Tony B

 

Tony Bellamy aka DJ Tony B first got behind a pair of decks in 1980 when DJ’s were few and far between. Playing Jazz, Funk, Soul, R&B and Disco to music savvy clubbers out of the back of a hand painted Blue Bedford van. In the same year the trio known as Expansions Roadshow, grabbed their first residency at the highly popular Biggles Bar in Bracknell. Further residencies followed and they were suddenly in high demand.

Fast forward to 1987 and the boys, ever popular, were experimenting with early Acid House and appearing all over the South East at private parties, bars and social clubs at the time when most clubbers had to wear shirts and trousers to get into a club and the “punch up” was still a regular occurrence.

1989 was a pivotal moment as Expansions Roadshow split and Tony B followed in the footsteps of many others, submerging himself into the Acid House scene where the punch up virtually was non-existent. A chance meeting with good friend Scott James introduced him to a local clubs called Shave Yer Tongue and Passion, which soon became second homes and he soon got his first set at the legendary club night in Bracknell.

Capitalising on the demand for good club nights and acid house music, Tony B started a few of his own which ran for years including “Passport To Dance” and “Trainspotting Paradise” and putting on boutique one off’s such as “Gordon Bennet” located at a local nudist colony which featured Asian art, Thai Food, the local chapter of the Hells Angels on the door and three live dance acts. “I was booking some of the biggest acts of the time” recalls Tony B “with DJ’s like Alfredo coming over from Ibiza, local legends Stacey Tough, Tony Quinterro, Phil Perry, Kevin Hurry and Jim Masters”. Tony B stills runs a club night today with Steve Nash and Martin Madigan called The Berkshire Blag showcasing the best local talent old and new and booking Dj’s Like Pete Bones, Scott James, Fabi Paras, Kash Karma and Filta Freqz, now currently in its fifth year.

Tony B then honed his club DJ skills at pioneering Super Clubs in the U.K. like Egg, Ministry Of Sound, The Full Monty, The House Of Windsor, Miss Moneypennies, Fahrenheit and Cream, moving on to clubs in LA, New York, Spain, Switzerland and Tokyo peaking with sets in LA’s Sugar Lounge and a 6 hour set at New York’s mighty Cro Bar. Festivals then followed with sets at Jelly Fest, Alfa Fest,

Tony B is currently resident DJ for Groove Garden, Essence Club, ART, All Things House and So Good and all these promoters are still putting on regular parties today. He is one of only 50 Ministry Of Sound Academy DJ’s and was a 2013 Guinness World Record holder for the longest ever uninterrupted beat mix alongside a string of fellow DJ’s.

Tony B has supported the world’s greatest DJ’s in a long and illustrious musical journey that includes legends like Victor Simonelli, Carl Cox, Danny Rampling, Justin Robertson, Lisa Loud, Richard Earnshaw, Judge Jules, Tall Paul, Nicholson, Phil Perry, Marshall Jefferson, Seb Fontaine, Boy George, Brandon Block, Alex P, Paul Trouble Anderson, Grant Nelson, Todd Terry, Paul Oakenfold, Sister Bliss, Smokin Joe, Xpress 2, Terry Farley, John 00 Fleming, Astrix, David Guetta, Davey Asprey, K Klass amd Funkagenda  and many many more. A self-taught producer circa 2018 Bellamy, Tony B has released 10 original tracks on worldwide distribution through Label Engine, Tune Core and Band Camp on labels like Dirt, Lies & Audio, Doin’ Work and his own label called Nutrax www.nutrax.co.uk.

 

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