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Tony Cook / history

The Human Drum Machine

One of the most sample musicians of all time! In 1984,Tony’s New York Production, “On the Floor - Rock It”, was released and marked into the US/UK charts. It is referred to as the Grand Daddy of all House Records.

Tony is from Augusta Georgia; he joined James Brown & The JB’s in February 1976. In 1978 he worked with Etta James when she was the opening act for the Rolling Stones during their U.S. tour. In 1980 Tony took his band: Sky Train” to Europe to back Precious Wilson.

Tony has also performed live and in the studio with such artist as Latimore, Z.Z Hill, Billy Ocean, Robert Palmer, Little Milton, and many others.

In 1984, Tony build his first recording studio, “The Hut”this enriched the music scene in Augusta as well as the entire world of funk. Tony’s Funk Factory launched one great production after another into the charts. This was also the place, which spawned Tony Cook & The Party People, The GA’s, as well as the Jungle Band and many more.

Tony’s market was predominantly in Europe, the United States, Great Britain, and Australia. 1992 was the year that Tony’s music reached the Dutch and German dance floor after a group of dedicated DJ’s re-mixed his tracks, “Trunk-o-Funk”, “Cooking”and, “The Cook Monster”which remain familiar to the ears, and legs, of many clubbing fans.

In 1993, Tony finally ended his participation in the James Brown organization in order to fully concentrate on his production company, and his newly formed band “Tony Cook’s Trunk-o- Funk. In 2005, Tony rejoined James Brown’s band and remained until Mr. Brown’s passing in December 25th 2006.

 

Tony has been featured in such magazines as Billboard,Echoes,Rhythm,Blues & Soul,We Go Funk and many more.

Tony played on many James Brown’s recordings such as: Jam 1980's,Mutha’s Nature ,Love Over-Due and many more.

The Tony Cook’s Trunk-O-Funk track “Teenie Bopper” appears in episode twelve of season one of the hit TV-show The Shield as well as the HBO series The Mind of the Married Man. Track one (Cram) off The Brother's In The Groove CD was recently use on a British movie (The Clubbed) Directed by Neil Thompson.

Teeny Bopper,Wait Don’t Rush Me & Kick It One Time appears in Carnival Knowledge a Peter Knight Film.

 

2010 Tony Is a Artist on Stone Throw Records. were he is working with Peanut Butter Wolf and Dam-Funk on some 80's Tracks.

 

Way back when . . .

The photo of Tony ( above left ) was taken in the studio when he was doing a lot of recording with the James Brown Band ( also known as the JB's.) That's him on the right playing drums behind singer Z.Z. Hill .

 

Every now and then, James Brown would call Tony Cook to center stage to do his rap. Here they are togather ( Tony in the white shirt - JB in red ) in an undated concert shot. For die-hard JB fans, saxaphonist Maceo Parker is on the far left with the big smile.

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