Episode 95: Tony Azzopardi

My guest today is percussionist, Tony Azzopardi.

 

Tony grew up in Sydney, the youngest of 15 children with his mother and father coming from Malta. 

 

Music was always in the family with Tony’s first band being the family band called Africa, with his brother Marz, the drummer of the band, being particularly influential to Tony’s early development as a musician, and as a percussionist.

 

These were the early to mid 70s. Tony has been a professional musician ever since, having played with live or recorded with the a lot of the best including Doug Parkinson, Marcia Hines, Roger Frampton, Jenny Morris, Mark Hunter , Andrew Oh, Richard Clapton, Gina Jeffries, Jeff Duff, Tina Arena, Ian Moss, Barry Leef and many others.

 

Tony was also the house band percussionist for Australian Idol. 

 

In an effort to pull back a bit from constant touring and gigging, Tony and his friend created DRUMBEAT, an interactive drums and percussion show that would tour Australian schools. 

 

In 2011, Tony got very ill with cancer. Yet during treatment, he stilled went out and gigged. 

 

After beating that cancer, it was time for a change so he packed up and moved out of Sydney. He now spends his days on his farm in the hunter region of NSW, and he still plays everyday.

 

So without further ardue,  Ladies and gentleman, please give it up for Tony Azzopardi.

 

This conversation was recorded 18/08/2020.

 

For more info on Tony:

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