I've known Tony Viviano since 2002 when he approached me to compile videos of his performances and media interviews on a DVD. Shortly after that he asked me to shoot video of free concert he did with his big band at Bluebird Park in Ellisville, Missouri. Since then, I've been seeing Tony perform in a variety of venues, and running into him at other performer's shows. 

Tony was influenced at a young age by his older brothers who brought home and memorized records of the great singers like Frank Sinatra, Louis Prima, Tony Bennet and others. He started performing in high school and soon began getting booked in small clubs around the area. Over time, Tony found his way doing bigger and more prominent local venues, as well as in other cities. His versatility in musical styles is impressive as he mixes swing and big band arrangements with popular songs from the fifties to the present.

Guests for episode 7 of A Concert Pitch are Myles Kelly, Chuck Wade, and Mike Ehrhardt, members of the band, Rockin’ Chair, a band made up of members of two St. Louis bands from the seventies, Mesa and Nickles. Rocklin’ Chair is a reunion band that celebrates the music of bands like Buffalo Springfield, the Byrds, the Band, the Allman Brothers Band, and coming up this Thanksgiving weekend, they’ll be playing two concerts showcasing the music of CSN&Y and the Eagles. 

Javier Mendoza was born in Virginia and raised in Spain, but he began his music career in St. Louis, Missouri. Soon after he began focusing on writing and performing, he was playing small local venues with a fellow musician. Soon after that he was discovered by Ken Hensley, a founding member of Uriah Heep, and was signed to a publishing deal with Warner/Chappell. His career was off and running.