Tony On The Wurlitzer

Donny,

You wanted a mug shot of me, I have gone one better, this is me about 4 years back on a 20 Rank Wurlitzer now in the Stockport Town, Nr Manchester UK, it has been turned into digital controls, but still 20 ranks of pipes, the swell boxes have been stopped at 50%, fully open the sound would blow you away and there are offices in the building, played during the day at full power it would be too much for them. Sorry about the sound the bass pipes are 30ft, you will note the sound change as the consul reaches the floor that because there is a large speaker at the back on the consul which is there so there is no sound delay from the chamber 80 ft away.


http://www.box.net/shared/2s6czxrveydn9kkz9hu1

Very Cool Tony
Loved it...nothing like the mighty Wurlitzer, and you played it well.
Thanks for sharing
Larry


no hair even then?..............................................kidding

Larry,

Hair went about 20 years ago!

Tony, you are a bit of a dark horse....man, this is terrific...you are a fine player indeed, and that Wurlitzer is astonishing.

It is said that the guys with the most testosterone are first to lose their hair...

Beautifully played, and a real treat...love the tune, "Around the World" from Around the World (in Eighty Days) ♫ Music and Lyrics by Victor Young and Harold Adamson. I remember it sung by Bing Crosby.


Thank you,

Ian

Flamin' Nora! The Wizard of Glossop. Very cool, Tony, even as you descended into hades there:-).

My old dad built the Compton into the Gaumont in Finchley, North London in 1937, and that organ now blows the walls out of a pub somewhere in deepest Hertfordshire.

Tony ...........

That was a real surprise and a treat for me for sure and it's not even my birthday yet ...WELL DONE my man a stunning performance!! Now I can put a face on the poster also....Hope to hear more from you Tony great song ...brilliant playing...appreciate that you took the time to share it with us.

take care

hey Tony, now 'that's one impressive organ & performance !
Nice to catch that albeit brief mug shot of your smiling face too.

Nice one Tony.
I like the look of your front room but that coal cellar you go to must be very dusty!
Looks like the parlour I used to live in at Rotherham during the 1940's.............

Well sort of...



...it's not perfect



But at least we have some idea what Tony looks like

Tony, there is a 5 manual Whirlitzer organ the University of Kentucky faculty/alumni club. It was installed when the mansion was built (1932) and was used with a German Welte-Minon (SP)roll player unit (paper rolls). Only 1o0 of these player units were built, and the others were destroyed in the bombing during the 2nd world war.

Over the years, organ societies have had me send photos of the pipes (2100-some 4 feet horizontal-across the third floor).
Sadly, the roll player unit needs repair (an estimated $350,000 for the organ and player). I have played the organ a time or two. Some stops are not functioning and, to hear yourself, you knock the glasses off of the tables.


Great old instrument. Sad it's not practical to repair it.
I have an old photo of me in fangs, cape and Bella Lagocci (SP?)
make-up at the console, somewhere.


Great work, by the way!


Russ

Tony why not make this pic your profile....I love it!!

Donny,

Thanks for your support on my entry into the Kingdom, am I part of the dream team now Donny, I don't think I will be changing the photo, do you think it looks good.

Kind regards

Tony

Tony Wow !! I'm so proud of you mate!!!

Now your an official Visible part of the SZ family and as a bonus we got a small video clip of you performing which I really loved...Thank you for that.

Russ thanks , these eold organs have a sound all of their own and make the hair stand up on your neck, the power is something else. Glad you liked it. Like you said some got destroyed in the war, this one was in the Odeon Cinema in Manchester UK in about 1935 and them move to the Free Trade Hall about 300 yards away in 1970 and them move again about 1995 to the Stockport Town Hall. You can’t just build one of these up in a few weeks.
Cheers Russ

Hello TONY
Nice to see you playing live on video. Looking good. I just love those Wurlitzer Organ Voices. Excellent playing, great organ. Happy playing. Telmo.

Well, you did it! Way to go! Not many people get to play such a 'machine.'

The biggest arranger in the World, bet there's one big in the States.

Tony

Great instrument and sound, thanks for sharing!!

My son works in the building that houses the world's largest pipe organ - check it out!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQfeUAqCqtI

Dave,

Yes it is awesome I have seen this clip before, thanks, what about my photo Dave, look at the hair
please, say something nice.

Tony - you look like an American Teen Idol from the 50s! (Bobby Rydell-ish!)
Who knew you were so good looking, WITH and WITHOUT the hair!

I don't miss mine at all .... so easy to maintain - I cut it myself, and pocket the savings.
How old were you in that picture?

Dave,

I would be 23 in the photo I am now 67, hell where did it all go??

Cheers Dave

Wow - 23 .... I was newly married, playing disco full time, had my own home, car and teeth (still have all but the new wife) ... living large! What a time that was.
I think I has as much hair as you did back then too!

Heck Tony, I hadn't even got married by the time I was 23...I waited till 30 when I was more mature....ha ha!

My wife and I were happy for 20 years...and then we met.

After the divorce she married my best friend...I still haven't found out his name so I could thank him.

Ian

"After the divorce she married my best friend...I still haven't found out his name so I could thank him."


Now that is funny....

Don't any of you guys have your pilots license, the Piper Aircraft were all made in the USA, I got mine at 50 but stop flying 7 years back. Two expensive.

Tony

Dave,

I took a look at Bobby on Youtube and you are right I did look like him, where is he today?

Nice airplane, but can hardly see ya Mate...or is that the idea?

Bobby Rydell is one of the few artists from the 50s that sound BETTER than ever! He still tours and performs, and his sound has matured over the years ... it's almost like watching Frank Sinatra sing with a more pop sound. He's charming and funny and sings his butt off.

Wow Tony, that's pretty amazing! I'd have no idea what to do on such an instrument.

Larry,

You are right all the photos I have stood at the front of aircraft are off film, when you scan them and then make them 80x 80 there is nothing left of detail, sorry. Most of my flying photos are of the ground from 2000ft

Tony, just sold an old King Air and a Cessna 180...not enough use and lots of upkeep!

Still have a Benson gyrocopter for fun. It is stored at a farm in the country and I fly it on good week-ends!

My good friend Chas was a commercial pilot before he retired.


Russ

Russ,

I only flew low wing not high wing Cessna in the UK we called the Cessna, Cesspit. I have single, twin rating IMC and Night ratings, I spent too much money on flying and packed it in about 8 years back now, lots of fun at the time, flew over the France etc.

What airline did Chas fly for?

Tony

Tony
Well done, great playing. I know you love that beast, but you can't have it. Bet your wife would love to have that Wurlitzer in her livingroom, tired of your playing, push the button, and bye bye Tony , down you go. Ready for the T4, you go I go. And you could close your Audya hot line support to me for good
skude

Skude,

I think I will get a T4 but I may have to keep the Audya also, the resale value is wicked, I paid £3300 for it and a swap with a shop for a T4 they will give you about £1200 for it, most shops don't even want an Audya, they just would not be able to sell it on.

I think it will be just the same over here. Anyway, I will keep the Audya till the T4 is ready to run, if I buy.
BTW: you keep getting younger and younger, must be the UK air.
skude

Skude,

Are you going to get a T4, I don't think you will be unhappy, how is the left voice on the Audya.

Are you going to get a T4, I don't think you will be unhappy, how is the left voice on the Audya. [/quote]

Left voice has been OK for several week. have not done the update yet. No stores here want the Audya, so I need to sell it myself. I will try the T4 a little more, waiting for the stores to get it in. Not long ago they had several in stock, now they're all out.
skude

You should get a good price on a T4 now they have been out for a while, the rush has gone, I was offered one in the Uk for £2850.00 which is about £700 below list.

Tony