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Chicago native, singer-songwriter, Toney Ventura, has achieved a goal that has taken years to realize. The release of his CD, No Way, recorded over a period of six years, draws from a songwriting career that has spanned three decades. No Way offers a diverse selection of unique performances throughout its twelve tantalizing tunes. Nine compilations are his own original compositions, two feature the best of two groups with which Toney has collaborated, and one a savory live recording of the Classics Four tune, 'Spooky' |
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Toney's songwriting style, renowned for its cultivation of 'the hook' into an art form, has developed steadily over the past 30 years. With his musical endeavors now given way to solo performances and extensive recording projects, Toney has enjoyed great success as a singer-songwriter throughout his long and varied career. He, as other performers, has paid his dues, playing with a variety of bands including St. Joe and Faces in the Wood. Most recently, Toney has performed at the legendary Green Mill and Fitzgerald's, one of Chicago's favorite music venues. In addition he has been a regular at venues throughout Chicago, such as Shuba's 'Hoot Night', The Double Door, and Navy Pier. Aside from his solo endeavors, Toney has contributed guitar, harmonica, and back-up vocals for numerous up-and-coming performers including songstress Nora O'Connor (Cerulean Blue released in the spring of 1996), female performer, Chica (Chicago Independent Music Festival, 1997) and high-energy rocker, Eric Howell (The Reform). Previously, Toney has enjoyed air play on Chicago stations WXRT, WCBR, and Q101 for 'Lost My Marbles', his contribution to the 1995's Uncommon Ground Coffeehouse Sampler, recorded live at the favorite north-side cafe. In addition, he has performed live on Chicago's underground bastion, WZRD, and has also received air play throughout the Midwest on radio stations in Champaign and Carbondale, Illinois as well as St. Louis, and has tracks featured on two compilation CD's issued by Southern Illinois' Independent Music Network (In Your Ear and Declaration of Independents). For his contribution to Declaration of Independents, Toney won the regional songwriting award, granting him recording time at Rare Earth Studios in Harrisburg, Illinois. Prior to his work in Southern Illinois, Toney wrote, recorded, and performed with a diversity of musical projects, many featuring brother Rick. The Ventura brothers performed throughout the Midwest during which time Toney developed his unique acoustic and electric guitar styles and honed his superb harmonic vocal sensibilities. Toney first gained appreciation for songwriting and the magic of guitar while going through intensive instruction at Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music in the late Sixties. He was particularly inspired in his appreciation for the art of songwriting by a surprise class visit from the legendary Steve Goodman. Having participated in countless musical projects stretching back as far as grade school, one of his first performance experiences includes a stint as guitarist and vocalist in 1963 with brother Rick and Bill Prine (brother of renowned musician John Prine). Shortly after this, Toney began touring Illinois as part of a gospel-folk group that won several awards subsequently expanding to a larger choir which toured extensively throughout Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Iowa. In a second choir, Toney toured extensively throughout the Midwest and parts of the East Coast. This group ultimately traveled to Nashville to record Toney's first appearance on a commercially released recording 'Everything Is Beautiful'. The group was also featured on two television specials and a commercial. A veteran of thousands of solo and group performances in styles ranging from folk and gospel to rock and blues, his tenacity, love of music and God-given talent have forged Toney into the musical beast he is today. He is eager to continue to grow as an artist, songwriter, and performer and has dedicated himself to constant improvement and musical exploration. Returning to Southern Illinois, Toney is currently living in Carbondale where his plans include additional recordings. With half a lifetime of musical experiences behind him, the next half should easily prove to be as interesting. Having an appreciation for the nature of Toney's songwriting, you can expect it to be even more Unusual! In May of 2005 Toney joined the ranks of St. Stephen's Blues, playing with the legendary guitarist and band leader Robbie Stokes and some of southern Illinois's finest musicians, Charlie Morril on durms, Chris Miller on keyboards, and Ed Gruenwald (a fine guitarist) on bass.
Discography
What 'They' say: Acoustic textures and infectious polyrhythms weave themselves with the inimitable lyric humor of Midwest artist Toney Ventura to create a highly original folk-on stimulates approach to modern life. Working in the band and solo scenes for many years has given T. V. the sharp edge necessary to pull together a sound all his own that's accessible and relatable to the normal and abnormal alike. --Liner notes from the CD compilation "Declaration of Independents"
It appeared impossible to me that a solo act could win a round, but then Toney Ventura's songs are improbable ("Quirky" as one patron described them.) Such styles as folk, jazz, bluegrass, blues, rock, and others were blended into a single arrangement, which always seemed to keep audience attention on him. ...His musicianship was exemplary, performing equally well on guitar/harp and guitar/vocal, or all three in a single song. Before an encore tune, Toney performed "Shakin' In Our Boots". a reggae number about the predicted December 3 heartland earthquake...all in all, a nice set. --Connie Swail's review of the Sound Core Music "Battle of the Bands". Carbondale, Illinois, Oct. 1990. |
