Artist Interview by: Joe Montague
May 2006 - Tony Terry's
silky smooth R&B/Jazz vocals and his Adonis-like looks have often left many
a woman swooning over his love songs. It was therefore very fitting that this
personable crooner was once cast as Prince Charming in the stage production of
Sisterella.
The
thirty-two year old Terry's career was kick started in the late eighties when he
had the audacity to suggest to a band that they replace their lead singer with
him. "My recording career started when I was pretty much at a crossroads. I had
moved to New York to do a musical, The
Black Nativity. When the show was over I decided to stay in the city pound
the pavement just like every other starving actor. I wasn't having a lot of
success in getting work. I was just about to give up and go home the next day. A
friend of mine suggested we go see this band at a club in the city called
Danceteria. The band was okay but the lead singer wasn't very good. As a matter
of fact he was terrible. I thought it was the perfect opportunity if I was on
stage to get involved in something that might be good. I told the band after
their set that the only thing they were missing was me," he says recalling the
incident for me. "They said, 'Oh really, well here's your chance son, hit it. I
did a Luther Van Dross song a cappella." A producer from a record label
overheard Terry's audition and, "Within six weeks I was signed to Capitol
Records," says Terry.
Terry has
since recorded five CDs; Tony Terry
(1990), Forever Yours (1990), Heart of a Man (1994), My Best (2001) and earlier this year he
released a Gospel album entitled Changed. He also released five Billboard
top ten hits including "Lovey Dovey" which peaked at number four, "Everlasting
Love" (6th) and "With You" which also ranked sixth on the Hot R&B charts for
1991. "With You" also made number fourteen on the Billboard Hot 100.
Despite the
success of "With You" Terry can't help but poke fun at the song. "To the average
Joe the song is really corny," he says. Terry then quotes the words, "When I'm
with you I hear a song that makes me laugh and smile and sing to you." In mock
disbelief he then says, "I mean come on imagine walking up to some woman and
saying that. They would look at you like "Please!"
In the mid
nineties "When A Man Cries" (32) and "Heart of a Man" (86) didn't fare as well
as his earlier singles. His 2006 release "Praise Him" however has been embraced
by radio stations across America and could spark a return to the spotlight for
Terry.
Terry
retains a fondness for the Heart of a
Man album. "I think The Heart of a
Man album was underrated. There were some powerful songs on (the CD). The
song "I'm Sorry" talked about communication in relationships which can often be
a major issue. That song is really about taking the high road and being the
first to apologize. The song speaks about being sorry for creating confusion and
drama," he says.
Terry then
turns his attention to another song from Heart of a Man "When A Man Cries". The
song talks to men about not being afraid to be emotional," he explains. Terry
says the song tries to explode the male myth that tenderness is an undesirable
trait. "Our society says we (men) can't be gentle we have to be hard. We have to
be macho. We have to be thorough. Sometimes the situation requires
tenderness. Sometimes it is okay to be, dare I say soft," he says. Terry wants
to be known as someone who championed a man's right to express emotion
openly.
Terry has
proved that he is more than just a pretty face and a voice to be heard over the
airwaves. In addition to the aforementioned Prince Charming role Terry appeared
in the national touring production of The
Wiz (late 1990's) which starred Grace Jones and Peabo Bryson. Terry's
powerful solo performance of "What Would I Do If I Could Feel" brought the
audiences to their feet as they applauded his effort.
As the male
lead in David E Talbert's play His Woman
His Wife Terry acted opposite Stephanie Mills. He had assumed the role when
Malik Yoba left the cast.
Terry
believes whether he struts his stuff in a musical or in a concert the key is
being authentic. In discussing the similarities and differences between being an
actor and a singer he says, "We are charged as actors to bring the same
intensity into our character night after night. We have to say the same lines
and sing the same songs nightly. If you find yourself in a scene where you have
to cry some people may be able to cry on cue and some people may not be able to.
It may involve you having to do some memory recall. You may have to take
yourself to a place mentally that makes you sad so that you can cry. That can be
really exhausting," he says.
Terry notes
the biggest difference between actor and singer is, "I have a lot more freedom
when I am doing Tony Terry stuff (in concert). It's not so regimented. When you
are doing theater you can't (improvise). You can't change Shakespeare's words.
If you change the words you aren't doing Shakespeare."
My challenge
is to be truthful with (my performance) every night, to be truthful every time I
sing. (When you do) people respond truthfully," says Terry.
In addition
to his own gigs this year Terry is touring with Roberta Flack.
For more information: http://www.tonyterry.net
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