Tony Aiardo

...composer, pianist, vocalist and performer has been hailed for his writing, playing, singing and performing ability. He has established himself as an energetic and seasoned musician with a strong command of contemporary, pop, jazz and blues genres and has earned musical acclaim among his peers and fans.

Tony began formal music training at the age of 7. At the age of 8 he entered a local composition competition and won! Aside from the piano, he also found an interest in the accordion, saxophone, guitar, bass, drums and cello. During his teen years, he was in a group that opened for the Rolling Stones and also opened for and backed up many of the oldie groups such as the Five Satins, Ruby and the Romantics, The Drifters, Little Anthony and the Imperials, The Supremes, Jay and the Americans, The Shirelles, plus others.

During his high school and college years, he performed in clubs, 7 nights a week as a soloist (piano and vocals); with his own band "New England Jam"; and with many other area groups and various national artists. During this time, he was also known to run out to the car with a flashlight during breaks on gigs to study for the CT Law Bar Exam. Even while pursuing his law degree, Tony always focused on his music.

Tony played weddings and private functions and would say "I play their weddings, and then I am their attorney for the closing of their very first home - both happy occasions!" While playing weddings and private parties, he developed an enormous repertoire of every genre which consisted of standards, pop, jazz, blues, ethnic, and top hits of all major artists. Out of that, Tony developed his own unique style, range and unique quality of voice while performing piano.

As a Performer - pianist and vocalist:

• Currently, is performing as a soloist and with his own band (formally New England Jam), now under his own name and as a lead male vocalist with "Third Shift" a powerhouse eight - piece horn band which performs in the tri state's major venues such as Foxwoods Resorts and Casinos, Mohegan Sun Casino and major hotels and country clubs. They have opened for Tower of Power, Kool & The Gang, The Doobie Brothers, and others.
• Performances with many area bands and noted musicians including (in alphabetical order) Todd Baharian, Gary Blu (Boc & Blu), Sarah Brooks, Danny Cipriano (Wilson Pickett), Bill Crow (bass and noted author), Liberty DeVito (Billy Joel), Arti Dixson, Ken Geoffrey (Smoky Robinson), Sal Giorgianni, Brian Keane (Keane Productions), Rohn Lawrence (Boney James), Joey Melotti (Barry Manilow, Michael Bolton, Liza Minelli), Maydie Myles, Cary Potts, Keith Robinson (Vanessa Williams), Jay Rowe (Marion Meadows), and others.

Recordings:

• commercial jingles
• background vocals on numerous demo projects- sound beds
• character voiceovers
• written, arranged and recorded original materials for major corporations i.e. corporate videos, annual meeting videos and motivational seminar videos
• numerous vocals & instrumentals for Brian Keane (Brian Keane Productions) and also with Brian Keane (Rick Burns (PBS) on the "History of New York City").

Community Based Anthms which he wrote & performed for:

• Johnson - Wood Corporation = "Fighting Back Theme" (national project) composer & lead vocalist of the "Fighting Back Theme", a song used as an anthem for a community based project in a nationwide effort
• St. Judes Children's Research Hospital - wrote and performed the "Rainbow of Hope" Anthem for the Rainbow of Hope Foundation, a CT arm of the St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital.
• Leukemia Foundation - organizing and performing
• Hospice Foundation - organizing and performing
• Diabetes Foundation - organizing and performing
• Cancer Research - "This Close" - Michael Bolton Fundraisers
• World Games / Special Olympics promo - vocalist

Musical Adjudicator:

• served as an adjudicator for young pianists performing in The CT Branch of the National Federation of Music Clubs Annual Music Festival.

Song Writing Abilities:

• collaborated with Ed Hokinson (i.e. "Bad Girls" - Donna Summer) and submitted their works to various film projects.
• his own CD projects
• Foundation Anthems listed above

Commercial acting and voiceovers

• for TV
• 2nd place for "Tony The Tiger" voiceover (national search)

Currently, Tony is performing solo and with his own band originally known as "New England Jam", now under his own name. He is also the lead male vocalist with the 8 piece horn band "Third Shift". In addition to performing, in the past 10 years, Tony has composed over 30 original pieces and is currently pursuing avenues to get original material recorded and on daytime soaps and movies, while also providing original material to various major record producers.

His discography includes Tony's original material on his first CD, "First Taste", which showcases his writing, playing and vocal abilities, and features a mix of original, jazzy R & B / pop music, along with a dance cut which aired on a radio station in Paris, France. Two new CD's are soon to be released: "Classics of Yesterday" which features the classic jazz and contemporary pieces of the 1920's and up; and a second original CD which features more original jazz, blues, instrumentals and contemporary ballads.

Tony is a native of New Haven, Connecticut. He currently lives in Orange, CT with his wife Doreen, son Michael, and daughter Gabrielle. He is also a practicing Attorney in Milford, Connecticut with Dey, Smith, LLC, Attorneys at Law.