Image by Renee Rosensteel 2022
Mr. Campbell was inducted to the Pittsburgh Jazz Society's Hall of Fame in 2010. His musical journey began in the Hill District in 1973. At the age of 13 Tony joined a band called The Deltones. In 1979 Tony attended Berklee College of Music, and returned to Pittsburgh in 1982 to study at The University of Pittsburgh under Dr. Nathan Davis. At the age of 22 he recorded and toured with Roy Ayers, and in the same year joined Roger Humphries and RH Factor. In 1990 Tony moved to New York City and joined Duke Ellington's Sophisticated Ladies as lead alto saxophonist in a 10-piece orchestra for a 16 week tour of the U.S.A.
From 1993 until 2000 Tony Campbell took his talents to cruise ships as a lead alto player and Musical Director performing with artists like Ben Vereen, Marvin Hamlish, Jack Jones, Diane Carroll, Maureen McGovern, Neil Sadaka, Phyllis Diller and many others. In 2000 Tony came home and started teaching and joined the Roger Humphries Big Band and became the lead alto player. He also started his own band called The Tony Campbell Band. In 2005 he recorded his first CD as a leader, called “T.C.B. II” Taking Care of Business. Tony joined the Poogie Bell band in 2005 until 2009 when he began teaching music at the middle and high school level until 2013. His second CD “Eastside”, was recorded in 2013 and features Sean Jones, Roger Humphries and Dwayne Dolphin among other great Pittsburgh musicians.
Currently, Tony is performing, recording, producing, teaching and holding Jazz Jam sessions that feature some of the best young up and coming talent in the Pittsburgh region. His mission is to keep the great American music of jazz going on forever for all to enjoy and experience as he does. His latest recording “Blues, Ballads and Beyond” was produced in 2022 and currently available on all streaming platforms and at Dorsey Records.