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Tony Pollon's Biography
Tony Pollon was born in a little country town called Minnedosa in the province of Manitoba. He lived on a farm there until the age of four and after a quick move to the city for two years, the family moved back to the country and lived in a small town by the name of Onanole, Manitoba. Tony loved the country life and was very happy there.
His family were all very talented in different ways. His mother used to win first prizes when she would step dance. It was no surprise because she looked to be dancing on air. His only sister is also very talented, but in a different way. She was very good at craft work. Tony's father was the one who got him started in the music world. He played on the Western hour in his younger days and also played for barn dances. It was from his father Tony came to play the lap steel and also the acoustic guitar. At the age of ten, Tony and his father entered a contest in their home town, Tony playing lap steel and taking first prize. It was his first time on stage and it felt good. He knew then that it would not be his last.
At the age of 12, Tony moved with his parents and sister to the city of Winnipeg and went to school there and a couple of years later he was going to community club dances. In between his dances with the young ladies, he came to meet a young Fred Turner, who was also interested in playing music.
Tony, Fred and two other musicians formed a rock group and played in the community clubs in Winnipeg, playing together for about two years before each went on to play with different groups. Fred went on to form a group by the name of Bachman, Turner, Overdrive and made his fortune.
While Tony hadn't made the big time yet, he went on to play with other groups such as Terry And The Gentry, Just Us Three, The Electric Bananas, Bobbie Rae and The Diamonds, and Wayne Walker and The Strollers.
It was 1968 when he decided to move to British Columbia and it was a good move for it was then he also decided to play good old country music. He played with Larry Roberts and the Country Squires, George Polbum and the Country Allstars and also a group by the name of Arlene Cline And The Whisky Jacks, who went on the road playing all over northern British Columbia, The Yukon Territories, northern Alberta and parts of U.S.A. They were promoting a 45 record that Alene Cline and The Whisky Jacks had recorded together. It was definitely a good experience. After two years on the road with The Whisky Jacks, Tony decided to make a big change with his carreer.
It seemed single acts were making lots of money and so came the big change. Tony started in to doing single act entertainment. With just a guitar, a beat box and a P.A. system he went on the road again. This time was different. He would see his own name in lights and on billboards. This was what he needed to get known as an individual. He got more work than he could handle and became very well known. He travelled to the Charlotte Islands playing there and all over Vancouver Island and Vancouver mainland. It was the mid 80's that Tony put out his first release on 45 records and sold them at his performances. This got him into playing for bigger events.
Tony performed for at least three different televised shows and in the early 90's another couple of songs were released and promoted by R.D.R. Promotions on Country Pack 11 and 12 compilation discs. He was becoming better known, and asked to perform for The Mill Bay Country Music Festival for three years in a row. He played in the same festivals along with big acts Ian Tyson, Dick Damron, Jerry Reed, Patricia Conroy, Lauri Thain, The Moffatt Family, Franky Rogers, and The Family Tradition of whom Tony has recorded some of his and his father's songs with. He was with Comstock Records in 1992, 1993 and 1994 and had the No.1 song on The Foreign lndie Country Western Charts.
In September 1994 Tony's mother passed away after a long fight with alzheimers and diabetes. It hit Tony pretty hard. Shortly after, after being together 11 years, he and his wife separated. It set him back for a few years of idleness and financial problems. After seven years of trying to get back where he left off, Tony is making a come back and a strong one at that. He has released a ten track album of songs he has written over the years admitting they are a mixture of old country and new country and even a bit off country, but it is a very well liked album and very well put together.
Tony thanks all DJs who play his album. He has made it to the World Wide Mainstream list of Most Played artists and hopes to go on tour in the near future to meet all the wonderful people playing his music over in Europe, New Zealand, Australia and United Kingdom and shake hands with them. Maybe even a hug or two.
Tony Pollon - a well loved entertainer who loves people and enjoys writing and singing his own songs, is just finishing up his second album. Listen for Tony's songs and give him your support! He is one artist who deserves it. Web Site ( tonypollon.net )
E-Mail ( lonesome77203@shaw.ca )
