ION INDIE MAGAZINE April 2015, Volume 11 | Page 87

Music by TONY WATSON “Down The Interstate”

TONY WATSON
By Kiki Plesha
Engaging. This is the word that comes to mind when I think about Country
artist TONY WATSON—and that million dollar smile, of course! Tony
Watson is not only a singer/songwriter and an accomplished musician,
playing a variety of instruments both string and percussion…but he is a
heck of a nice guy! This West Virginia native honed his Country style while
performing nationally and internationally with both symphonies and
Rock/Country bands. He is also an internationally ranked artist that
enjoys a global fan base. The wide appeal of his heartfelt music is
evidenced by his growing reputation as a composer of original music and
lyrics.
When asked, Tony lists his musical influences come from the likes of
JAMES TAYLOR, JOHN DENVER and JOHN PRYNE--not to forget NEIL
YOUNG, CAT STEVENS…and many others.
He is a “joiner”--Tony is a member of many professional groups including:
CMA (COUNTRY MUSIC ASSOCIATION), ICCMA (INSPIRATIONAL
CHRISTIAN COUNTRY MUSIC ASSOCIATION), AMG (ARTIST MUSIC
GUILD), ICCAN (INTERNATIONAL COWBOY CHURCH ALLIANCE NETWORK)
and ASCAP (AMERICAN SOCIETY OF COMPOSERS, AUTHORS AND
PUBLISHERS). And just like everywhere else that Tony “hangs out”--he
Photo credit: David Day
leaves an impression. No doubt his catchy music resounds with his
audience. That is evidenced by his showings on the DIGITAL RADIO TRACKER charts. Many of his songs have claimed
impressive rankings on these prestigious charts. In fact, Tony Watson's song “Down the Interstate”--written by ROBIN NAMATI
and BRIAN WOOD and produced by Tony’s own GATE HOUSE STUDIOS--was the first official released song debuting on the
DRT chart at #1 on the Rock Top 50. That’s right…I said “Rock”. Apparently his appeal is felt beyond his beloved Country fans.
In fact, Tony’s talent is embraced by many listeners of many genres--his songs have also earned spots on the Top 200 chart,
the Country Top 50 chart, the Adult Contemporary Top 50 and also on the Independent Artist Chart Top 50. Some of his other
songs include “We Danced in the Dust” (written by RICK NORHEIM and ROBIN NAMATI) and his most recent hit song, “Carbon
Copy”.
Incidentally, “Carbon Copy” was written by industry heavy-hitter singer/songwriter (and Tony’s vocal coach) JOEY CERISANO-who, by the way, once turned down a lead vocalist gig with a little-know band by the name of BLACK SABBATH—so a guy
named OZZY stepped in.. Tony credits Cerisano for instilling in him to make every word COUNT and to be as memorable as a
“Kodak Moment”. This is advice that Tony both appreciates and eagerly implements, for Cerisano has made his mark in music
in his own right. Cerisano is well-known for the many notables in the industry that he has worked with and has a myriad of
impressive credits--that include some well-recognized commercials. These include the Army theme song/ad “Be All That You
Can Be” and the Sprite commercial “I’ve Got the Sprite in Me”. So it is a real “nod” of confidence that Cerisano entrusted his
composition “Carbon Copy” to Tony Watson. I think it’s fair to say, you can add to Cerisano’s credits--excellent taste!
And Cerisano is not the only powerhouse in Tony’s “circle”. Tony’s agent is none other than FRAN LACEY—of DICK CLARK
PRODUCTIONS fame. Fran has been a force in the music industry, working “hand in glove” for DICK and KERI CLARK for almost
40 years. This recalls to mind an old saying, “I’ll know you by the company you keep.” So I guess it would be a fair statement
that Tony is surrounded by some pretty auspicious people that he readily credits for his success—and that he is a reflection of
their impact on his career. To learn more about TONY WATSON, visit: www.tonywatsonus.com