Tony Pastor
Tony Pastor (Anthony Pestritto, Middletown, Connecticut, October 26, 1907 -… Read Full Bio ↴Tony Pastor (Anthony Pestritto, Middletown, Connecticut, October 26, 1907 - Old Lyme, Connecticut, October 31, 1969) was an Italian American novelty singer and tenor saxophonist.
Tony Pastor began playing professionally while still a teenager. He worked with the Wesleyan Serenaders in the mid-1920s, John Cavallaro in 1927, Irving Aaronson from 1928 to 1930, and Austin Wylie around 1930. He formed his own orchestra based out of Hartford, Connecticut, in 1931. The group struggled, and in 1934 he disbanded it. He toured with Smith Ballew in 1935 and played briefly with Joe Venuti and Vincent Lopez before joining Artie Shaw in 1936, where he remained when Shaw regrouped the following year.
Featured by Shaw as both a musician and singer, Pastor became popular for his expressive singing and impish personality. When Shaw decided to quit the band business in late 1939 and run off to Mexico Pastor was asked to head the orchestra, which was to become a cooperative affair. He turned down the offer and formed his own band instead. His second group proved a success. Pastor was both honest and friendly and well loved by his musicians and fans. His sax playing and his vocals were the highlights of each performance.
Pastor went all out when it came to buying charts for his book. His orchestra featured some of the most modern jazz arrangements of its time. It outlived just about all other swing bands, finally breaking up in the late 1950s. The group's most prominent vocalists, aside from Pastor himself, were sisters Rosemary and Betty Clooney. Other singers included Johnny McAfee, Dorsey Anderson, Kay Little, Eugenie Baird, Virginia Maxey, and Dolores Martel.
After his band's demise Pastor organized a small group that played the Las Vegas circuit. The new band featured his three sons. Pastor became very ill in the late 1960s and quit the music business. He lived in virtual seclusion for the rest of his life. Tony Pastor died in 1969.
Tony Pastor began playing professionally while still a teenager. He worked with the Wesleyan Serenaders in the mid-1920s, John Cavallaro in 1927, Irving Aaronson from 1928 to 1930, and Austin Wylie around 1930. He formed his own orchestra based out of Hartford, Connecticut, in 1931. The group struggled, and in 1934 he disbanded it. He toured with Smith Ballew in 1935 and played briefly with Joe Venuti and Vincent Lopez before joining Artie Shaw in 1936, where he remained when Shaw regrouped the following year.
Featured by Shaw as both a musician and singer, Pastor became popular for his expressive singing and impish personality. When Shaw decided to quit the band business in late 1939 and run off to Mexico Pastor was asked to head the orchestra, which was to become a cooperative affair. He turned down the offer and formed his own band instead. His second group proved a success. Pastor was both honest and friendly and well loved by his musicians and fans. His sax playing and his vocals were the highlights of each performance.
Pastor went all out when it came to buying charts for his book. His orchestra featured some of the most modern jazz arrangements of its time. It outlived just about all other swing bands, finally breaking up in the late 1950s. The group's most prominent vocalists, aside from Pastor himself, were sisters Rosemary and Betty Clooney. Other singers included Johnny McAfee, Dorsey Anderson, Kay Little, Eugenie Baird, Virginia Maxey, and Dolores Martel.
After his band's demise Pastor organized a small group that played the Las Vegas circuit. The new band featured his three sons. Pastor became very ill in the late 1960s and quit the music business. He lived in virtual seclusion for the rest of his life. Tony Pastor died in 1969.
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Tony Pastor Lyrics
''a'' You're Adorable When Johnny Jones was serenading Mary He sure could quote a…
a little white gardenia The moon was all aglow But heaven was in your eyes The…
A You're Adorable When Johnny Jones was serenading Mary He sure could quote a…
Bargain Day It's bargain day Wanna buy a heart' It's bargain day Mine is…
Begin The Beguine When they begin the beguine It brings back the sound of…
Bell Bottom Trousers Once there was a little girl, who lived next to…
Beyond the Blue Horizon Blue horizon Waits a beautiful day Goodbye to things that bo…
Dance With a Dolly As I was walkin' down the street, Down the street, down…
Exactly Like You I used to have a perfect sweetheart Not a real one,…
I Wonder I Wonder I Wonder All by myself alone at home a feeling blue Thoughts keep…
Indian Love Call Oo-Oo-Oo-Oo, Oo-Oo-Oo-Oo When I'm calling you Oo-Oo-Oo-Oo, O…
It Happened in Monterey In my imagination, I'm finding consolation Somewhere along t…
It's Like Taking Candy from a Baby It was just like takin' candy from a baby `Cause I…
Little White Lies The moon was all aglow But heaven was in your eyes The…
Obey Your Air Raid Warden One, be calm Two, get under shelter Three, don't run Obey yo…
Oh You Crazy Moon When they met, the way they smiled, I saw that…
On The Sunny Side Of The Street Walked with no one and talked with no one And I…
Rosalie Rosalie, my darling, Rosalie, my dream. Since one night …
sheik of araby "I'm the Sheik of Araby, Your love belongs to me. At…
Sooner or Later You and I said goodbye With a friendly kiss And though I'm…
The Sheik Of Araby "I'm the Sheik of Araby, Your love belongs to me. At…
Time on My Hands When the day fades away into twilight The moon is my…
You Need Hands When the day fades away into twilight The moon is my…
You Started Something You were just passing by, but you started something I may…