Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

TONIO, K.

US rock act, apparently a group initially, later a solo singer-songwriter. La Bomba included a Spanish- language parody of the folk song 'La Bamba' which railed against any and all; if Los Lobos had played 'La Bamba' his way, they would still be a wedding band in East LA (one line went 'For the gringos -- the bomb'). 'Mars Needs Women' was based on '50s science fiction/schlock horror film of that name. Life In The Foodchain '78 on Full Moon/Epic attracted attention; with guests incl. Albert Lee and Garth Hudson. By Amerika '80 the main 'responsible parties' were listed as Tonio K. on guitar, bass and drums, Nick van Maarth on lead and rhythm guitars, Claude Pepper on drums and percussion, Peter Freiberger on bass and Paul Hertzog on keyboards. Romeo Unchained '86 on What? Records/A&M found Tonio K. surrounded by guests incl. T-Bone Burnett, Phil Chen, David Mansfield, David Miner and Charlie Sexton. Notes From The Lost Civilization '87 on A&M again found him using session musicians incl. Burnett, Peter Case, Booker T Jones, Jim Keltner and Steven Soles, 'Without Love' a standout track. Contributed 'I'm Supposed To Have Sex With You' on the Summer School soundtrack on Chrysalis, but added the warning 'Do not -- repeat do not rush out and have random/meaningless sex with strangers in/from darkened dance clubs and bars.' Guested as singer on Burnett's The Talking Animals '87. Tonio K. remained an underestimated songwriter; in a sane world his stylish wit would have brought more attention, but in a sane world there would have been no need for him.