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Tony Janflone, Jr.
Tony Janflone, Jr. is a guitarist from Pittsburgh, PA. While critics and other well known guitarists rave about his talent, he remains a little known gem, nationally. (Need bio and details).

Blues/rock/Jazz guitarist and singer-song writer Tony Janflone Jr. is a much sought after session player and band leader of the Tony Janflone Jr Band. Critics describe his guitar style as cross between the soul of Santana, the jazzy feel of Robben Ford, and the blues feel of Stevie Ray. Patrick Arena of The Southern Voice says “this guy is not only a commanding blues and rock singer but his guitar chops could blow most of the big guitar giants of today off of the stage.”

Reviewer "Mr.lues" Mark 'radar' Watson exclaims “this guy is a guitar whiz, full of passion and expression”. Tony plays 175-200 live shows per year, runs his own studio (Keytones Studio), teaches guitar, performs as a session player with other artists, and records music for T.V. and radio commercials and short films. He gives guitar clinics at colleges as an official endorser of Evans Guitar Products guitar pickups and Dillion Guitars.

Biographical info: He has released 4 CDs and has appeared on Kenny Blake's Interior Design CD that reached #15 on the Billboard Jazz charts. Tony also appears with Jimmy Crespo ( of Aerosmith), Brad Gillis (Nightranger, Ozzy Osbourne) and other internationally known guitarists on the Versailles Records CD “The Lords Of Karma” performing the song "Tender Surrender " as a tribute to great Steve Vai. Tony's live performing credits include opening for B.B.King, The Fabulous Thunderbirds , George Thorogood, Joe Bonamassa , Hiram Bullock, Reb Beach, Tommy Castro , Dionne Warwick, Natalie Cole, Toninho Horta , Janis Siegel, Steely Dan, The Yellowjackets, David Sanborn,Brian Simpson , Rick Braun , Richard Elliot , Joe Williams, Diane Reeves, The Manhattan Transfer, Larry Carlton, Stanley Clarke, Billy Cobham, Jeff Beck, Carlos Santana ,Ted Nugent, Jimmy Thackery, Chris Duarte, Peabo Bryson , Gladys Knight , Sandi Patty , and Chicago. Working with Kenny Blake he has appeared at New York's Bottom Line, Washington DC's Blues Alley, and on the nationally televised show Jazz on BET.

Tony's aspiration is to perform music all over the world and to share his enthusiasm for music with people everywhere. Tony Janflone. Jr. knew what he wanted to do with his life at the early age of 13.

He wanted to be a guitarist. He had been playing since the age of 9 and having been influenced from his earliest days by his father, also a guitarist, and his exposure to all facets of music, Blues, Rock, R&B, Jazz, Country, and Classical, his love of music was inherent and not to be denied. Beginning with the proverbial garage band he progressed through his high school years garnering the Louis Armstrong Award and the National Association of Jazz Educators Award for outstanding musicianship. Secondary school years behind him, he toured the country with a band playing dates in Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe and Atlantic City.

After a year on the road, he linked up with a band with his father and brother. It was during this time while performing in New York, that Tony met famed guitarist Pat Metheny, who after listening to the band commented, "Tony is one burning guitar player... who I am confident will go on to greater fame". Following a few years with the band, Tony moved to in San Antonio, Texas, where he continued his schooling while teaching and playing in the San Antonio and Austin areas.

His students included Henry Thomas, star of the movie "ET". He worked with several groups in Texas including the famed drummer Louis Bellson, demonstrating his diversity by playing anything from jazz to mariachi to Texas swing. It was during this time too that he studied with Pat Martino, Jackie King and classical guitarist Terry Muska. Upon returning to Pittsburgh, Tony has found success in many areas of music being one of the most sought after guitarists in the area.

He works at many of the local studios ( including his own (KEY TONES STUDIO ) performing on CD's, demos, jingles, etc. He has written and performed on commercials for Eat 'n Park, Fisher's Big Wheel, PPG Industries, The Gateway Clipper Fleet and Blattner-Brunner. In addition, Tony was the featured guitarist on PBS's "Heroes" documentary with Fred Rogers (of Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood.) His composition, "Hey, Wake Up!" from the Pieces CD was used in the Summer of 1995 as the opening theme song for the Molson 500 broadcast nationally on the ABC Television network.

Tony enjoys success with his group, "The Tony Janflone Jr Band ", capturing the nomination for five years for Pittsburgh's Best Jazz-Blues Guitarist for the Stroh's In Pittsburgh Music Awards. He has also captured the 1995 award for the Best album for his CD Pieces, best vocalist and best band. Tony has released four of his own projects as a leader. They are: "Profile" –1991, "Pieces" –1994 "In Time" –1998 (Featuring Phil Madeira and John Sferra of the Phil Keaggy Band)and "Live At The Blues Café "- 2000 His new CD is in the works for the spring of 2007.

Update - In September of 2007 Tony was injured in an auto accident. He stopped performing live shows and is still on the mend as of late 2010. NEW UPDATE !!!! Tony is back to performing again as of August 2012

Tony's website is :http://www.TonyJanfloneJr.com