Toney Lee - Reach Up

Опубликовано 4 мая 2010, 15:17

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Toney Lee was born in Brooklyn to a musically talented family who was no stranger to the music
industry. His brother Arnie Love recorded for Profile Records and his grandfather John English gave
Max Roach his first drum lesson. His grandfather also founded and led his own band titled John
English & His Society Orchestra. Toneys artistic roots can be traced to Brooklyns Mt. Lebanon
Baptist Church where he sang as a soloist with the church choir.

From an early age it seemed inevitable that Toney Lee would become a recording artist. Whether
starring as the Lion in the Wizard of Oz or performing with the Thomas Jefferson High School
Choir, Toney Lee proved his talent when he was named Class Vocalist of 1972 in high school. The
plaque still hangs in the hallway of the school today. He began performing professionally in the late
70's singing with local groups like Ebony Phase III, Chocolate Fire and Penetration in which he
recorded Sure Thing which was released by Ruval Records.

The 80s were a busy era for Toney Lee. After two years of voice studies, at the Brooklyn
Conservatory For Music, Toney Lee began to explore other genres of music. He performed as the
role of Stubby Kaye with the off-Broadway production of Guys and Dolls. Later on he used his
newly found skills to write and arrange the Top 40 Dance Single You Ain't Really Down" recorded
by the group Status IV. As a recording artist, Toney Lee performed and recorded the Top 10 Dance
Hit Reach Up" along with "Love So Deep" released on radar records. In addition, "Teaser" went on
to become a Top 50 R&B hit single and was released on Critique Records. Following the success of
that hit, he recorded an LP album titled Teaser produced by Nicky Braddy and Richard Basoff.
Nightclub performances ranged from New York City clubs like The Copacabana, Roseland, The
Roxy and The Funhouse to New Jersey venues like Zanzabar, Club 88 and Sensations. Toney Lee
even starred as guest artist at Harlems Apollo Theater performing songs like Sensual Surrender and
My Baby Loves Me which were released by Jumpstreet Records.

After 1990 Toney Lee was a soloist in New Yorks WKRS Kiss FMs Choir under the direction of
Sean Cort. He recorded with Emotive Records and released No Matter What It Takes produced
by Kiss FMs Jay Mixin Dixon. Toney recorded vocals with Arthur Baker of BMG Music in
addition to writing and producing for artists such as Status IV, Paula Brion, Special Blend and his
brother Arnie Love in collaboration with Eugene Bussey. In 1999, London based producers Phats &
Smalls sampled Lee's voice and lyrics from "Reach Up" to produce the worldwide Dance Hit Turn
Around. This single sold over 2 million records in addition to being classified as one of the greatest
European Dance records of 1999. The track further succeeded to hit Top 5 lists in France, England,
Belgium and the Netherlands.

Toneys Gospel roots, together with his writing and production experience, generated the release his
first Contemporary Gospel compilation CD titled Heartfelt in 2001. The LP collection included
musical works such as A Womans Love, Grandma (Our Hero) and Tell It all released on his
own independent record label titled Total Success Records International.

Recently, Toney Lee has been collaborating with producers like Dave Perez of BHTC Music, Paul
Simpson and Will Downing for the production of Electronic Dance Music. Toney Lee has also been
performing with Reverend Al Sharptons Change Choir at the National Action Network. As a
versatile writer, producer and vocal artist, Toney's goal is to bring peace, love and understanding
through his love of music and the inspirational messages he offers the world