In the 1970's Tony played with a band in London led by Trombonist Mac Duncan and trumpet player Sonny Morris, who had both been involved with those other legends of New Orleans jazz, Trumpeter Ken Colyer and Clarinettist Monty Sunshine. In 1972 Tony made a number of recordings with The Ken Colyer Handpicked Jazzmen, which can be seen on youtube. After Mac Duncan's untimely death, Tony took over Mac's band calling it 'Vintage Jazz' - billed as 'the hottest band in London', with a residency at the famous Lord Napier Pub in South London, playing every Saturday night for 10 years throughout the 1980's.

Tony played; toured, and recorded with Monty's Band until Monty was forced to retire for health reasons in 1998. Tony fulfilled all the Monty Sunshine dates in the book under the name The Best of British Jazz Band featuring Ian Wheeler, who had just left Chris Barber replacing Monty on Clarinet.

After fulfilling those dates,Tony, who had had a holiday home in the Algarve for many years, decided to move there full time to live and work in Portugal. In 2000 he achieved this objective, buying a villa in the Algarve where he moved to with wife Jan and 2 Great Danes and a Jack Russell.

Having been playing the drums all his working life, he quickly took over and reformed The New Orleans Band of The Algarve. This band was an immediate success, playing Hotels; Restaurants and concerts throughout Portugal. With so many expats, British; German; Scandinavian - retirees and Portuguese homeowners, who had all grown up listening to New Orleans jazz throughout Europe in their younger days it was not difficult to find and please audiences everywhere they played, providing a mixture of excitement and nostalgia and a link to the past with a fittingly international flavour to the band line-up.

Sadly, the idyllic life of living and playing jazz in the paradise of the Algarve had to come to an end. Out of the blue, wife Jan was suddenly diagnosed with Myeloid Leukaemia, with no cure. After struggling for two years with chemotherapy, having enjoyed 11 years in the sun, Jan sadly passed away. Although the New Orleans Jazz Band of The Algarve was still a great success, the magic had gone.

Tony eventually found a new partner, Diane, and they decided to return to the UK in 2023. Having played all his life, Tony decided to form a new band in the UK paying tribute to the legend that was Monty Sunshine, playing hot New Orleans style jazz with a mixture of Stomps; Blues; Marches and Spirituals, and music from the 20's; 30's; 40's; and beyond.

The current line-up is Tim Asson on Clarinet (paying tribute to Monty); Peter Leonard on Trumpet and Vocals; Colin Graham on Trombone; Bill Stagg on Banjo and Vocals; Paul Busby on Sousa; and Tony on Drums / Washboard and Vocals.

Every club they have played so far, has been sold out with immediate rebookings. After a life of touring, Tony has decided to limit his gigs to London and the Home Counties. Currently, they can be heard and seen playing at all the major clubs in the area, including - Sidcup Jazz Club; Sylvie's Place Warlingham; Willingham Cambridge Jazz Club; Great Bookham Jazz Club; Colchester Jazz Club; Runnymede Jazz Club; Dunton Green, Riverhead Sevenoaks Jazz Club; Epsom Hot Jazz Club; Bexhill on Sea, with more to follow.

Because so many of the bands on the UK circuit are playing in a more Dixieland or Mainstream style, The Sunshine Jazz Band wants to bring back that hot, ensemble music from the Crescent City of New Orleans where it all began all those years ago.

For details of any of these gigs, more information, or to book the band do not hesitate to email Tony on tony@sunshinejazz.co.uk or telephone 07729 373974 - you can also find details of the band's gigs on the Jazz Guide website at www.thejazzguide.co.uk