Listen to our chat right here just hours before his cd release party.
The Tony Tyler Trance was formed in October 1999 by father and son founding members, Stan and Tony Tyler Killingsworth. They first played together when Tony, at the age of seven, took up drums and percussion with Stan’s band, Crossfire. At age twelve, Tony switched to guitar and keyboards, paving the way for the formation of The Tony Tyler Trance. In 2000, T.K. Blues (soon to be renamed The Tony Tyler Trance) was engaged as the house band at a club in Milledgeville Ga. During this time Tony and Stan were approached by the manager of the nationally broadcast Nickelodeon Networks teenaged band , East of August. This band, young as they were, featured two members that appeared on the 2000 Grammy Awards. In mid-2001, Tony was invited to be guitarist and lead vocalists for yet another teenaged band being formed by a former manager of the rock band Areosmith. Tony traveled with the group, eventually named Hippiegrabber, to New York, Boston, and Los Angeles for rehearsals, recordings, and a video shoot. This project attracted serious attention from several record companies, following which a contract was extended. After careful deliberation, Tony decided that finishing High School was to be his first course of action. In 2001, Tony and Stan secured WILLIAM PERKINS as manager for the Tony Tyler Trance. His road management with the ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND as well as managing the solo careers of STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN and GREGG ALLMAN in the 1980’s allows Mr. Perkins to bring vast experience and knowledge in the promotion of The Tony Tyler Trance. His professional relationship with CHUCK LEAVELL, keyboardist with the ROLLING STONES, has led Mr. Leavell to express keen interests in developing and producing a future recording project with the Tony Tyler Trance. This project would be contingent upon the time constraints imposed by Leavell’s duties with the Rolling Stones and their upcoming tour. Rounding out the Tony Tyler Trance are Michael Hurwitz, who also began playing at a very early age in his dad’s band and applies considerable talent and experience to his position as bassist, and Adam Brimacomb on rhythm guitar.
