Tony’s relationship with music started in the late 1970s when he was considered an up and coming rockstar while playing in his high school garage band.

Tony joined his first traveling band, Driver, in 1981.  In 1982 Tony formed his first original band, Valentino, and traveled to Long Island to record their first album in the same studio as Twisted Sister.

In the late 1980s Tony moved his music to Los Angeles where he took a job at West L.A. Music to create better contacts in the industry.

By 1991 Tony had decided to take his music back to North Carolina and took a position with a band called J-Train (Jeddidiah Train). J-Train cut an album and music video for MTV.  They also opened for Blue Oyster Cult, Survivor, Edgar Winter, The Outlaws and many others.

After J-Train split up in 1994 Tony decided to pursue his passion of owning a fine used guitar shop.