Toney was raised in Columbus, Georgia, United States, and sang gospel in churches while young. In his teens, he joined a gospel group called The Sensational Melodies of Joy, and after this joined secular group called The Searchers (no relation to The Searchers), who released a few singles between 1958 and 1961.[1] In 1964, Toney released a solosingle, "Can it All Be Love", on King Records, but did not garner any widespread notice.[1]
Toney toured the UK a few times during the 1960s, brought to England by agents Henry Sellers and Danny O`Donavan. He insisted after his first tour to have the same backing band which was Merlin Q from London. Merlin Q were Dave Kerr-Clemenson on bass, Andy Locke and Wally Scott on guitars Eddie Richards on drums and Denis White on Hammond. After their first rehearsal at the Q club in Paddington Oscar said to Sellers "you said they were good but not that good". The tour included all the Northern soul venues, such as Twisted Wheel Club in Manchester and Golden Torch in Tunstall. After the last tour Dave, Andy Wally and Eddie went on to become Edison Lighthouse.
In 1970, Toney released a single, "Down on My Knees", on Capricorn Records, but the tune did not chart; three more singles, all flops, followed on Capricorn, which dropped the singer in 1973.[2]
Toney's career was tenuous in America, but the British love for Northern soul resulted in a second wind. Later in the 1970s, he was signed to the British record label Contempo Records for six singles and an album, yet none of these sold well,[1] and in the 1980s Toney left the secular industry to focus on gospel again.
Discographyedit
Albumsedit
For Your Precious Love (Bell Records, 1967) U.S. #192, US R&B Albums #27
I've Been Loving You Too Long To Stop Now!, 1975
Make It Easy On yourself!, 1975
Papa Don's Preacher, 1988
Oscar's Winners, 1998
Oscar Toney, Jr. Resurfaces!, 2000
Guilty of Loving You (BGR Records, 2001)
Collaboration: Cliff Ellis & Oscar Toney, Jr Over At Mary's Place, 2008
^ ab"Oscar Toney, Jr. | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved September 29, 2019.
External linksedit
The complete Oscar Toney Jr discography at Soul Express
An interview with Soul Express in 2000
A short chat with Oscar in 2017 at Soul Express
January 01, 1970
oscar, toney, this, biography, living, person, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, adding, reliable, sources, contentious, material, about, living, persons, that, unsourced, poorly, sourced, must, removed, immediately, from, article, talk. This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification Please help by adding reliable sources Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately from the article and its talk page especially if potentially libelous Find sources Oscar Toney Jr news newspapers books scholar JSTOR September 2019 Learn how and when to remove this message Oscar Toney Jr born 26 May 1939 Selma Alabama United States is an American soul singer 1 Contents 1 Career 2 Discography 2 1 Albums 2 2 Singles 3 References 4 External linksCareer editToney was raised in Columbus Georgia United States and sang gospel in churches while young In his teens he joined a gospel group called The Sensational Melodies of Joy and after this joined secular group called The Searchers no relation to The Searchers who released a few singles between 1958 and 1961 1 In 1964 Toney released a solo single Can it All Be Love on King Records but did not garner any widespread notice 1 Toney then began working with the record producer Papa Don Schroeder who used Toney as a backup replacement for James amp Bobby Purify when one of the two singers was unavailable for a live performance Schroeder had Toney signed to Bell Records in 1967 and his first single a cover of For Your Precious Love by Jerry Butler amp the Impressions was produced by Chips Moman 1 The tune would be the first and most successful of Toney s four chart hits 1 His last single was 1969 s Down in Texas b w Aint That True Love which failed to chart and Toney left Bell when Schroeder quit the music industry Toney toured the UK a few times during the 1960s brought to England by agents Henry Sellers and Danny O Donavan He insisted after his first tour to have the same backing band which was Merlin Q from London Merlin Q were Dave Kerr Clemenson on bass Andy Locke and Wally Scott on guitars Eddie Richards on drums and Denis White on Hammond After their first rehearsal at the Q club in Paddington Oscar said to Sellers you said they were good but not that good The tour included all the Northern soul venues such as Twisted Wheel Club in Manchester and Golden Torch in Tunstall After the last tour Dave Andy Wally and Eddie went on to become Edison Lighthouse In 1970 Toney released a single Down on My Knees on Capricorn Records but the tune did not chart three more singles all flops followed on Capricorn which dropped the singer in 1973 2 Toney s career was tenuous in America but the British love for Northern soul resulted in a second wind Later in the 1970s he was signed to the British record label Contempo Records for six singles and an album yet none of these sold well 1 and in the 1980s Toney left the secular industry to focus on gospel again Discography editAlbums edit For Your Precious Love Bell Records 1967 U S 192 US R amp B Albums 27 I ve Been Loving You Too Long To Stop Now 1975 Make It Easy On yourself 1975 Papa Don s Preacher 1988 Oscar s Winners 1998 Oscar Toney Jr Resurfaces 2000 Guilty of Loving You BGR Records 2001 Collaboration Cliff Ellis amp Oscar Toney Jr Over At Mary s Place 2008 Singles edit Year Title Chart Positions 2 US Pop Singles US R amp B Singles 1967 For Your Precious Love 23 4 1967 Turn On Your Love Light 65 37 1968 Never Get Enough of Your Love 95 1968 Without Love There Is Nothing 90 47References edit a b c d e f Colin Larkin ed 1997 The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music Concise ed Virgin Books p 1183 ISBN 1 85227 745 9 a b Oscar Toney Jr Biography amp History AllMusic Retrieved September 29 2019 External links editThe complete Oscar Toney Jr discography at Soul Express An interview with Soul Express in 2000 A short chat with Oscar in 2017 at Soul Express Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Oscar Toney Jr amp oldid 1215546766, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
