Tony Middleton

about

Tony Middleton was born 26 June 1934 in Richmond, Virginia where he grew up and went to school. In the mid 50s, when he was in his late teens Tony moved with his mother to New York. He excelled at sports and he boxed as an amateur into his early twenties. Tony joined the 5 Willows in ’52 and became their lead singer, recording and performing with them until late ‘57 when he went solo. Though Middleton recorded more than 30 solo singles he also cut many more demos and commercials. His voice was used on a movie score when he moved to Paris and his name has been linked with some of the biggest names in the business like Burt Bacharach, Michel Legrand, Stan Applebaum, Leiber & Stoller, Johnny Pate and Klaus Ogermann etc. His first solo outings after leaving the Willows were ‘I Just Want Somebody’ and ‘Blackjack’ as two singles in ’59. Tony was a face in New York, he had been hustling in the music business for ten years, writing songs, doing deals, in and out of the Brill Building and he was always sharpening his contacts. He recorded the standard ‘Unchained Melody’ with ex Drifters arranger Stan Applebaum for Big Top in 1960 and Alto Records released ‘Untouchable’ a glorious ballad with Tony in top voice. Later in ’61 he tried again with Roulette and ‘I’m Gonna Try Love One More Time’ but none of these records meant much outside New York. Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller produced ‘Drifting’ for Middleton in ’62 that had a distinct Ben E King feel to it, reminiscent of ‘On The Horizo

top songs

albums

The Best Of The Northern Soul Story

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Back On The Streets Of Spanish Harlem

The Golden Age of Northern Soul Vol 3

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Northern Soul Connoisseurs Vol 2

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Blackpool Mecca

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The Kings Of Diggin'

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The Ultimate Rock N' Roll & Rhythm N' Blues Collection

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The Kings of Diggin (Mixed by Kon, Amir, and DJ Muro)

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The Northern Soul Story Vol.3: Blackpool Mecca

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The Kings Of Diggin' [Disc 2]

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The Kings Of Diggin' (DJ Muro)

Northern Soul Connoisseurs Volume 2

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