Bars, band shells and a Big Band:
The state of the art of the guitar with Tony Valdez.
Many of us don't get to live our dreams. Particularly in our home town. Surrounded by family, friends -- and especially fans. Count Tony Valdez among the fortunate.
Tony has been able to carve out a niche and make a living following his passion: music. That’s as rare as Tony’s blend of talent and genuine humility.
“I’ve been playing music for many years. It still brings me joy and a great sense of satisfaction.”
Self-taught on the guitar, Tony has been an integral part of the central Iowa music scene since the mid-1960’s. It all began with The Echo’s Five: “We played at popular places like The Clique, The Place, The Mousetrap, The Val Air Ballroom, the original Roof Garden Ballroom at Lake Okoboji and TeenTown at the Iowa State Fairgrounds.”
Through the 1970’s, 80’s and 90’s, Tony played in groups loved locally and known regionally such as the Cavaliers, The Flight and Sam Salomone and the Spy Boys to name a few.
“Do you remember The Totem Pole, The Joker, The Toga Club, Ernie’s Urban Lounge, The Blue Max, The Rusty Scupper, Grapes and Grains? How about Thunderbird Lanes, where you could bowl after you danced!”
- Tony Valdez
In the mid-1990’s, Tony teamed up with saxophonist extraordinaire Don Jaques, playing their way up and down Court Avenue. Jazz thrived along the avenue, at venues such as The French Quarter, Spanky’s, Julio’s, and Tony’s “beloved” Nacho Mammas.
Riding todays Latin Tide.
By the turn of the millennium, Latin music was snowballing in popularity. Tony recalls, “I had a medium-sized band of five players and we played some Latin music. I got an offer to open for “El Conguero” Poncho Sanchez, who’d just earned a Grammy for his Latin Soul CD. I thought if I really want to play Latin music, I better go big or go home!”
Therein was laid the groundwork for the 10-piece Tony Valdez Large Band, in March of 2000. “I’ve been blessed to have played alongside some of the best musicians to ever come out of Des Moines.”
Babe Ruth is in the Hall of Fame. Once.
Tony Valdez? Three times!
The Iowa Rock n Roll Music Association’s Hall of Fame << https://www.iowarocknroll.com>> honors Iowa’s best in musicianship. The voting body of the IRRHOF has seen fit to honor three of Tony’s musical affiliations:
The Echos V, 1998
The Cavaliers, 2001
Night Flight, 2012
The state of the art of the guitar with Tony Valdez.
Many of us don't get to live our dreams. Particularly in our home town. Surrounded by family, friends -- and especially fans. Count Tony Valdez among the fortunate.
Tony has been able to carve out a niche and make a living following his passion: music. That’s as rare as Tony’s blend of talent and genuine humility.
“I’ve been playing music for many years. It still brings me joy and a great sense of satisfaction.”
Self-taught on the guitar, Tony has been an integral part of the central Iowa music scene since the mid-1960’s. It all began with The Echo’s Five: “We played at popular places like The Clique, The Place, The Mousetrap, The Val Air Ballroom, the original Roof Garden Ballroom at Lake Okoboji and TeenTown at the Iowa State Fairgrounds.”
Through the 1970’s, 80’s and 90’s, Tony played in groups loved locally and known regionally such as the Cavaliers, The Flight and Sam Salomone and the Spy Boys to name a few.
“Do you remember The Totem Pole, The Joker, The Toga Club, Ernie’s Urban Lounge, The Blue Max, The Rusty Scupper, Grapes and Grains? How about Thunderbird Lanes, where you could bowl after you danced!”
- Tony Valdez
In the mid-1990’s, Tony teamed up with saxophonist extraordinaire Don Jaques, playing their way up and down Court Avenue. Jazz thrived along the avenue, at venues such as The French Quarter, Spanky’s, Julio’s, and Tony’s “beloved” Nacho Mammas.
Riding todays Latin Tide.
By the turn of the millennium, Latin music was snowballing in popularity. Tony recalls, “I had a medium-sized band of five players and we played some Latin music. I got an offer to open for “El Conguero” Poncho Sanchez, who’d just earned a Grammy for his Latin Soul CD. I thought if I really want to play Latin music, I better go big or go home!”
Therein was laid the groundwork for the 10-piece Tony Valdez Large Band, in March of 2000. “I’ve been blessed to have played alongside some of the best musicians to ever come out of Des Moines.”
Babe Ruth is in the Hall of Fame. Once.
Tony Valdez? Three times!
The Iowa Rock n Roll Music Association’s Hall of Fame << https://www.iowarocknroll.com>> honors Iowa’s best in musicianship. The voting body of the IRRHOF has seen fit to honor three of Tony’s musical affiliations:
The Echos V, 1998
The Cavaliers, 2001
Night Flight, 2012
