Tonio K

Tonio K. (born Steven M. Krikorian, b. April 15, 1949Fact|date=July 2008) is an American singer/songwriter who has released eight critically acclaimed albums and has had original songs recorded by many of Pop, Rock, Country and R&B’s leading artists ranging from Al Green, Aaron Neville and Burt Bacharach to Bonnie Raitt, Wynonna Judd and Vanessa Williams. His song, “16 Tons Of Monkeys,” co-written with guitarist Steve Schiff, was the featured tune in the 1992 Academy Award winning Short Film, "Session Man." He worked with Bacharach and Hip-Hop impresario Dr. Dre on Bacharach’s "At This Time," which won the Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental Recording in 2005.

Recording and Performing Artist

As a teenager, Krikorian, along with friends Alan Shapazian, Steve Olson, Nick van Maarth, and Duane Scott formed a Surf-Funk/Psychedelic-Punk band called The Raik's Progress, which recorded a single for Liberty Records, released in 1966. Known for their Dadaist-inspired between-song routines, one reviewer described their performance while opening for Buffalo Springfield at San Francisco’s Fillmore Auditorium as being like “the Three Stooges playing strip poker with Iggy and the Stooges.” A full-length album by the band, "Sewer Rat Love Chant," was eventually issued on Sundazed Records in 2003.

In the early 1970s, Krikorian recorded two albums with Buddy Holly's original band, The Crickets. The group consisted of founding members J.I. Allison and Sonny Curtis, plus Ric Gretch (Blind Faith, Traffic) and Albert Lee (Heads, Hands and Feet, Eric Clapton) and the Raik’s Nick van Maarth. "Remnants" (1973) and "A Long Way from Lubbock" (1974) were produced by long-time Holly and Cricket cohort, Bob Montgomery. In 2004, Krikorian reunited with the Crickets for a track on their star-studded (Eric Clapton, Graham Nash, Phil Everly) album, "The Crickets and Their Buddies," singing lead on the Holly classic, "Not Fade Away."

In 1978, Krikorian went solo with "Life in the Foodchain" on Irving Azoff’s Full Moon/Epic label. Adopting the moniker Tonio K., a reference to the writings of Kafka and Thomas Mann, he was hailed as America’s answer to Britain’s Angry Young Men (Elvis Costello, The Clash) and the “funniest serious songwriter in America.” The record was produced by Rob Fraboni (The Band, Bob Dylan, Joe Cocker) and featured a supporting cast that included Earl Slick, Garth Hudson, Dick Dale and Albert Lee. It was also the first Pop/Rock record to feature the percussive sounds of an AK-47 firing live ammunition. The album garnered much critical acclaim, most famously from Steve Simels at “Stereo Review” who proclaimed it "the greatest album ever recorded" and established K. as an artist to watch.

K.’s follow-up album, "Amerika", was released in 1980 by Full Moon (this time via Clive Davis’s Arista Records). Filled with literary and political references, the album was hailed as “Punk for academics” and once again pronounced by Simels to be “the greatest record ever recorded” (as was every ensuing Tonio K. disc). Unfortunately, critical acclaim did not lead to commercial success and it was at this point that K. reports he “committed suicide for the first time.”

After a move to Capitol Records in 1982, K. recorded "La Bomba," a live-in-the-studio album produced by Carter (Motels, Tina Turner, Paula Cole). Recorded in the famous Capitol Studio B, it featured K.’s touring band: George “Geo” Conner (guitar), Alfredo Acosta Alwag (drums), and Enrique “Eric” Gotthelf (bass).

Tonio next released "Romeo Unchained" on What?/A&M Records. Hailed by “Rolling Stone” magazine as “the best Bob Dylan album since Dylan himself lost interest in the Pop song form,” the album landed on numerous critics’ Top 10 Albums of the Year lists. Recorded during 1985 and 1986, it was produced, variously, by Rick Neigher, Bob Rose (Julian Lennon) and T Bone Burnett (Counting Crows, Wallflowers, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss). The musicians on these recordings included Neigher (on many instruments), Rose, Burnett, Peter Banks (Yes), David Mansfield, David Miner, David Raven, Tim Pierce, Tim Chandler, and Rob Watson.

"Notes From The Lost Civilization," again on What?/A&M, followed in 1988. Produced by Tonio K. and David Miner, with T Bone Burnett serving as Executive Producer, the all-star cast of supporting musicians included Burnett, Booker T. Jones on Hammond B-3, Jim Keltner, Raymond Pounds and Alex Acuña on drums and percussion, James Jamerson, Jr. and David Miner on bass, and Charlie Sexton and Jack Sherman on additional guitars. The video for the single, “Without Love,” marked Tonio’s first airplay on MTV.

"Olé" was Tonio K.’s final record for A&M. Recorded in 1989 and 1990, it didn’t see release until 1997 on Gadfly Records. (The reasons for this are well documented in the liner notes to the CD.) It was produced by T Bone Burnett and David Miner with a core band consisting of Marc Ribot, Booker T. Jones, David Raven and Bruce Thomas (Attractions). Additional guitarists included Jack Sherman, Charlie Sexton, Rusty Anderson, Los Lobos’ David Hidalgo and The Replacements’ Paul Westerberg. The refusal of A&M to release the record at the time precipitated, in Tonio’s words, “my second suicide.” Although "Olé" was K.’s last major label recording, several other compilation and live CDs have been issued (see discography below).

Songwriter

Tonio K. continued as a performing singer/songwriter into the 1990s but gradually withdrew from live concerts and focused more on crafting songs with and for other artists. His biggest commercial success, “Love Is,” was co-written with long-time collaborator John Keller and Michael Caruso, and was recorded by Vanessa Williams. It was a #1 Pop and AC (Adult Contemporary) radio single and one of the most-played songs of 1993. (K. has been quoted as saying that his first choice for vocalist on the song was the famously gruff-voiced Tom Waits). He also co-wrote, with Bob Thiele, Jr. and John Shanks, the Bonnie Raitt AC hit, “You.” Tonio and close friend Charlie Sexton have written many (mostly unreleased) songs since Sexton first recorded K.’s “Impressed” and “You Don’t Belong Here” on his debut album, "Pictures for Pleasure," in 1985. “Graceland (Never Been To),” opening track to the Quentin Tarantino-written and Tony Scott-directed movie "True Romance," is one of their more notable, albeit obscure, cuts. K. was involved in writing six songs on Sexton’s Arc Angels debut on Geffen Records. He also co-wrote with Sexton for his "Under the Wishing Tree" release on MCA.

Tonio K. is almost certainly the only person to have written lyrics for both Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols and Burt Bacharach. In addition to several years of collaborating with Bacharach, Tonio co-wrote eight of the nine vocal tracks on the aforementioned Grammy-winning CD, "At This Time."

Tonio K. film credits include “Nobody Lives Without Love,” co-written with musician/writer/producer Larry Klein (Joni Mitchell, Herbie Hancock) and featured on the multi-platinum-selling soundtrack to "Batman Forever"; the quasi-Disco semi-hit, “I’m Supposed To Have Sex With You,” from the Carl Reiner film "Summer School;" “Stop The Clock,” co-written with T Bone Burnett for the early Vince Vaughan/Joaquin Phoenix/Janeane Garofalo vehicle, "Clay Pigeons"; the above mentioned “Graceland” from "True Romance"; and his song "The Tuff Do What?" from 1985's movie "Real Genius".

Tonio K.’s first known “cover” was a song called “Hey John,” recorded by Johnny Rivers in 1972, but never released. In addition to the cuts mentioned above, he was written with and for Brian Wilson, Al Green, Bette Midler, The Pointer Sisters, Tanya Tucker, Diane Schuur, Percy Sledge, Phoebe Snow, Jules Shear, The Runaways, Patty Smyth, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Italian superstar, Richard Cocciante. His most recent cover is by Irma Thomas on her upcoming Rounder Records CD, and he is currently in the studio writing with pedal steel prodigy Robert Randolph for a record being produced by T Bone Burnett.

Discography

*“Sewer Rat Love Chant” b/w “Why Did You Rob Us, Tank?” (with The Raik’s Progress), Liberty Records, 1966
*"Remnants" (with the Crickets), Vertigo Records, 1973
*"A Long Way from Lubbock" (with the Crickets), Mercury Records (UK-only release), 1974
*"Life in the Foodchain", Full Moon/Epic Records, 1978
*"Amerika (Cars, Guitars and Teenage Violence)", Full Moon/Arista Records, 1980
*"La Bomba," Capitol Records/EMI, 1982
*"Romeo Unchained (Big Heroes, Tiny Brains)", What? Records/A&M Records, 1986
*"Notes From The Lost Civilization," What? Records/A&M Records, 1988
*"La Bomba," from "The Best Of La Bamba," Rhino Records, 1988
*"The Funky Western Civilization," from "New Wave Hits of the 80's," Rhino Records 1994
*“Another Day in Limbo,” from "Orphans of God, A Tribute to Mark Heard," 1996
*"Olé," Gadfly Records, 1997 (recorded 1990)
*"Rodent Weekend '76-'96 (Approximately)," (rarities and outtakes), Gadfly Records, 1998
*"Yugoslavia," Gadfly Records, 1999
*"16 Tons of Monkeys," (live album), Gadfly Records, 2001
*"Sewer Rat Love Chant" (with The Raik's Progress), Sundazed Records, 2003
*“Not Fade Away,” (with Peter Case), from "The Crickets and Their Buddies," Sovereign Artists, 2004

Cover Recordings of Tonio K. Songs by Other Artists

*Alias, “Perfect World,” from the "Don't Tell Mom The Babysitter's Dead" soundtrack and "The Son-in-Law" soundtrack
*Arc Angels, “Paradise Cafe,” “Sweet Nadine,” “Always Believed in You,” “The Famous Jane,” “Spanish Moon,” “Too Many Ways to Fall,” from "Arc Angels"
*Burt Bacharach, “Who Are These People?” (feat. Elvis Costello), “Go Ask Shakespeare” (feat. Rufus Wainright), “Always Taking Aim,” ”Can’t Give It Up,” “Dreams Will Come,” “Is Love Enough?,” “Please Explain,” “Where Did It Go?,” from "At This Time"; "I Still Remember," from "New From An Old Friend," 180 Music compilation
*Mary Black, “Nobody Lives Without Love,” from "Shine"
*Erin Bode, “You,” from "Don’t Take Your Time"
*Eric Burdon, “Slow Moving Train,” from "Soul of a Man"
*T Bone Burnett, “The Strange Case of Frank Cash and the Morning Paper,” from "The Talking Animals"
*Glen Burtnick, “Perfect World,” from "Talking in Code"
*Jonathan Butler, “Following the Light,” “What Would You Do for Love?” from "Story of Life"
*Richard Cocciante, “The Singer,” “Echoes,” “The Beatles Generation,” “Babel,” from "Songs"
*Carola, “Someday,” from "My Show"
*Peter Case, “Vanishing Act,” “Why?,” from "Six-pack of Love"
*Chicago, "If I Should Lose You," from "Chicago XXVI Live"
*Adam Cohen, “Cry Ophelia,” from "Adam Cohen" and the "Dawson's Creek" soundtrack; “This Pain,” “Opposites Attract,” from "Adam Cohen"
*Joe Cocker,” You Can't Have My Heart,” “You Took It So Hard,” “I'm Listening Now,” from "Respect Yourself"
*The Crickets, “Hitchhike Out To Venus,” “I’m Gonna Ruin Your Health,” from "Remnants"; “American Love Affair,” “You Make It Way Too Hard,” from "A Long Way From Lubbock"
*Sara Evans, “Almost New,” from the "Clay Pigeons" soundtrack and "Girls’ Night Out"
*The Fabulous Thunderbirds, “How Do I Get You Back?” from "Roll of the Dice"
*The Green Car Motel, “Shadow Of The Sun,” from "The Green Car Motel"
*Al Green, “Love God (and Everyone Else),” from the "Michael" soundtrack
*Mark Heard, “Miracle,” from "Mosaics"
*Benny Hester, “It's Over Love,” from "Through the Window"
*Ronald Isley, “Count on Me,” “Love's Still the Answer,” from "Here I Am (Isley Meets Bacharach)"
*Steve Jones, “God in Louisiana,” from "Fire and Gasoline"
*Wynonna Judd, “Don't Look Back,” from "Revelations"
*Low Millions (feat. Adam Cohen), “Diary,” “Mockingbird,” from "Ex-Girlfriends"
*Jack Mack and the Heart Attack, “Cool Rain,” from "Arrythmia"
*Bette Midler, “It's Too Late,” "Bette of Roses"
*Aaron Neville, “I'll Love You Anyway,” from the "Beverly Hills 90210" soundtrack
*Trijntje Oosterhuis, "Love's Still The Answer," from Who'll Speak For Love
*Cary Pierce, “King Of The World,” "You Are Here"
*The Pointer Sisters, “Had To Lose Myself To Find Myself,” from "Only Sisters Can Do That"
*Celeste Prince, “Wherever You Are,” from the "Sweet November" soundtrack
*Bonnie Raitt, “You,” from "Longing In Their Hearts, The Best Of Bonnie Raitt, Bonnie Raitt And Friends" (duet w/Alison Krauss)
*Nelson Rangell, “Love Is,” from "Yes, Then Yes"
*Brian Ray, "Soft Machine," "Coming Up Roses," from Mondomagneto
*Eddi Reader, “Nobody Lives Without Love,” from the "Batman Forever" soundtrack
*The Runaways, “Saturday Night Special,” from "And Now... The Runaways"
*Diane Schuur, “Never Take That Chance Again,” "Friends for Schuur"
*Charlie Sexton, “Impressed,” “You Don't Belong Here,” from "Pictures for Pleasure"; “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” “Don't Look Back,” from "Charlie Sexton"
*Charlie Sexton Sextet, “Wishing Tree,” “Ugly All Day,” “Everyone Will Crawl,” “Plain Bad Luck & Innocent Mistakes,” “Home Sweet Home,” “Broken Dream,” from "Under The Wishing Tree"
*Charlie Sexton and Shannon McNally, “Nothing Mysterious,” “When We Were Younger,” from "The Southside Sessions"
*Kenny Wayne Shepherd, “Chase the Rainbow,” from "Trouble Is"
*Percy Sledge, “Your Lovin’ Arms,” from "Shining Through the Rain"
*Phoebe Snow, “Merry Christmas, Baby,” from "Winter, Fire & Snow"
*Michael Stanley, “Ugly All Day,” from "The Ground"
*Andrew Strong, “Half a Man,” from "Best of The Commitments"
*Swirl 360, “Okay,” from "National Lampoon's Van Wilder" soundtrack
*Texas Twisters, “Paradise Café,” from "Texas Twisters Live"
*Irma Thomas, “What Can I Do?” from "Simply Grand"
*Tanya Tucker, “Better Late Than Never,” from "Tear Me Apart"
*What If, “Perfect World,” from the "Russkies" soundtrack
*Vanessa Williams & Brian McKnight, “Love Is,” from the "Beverly Hills 90210" soundtrack
*The Williams Brothers, “Love Doesn't Ever Fail Us,” from the "Grace of My Heart" soundtrack
*Brian Wilson, “What Love Can Do,” from "New From An Old Friend" 180 Music compilation
*Kumiko Yamashita, “Paint It Blue,” from "Utau Onna, Utawanai Onna"
*Zuccaro, “Flying Away,” from "Fly"

Footnotes

External links

* [http://repertoire.bmi.com/writer.asp?fromrow=1&torow=25&keyname=TONIO%20K&querytype=WriterID&keyid=189525&page=1&blnWriter=True&blnPublisher=True&blnArtist=True&affiliation=ASCAP&cae=126862172 Tonio K songs in the BMI/ASCAP database]
* [http://home.earthlink.net/~mrmando/tonio_k/ Where Is That Place? The Unofficial Tonio K. Home Page]