Born Anthony Giordano on April 20, 1978 in Tallahassee, FL, Tony G. grew up listening to music through his parents' album collection, featuring such artists as Steve Miller, Carly Simon, Elton John, Steely Dan, and Fleetwood Mac. His first live concert was Prince & The Revolution during the Purple Rain tour of 1984, and it inspired him to pursue music. Not many know this, but the drums were Tony's first instrument. When he was 8, his parents gave him his first kit, busting every skin on the kit while mimicking the solos and beats of Phil Collins. By age 12, he started taking an interest in the keyboard, and started playing Genesis, ELP, Rush, and Yes tunes by ear. Eight years of lessons would follow (one year with guitarist (and now Nashville singer/songwriter) Steve Leslie, five years with jazz pianist and Florida State (FSU) Associate Professor Bill Peterson, and two more years of applied lessons at FSU with Dr. Karyl Louwenaar Lueck) that would nourish the technique he would later use on the stage.
By the time he graduated high school, he was a great piano accompanist for high-school chorus, and had written countless poems and more than a dozen songs (including two pieces than spanned more than 30 minutes, and a new-age classical piece called The Spring Sonata). He performed a one-man music show on May 7, 1996 at his high school, and for his Salutatorian Speech during graduation, he performed a parody of Elton John's Made in England chronicling the four years he experienced there, a performance of which he received both a standing ovation from the thousands in attendance.
Unlike other artists who would jump at the chance to pursue music, Tony turned his attention to completing his college education. He attended Florida State after high school and graduated with a Computer Science degree (with a music minor) in the Fall of 2000. During that time, he joined Christian Heritage Church in Tallahassee, and for five years he would become a beloved, if not important, player for the Praise & Worship team, the church Orchestra, the teen vocal group Anthem, and other youth groups. In September 2001, Tony got a call from bass player Jeff Davis, who once responded to a flyer he posted three years earlier, and asked him to join a project with his fellow bandmates Steve Shellman (on drums), and Justin Brogdon (on guitar/vocals). He left the church to pursue this opportunity, called the Justin Brogdon Band, and with that one gig at Yianni's on October 17, a new face had entered the music scene.
After Kris Kolp, a local songwriter and harmonica virtuoso with his own home studio called Log Cabin Music, joined the band in early 2002, the band changed its name to Full Black Out, and by the end of Spring, they were one of the most talked about bands in the Tallahassee jam scene. People began to notice both Tony's great keyboard skills and charismatic stage presence. Through Justin, he met Tishamingo guitarist Jess Franklin, whose best friend was Tony's cousin, and through him he met keyboardist Jason Fuller, who played with Tishamingo (and still does on occasion). On a couple of occasions, Fuller allowed Tony to sit in with Tishamingo, a move that Tony says opened many doors for him very early in his career.
As FBO began to take off in January 2003, former Ancient Harmony drummer Michael Cansler contacted Tony G. about starting a new project with bassist Jamie Campbell and a young saxophone/vocalist named Chelsea Luker. A couple months later, Tishamingo requested Tony's keyboard services for a quick tour in Mississippi, and did so well that he was asked to sit-in with them on occasion and also perform a couple more shows later on that year.
By the summer, Tony's new project with Michael, XINGU, started to generate a huge buzz in Tallahassee as they stole the show at the small River Retreat Festival in Live Oak, FL, and by August 2003, Tony left FBO and joined XINGU full-time. That's when he met Chad Denney, who took the band under his tutelage, and would later become his personal advisor (or as he dubbed "pseudo-manager") in this early stage of his career. In the ten months that Tony made XINGU his top priority, XINGU opened for Moonshine Still, Perpetual Groove, ulu, Ekoostik Hookah, Robert Walter's 20th Congress, and Robert Randolph & the Family Band. They also performed on Jeff Dunham's Atlanta radio show, and released their debut album Xinguism in 2004. However, in the summer of 2004, internal tensions proved too great. Chelsea left XINGU to return to her home in Oregon, and after one final gig at the Bragg Jam on July 31, 2004, XINGU disbanded.
Since then, Tony G. has become one of the most sought-after keyboardists on the live music scene. In 2004, he toured with Tishamingo meeting many great bands and musicians along the way. He also played gigs with Justin Brogdon and the Hangdown, who used to be known as Bluestring. He also performed with his old band Full Black Out, as well as Captain Soularcat, The Sundogs, Stillwood (formerly Tanglewood), and various other blues and jazz jams. He has shared the stage with bands and musicians like Jeff Coffin, Longineu Parsons, Rev. Jeff Mosier, Jason Isbell (Drive By Truckers), Donna Hopkins, Barry Richmond, Matt Grondin, Luther Dickenson (North Mississippi Allstars), Moonshine Still, Perpetual Groove, Mofro, Galactic and many more. He has often been dubbed as one of the hardest working musicians at festivals, through his frequent sit-ins and appearances, and was recently dubbed the Jammiest Cruiser for Jam Cruise 3 in 2005.
Tony G. took the big leap in February 2005 and moved to Athens, GA to kick start his full-time music career. Since then, he has continued to perform with a variety of different bands and musicians, and also began offering solo and duo performances. Tony's current goal, he says, is to have a self-sustaining career as a performer, composer, and arranger, and to also help give back to the business what it has graciously given him thus far.
