Tony Carey
Biography Tony Carey
Tony Carey
Born in Watsonville, California, in 1953, this multi-instrumentalist is a lifelong traveler on the path of creativity—one who, with unapologetic audacity, refuses to let anyone dictate the kind of music he plays. "My career would probably have followed a more linear trajectory had I committed myself to a single style," says Carey, "but that wasn't what I wanted—I simply do what I enjoy."
Carey’s musical career began in 1969, when he moved with his parents—his father an entomologist, his mother a painter—from Turlock, California, to Westport, Connecticut. The gifted musician briefly considered pursuing a career as an orchestral player but ultimately opted for rock 'n' roll.
Carey’s first band, Blessings, formed on the East Coast; however, the group (in which he played keyboards) soon relocated to Los Angeles, a record deal already in hand. Once there, however, they fell victim to the notorious perfectionism of Steely Dan producer Gary Katz: the recording sessions dragged on for a year and a half, and the album was never completed.
Ritchie Blackmore—hearing Carey playing the organ through seven walls—recruited him for his band, Rainbow; the rest is hard rock history.
Carey’s journey eventually led him from France to Germany, where he has resided ever since. He released a string of wonderful solo albums—including *Some Tough City* (1984) and *Blue Highway* (1985)—that created a buzz on both sides of the Atlantic.
The song "Room With a View" (1988), written for the three-part ARD television series *Wilder Westen*, became Carey’s biggest hit in Germany.
A meeting with Peter Maffay sparked a collaboration that spanned many years, during which Carey produced several albums for the German superstar. Over the years, he went on to do the same for a host of other artists, including Jimmy Barnes, John Mayall, Chris Thompson, José Carreras, David Knopfler, and the aforementioned Milva. Since his experiences with the record industry were not always positive, Carey has produced various albums entirely on his own since the mid-1980.
"I stayed out of the music business for a long time," says Carey, "but I feel that things are changing—for all its risks, the web opens up new possibilities for getting one's music out to people without being dependent on record labels."
The sheer volume of his musical output mirrors the wealth of knowledge and experience Tony Carey has accumulated over forty years as a musician.
