. She said "Singer-songwriter, Tony Adamo fits perfectly in the fray with his deep, sultry, commanding voice and grasp for the groove. Think Lou Reed but funkified."

Producer-guitarist, Jerry Stucker recently released his first solo CD, IT'S ALL A GROOVE on UrbanZone Records. Michael Molenda of Guitar Player magazine says of Stucker's guitar playing "At a time when so many players claim to be funky, Jerry Sucker is not only FUNKY, but he's a one-man encyclopedia of slinky, skanky, rock steady and greasy rhythms. His guitar tone is sparkling, and his parts always stab and dance all over the rhythm, finding ways to propel, accent and add excitement to a song's groove."






A Review By: Edward Blanco, Ejazznews
www.myspace.com/tonyrocadamo

Bay area vocalist Tony Adamo garnished a five star rating from Smoothjazz.com for his latest release, "Straight Up Deal." However, there's a lot more to the smooth jazz sound found on this recording than what they would have you believe. Tony Adamo, equipped with a deep baritone voice, belts out some real gyrating funk, R&B;and soulful jazz tunes on this fourteen piece CD, which also includes a selection of straight ahead beautiful contemporary jazz vocals.

Adamo records the album with nineteen players among them, funk bassist Paul Jackson, saxophone great Ernie Watts and trumpeter Eddie Henderson. He also enlists the help of The Tower of Power Horns which appear on five tracks.

As I previously alluded to, the music is quite varied with three of the first four tracks firmly grounded in the funk genre ("No Strings," "Passport," and "Up In It"). Ernie Watts showcases his sax on the R&B;-shaded "In The Winelight," while Adamo gets jazzy on the first straight jazz number in "Milestones," with the trumpet voice of Eddie Henderson setting the pace.

Tunes like "Autumn Leaves," "Wouldn't You," "Stolen Moments," and "Speak Low" fall in the smooth jazz side of the music where Adamo shines singing beautiful lyrics from some great standards. One of my favorite numbers is the spunky and lively "Lolita" featuring the Tower of Power Horns.

"Straight Up Deal" reveals the vocal talents of a superior singer who is able to convey the essence of different musical styles with ease and grace. An album that will obviously appeal to a broad audience considering the varied selection of music on this disc. I enjoyed the album; it was truly a "Straight Up Deal" from Tony Adamo.


A Review By: Sandy Shore, smoothjazz.com
TONY ADAMO Straight Up Deal Urbanzone Records - GETS FIVE STARS
www.myspace.com/tonyrocadamo

For those who haven't experienced it...there's a mystique to the San Francisco bay area at night. It's unique to the 'City by the Bay.' Over the years many artists have captured this vibrant, earthy electricity and stuck it in the middle of their music regardless of genre.

Santana, Jefferson Airplane/Starship, Tower of Power come to mind...and a whole handful of jazz greats. Bay area singer/songwriter Tony Adamo fits perfectly in this fray with his deep, sultry, commanding voice and grasp for groove. Think Lou Reed but funkified. Tony began writing during his tour of duty in the Gulf War (the first one). The 15-hour workdays were exhausting, but the artist found the exotic scenery enticing and incorporated his poetry writing skills into song ideas by writing about the desert. A poet at heart, Tony Adamo presents some beautiful originals here. He writes with his long time collaborator Jerry Stucker who is also responsible for producing Tony's recordings. Jerry actually has an original on this recording as well, a cool sensual tune called "Midnight Cafe." Another Adamo/Stucker original is the anthem to Tower of Power's Doc Kupka (who is featured on bari sax) "Groove Therapy." You'll also find some really intriguing covers such as "In The Winelight," the late Joe Zawinul's "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" and the Miles Davis penned "Milestones." First call musicians are on board making for a sonically stellar recording including Ernie Watts, Paul Jackson, James Gadson and Neil Larsen. STRAIGHT UP DEAL is just that!

Instrumentation

Discography

COMING SOON: "MILES OF BLU" from HipSpokenWord artist Tony Adamo. Tony has basically invented his own, original genre. This hipster speaks, raps, and sings his compelling stories, with able assistance from Producer Mike Clark and cohorts like Michael Wolff, Delbert Bump, Tim Ouimette, Richie Goods, Bill Summers and even Tower of Power's own physician of the funk, Stephen "Doc" Kupka. This release will turn heads and blow minds: Tales of travails and triumphs, told in the hippest of ways!

Official Website

http://randomactrecords.com/

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Audio

• Groove Therapy
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• No Strings Attached
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• Passport
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• What Is Hip?
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• This Time It's Real
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Press

• Tony Adamo Gil-Scott Heron Mark Murphy Jack Kerouac [+ Show ]
  

  Website: http://randomactrecords.com/ On his latest effort, and debut recording for Random Act...
  
  Website: http://randomactrecords.com/
  On his latest effort, and debut recording for
  Random Act Records, TONY ADAMO has created a
  unique genre: “HipSpokenWord.” Built on the
  wisdom of musical wizards like Gil-Scott Heron,
  Mark Murphy, Jack Kerouac and hip/hop master
  rappers, Tony speaks the Truth through his poetic
  musings. With preeminent players like producer
  Mike Clark (drums), Richie Goods (bass), Delbert
  Bump (organ), Michael Wolff (piano), Bill Summers
  (percussion) and Tim Ouimette, Rob Dixon, Derek
  Gardner and even Tower of Power's own physician of the funk, Stephen "Doc" Kupka. This release will turn heads and blow minds: Tales of travails and triumphs, told in the hippest of ways! Tony speaks/sings his way through the
  urban landscapes of Jazz, Funk and Soul.
  From the title track “Miles of Blu,” a nod to the
  dark prince of Jazz, to “JB,” an homage to the
  Godfather of Soul, to a down-home “BBQ” and
  asking “America R We Free,” Tony tells it like it is
  in his own mesmerizing manner.
  The Grooves are infectious, the moods evocative,
  the music sizzling and the words – HIP! “MILES OF
  BLU” takes listeners on a swinging journey,
  culminating in a funky good time!
  Fred Harris Random Act Records
  

• 'Doc' Kupka gets hip to Tony Adamo's "What is Hip" [+ Show ]
  

  'Doc' Kupka gets hip to Tony Adamo's "What is Hip" "I love Tony’s version of "What Is Hip?". He ...'Doc' Kupka gets hip to Tony Adamo's "What is Hip"
  
  "I love Tony’s version of "What Is Hip?". He evokes the beatnik-bongo days of my youth and gives a whole new slant to a hard-charging funk tune. Congrats to both Tony Adamo and Jerry Stucker!" Stephen ‘Doc’ Kupka, Tower of Power co-founder
  www.strokeland.com
  www.myspace.com/tomyrocadamo
  

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