About Tony Viviano
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Tony started singing at the tender age of three, inspired by his older brother, Joe. When Tony was 10 years old, Joe bought two albums by Frank Sinatra and learned the lyrics and emulated Sinatra's phrasing; When Bobby Darin came out with "Mac the Knife" and "Clementine" they learned the lyrics to the songs on those albums. Joe and Tony ran a produce route in those days, and their father did not allow a radio on the truck, so by the time the truck was loaded and on the highway, they were singing the songs from the album, track by track.
After getting encouragement from Milton Berle to go to Las Vegas, Tony met Tony Bennett at Caesar's Palace in 1971, Mr. Bennett was encouraging, but Tony came back to St. Louis, and got his first real gig at The Topper, in Riverview. From there he went to the Bissell Lounge and then the Midtown Lounge in Alton, Illinois.
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| Tony
performing at the Bobby Darin Concert - could it be "Mac the Knife"? |
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Tony's career started to take off soon after, with long-running performances at the Ramada Inn in North County, Fishers Restaurant in Belleville, Illinois, Scheinhorst Hofamburg Inn in Frontenac and the Steeple Chase at the Chase Hotel on Kingshighway. He went on to Rizzo's top of the Tower, The Mayfair Hotel, and the Plankhouse, around a two week engagement at Casconies in Kansas City. From there Tony played at Stan and Biggie's at the airport, and then at the Tower Club at Westport Plaza.
The above information is from "Sweet, Hot and Blue, St. Louis' Musical Heritage", by Lyn Driggs Cunningham and Jimmy Jones, printed in 1989. Tony's career has certainly blossomed even more in the ensuing years; some of this is documented in Tony's Scrapbook, an assortment of newspaper articles written over the course of his career.
Tony and his band have performed at the most elegant and prestigious hotels, country clubs, restaurants, & night clubs in St. Louis, Las Vegas, Chicago, Kansas City, Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, and at numerous Italian Fests around the country.
Tony and three of his brothers also have an act; "The Viviano Brothers Variety Show", featuring impersonations of famous singers. Joe does Frank Sinatra, Jerry is great as Dean Martin, Frank appears as Elvis and a little Louis Prima, and Tony performs Tony Bennett, Bobby Darin and Louis Prima songs.
Tony has established a solid record with performances at top venues:
Top
St. Louis Hotels |
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| Regal Riverfront | Ritz-Carlton | Airport Hilton | Frontenac Hilton |
| Adams Mark | Marriott Downtown | Sheraton Downtown | Millennium Downtown |
| Chase Park Plaza | Doubletree | Hyatt Regency | Mayfair |
Clubs/Restaurants |
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| Bellerive | St. Albans | Old Warson | Glen Echo |
| Forest Hills | Norwood | Meadowbrook | Westwood |
| Westtborough | Whitmoor | Legends | Lockhaven |
| Algonquin | St. Louis Club | Lawyer's Club | University Club |
| Stadium Club | St. Louis Racquet Club | Schneithorst's | Tony's |
| Tower Club | Seventh Inn | Patrick's | Café Bellagio |
| Kemoll's | Candicci's | Tony Marino's | G. P. Agostino's |
Opening
Acts For: |
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| Henny Youngman | Stan Musial | Frankie Avalon | Norm Crosby |
| Jackie Gayle | Julius LaRosa | Carol Channing | Domenico Modugno |
Concerts |
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| Blue Bird Park | Ballwin Days | Creve Coeur Park | Queeny Park |
| MO Historical Society 'Tony Bennett Tribute' | St. Louis Muny | Herrin Festa Italiana | Kansas City Festa Italiana |
| MO Historical Society 'Bobby Darin Tribute' | |||
Charitable
Events |
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| Orchard Ball at the Ritz | Jerry Lewis Telethon | American Cancer Society | St. Alban's Church |
| Shrine of St. Joseph | Viviano Brothers' Variety Show | Judevine for Autism Festival | Central Institute for the Deaf |
| Nurses For Newborn Foundation | |||
St.
Louis Sport Events |
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 Cards-Cubs game, 7th Inning Stretch, 'Take me out to the Ball Game' |
Rams vs. Chiefs, Governor's Cup, 'National Anthem' | Blues
vs. Sharks, Savvis Center, 'National Anthem' |
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Media
Coverage |
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 Riverfront Times--Best Lounge Act 2003 |
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch | West Magazine | Suburban Journals |
| Ladue News | St. Louis Magazine | KSDK TV | KTVI TV |
| KMOX Radio | KMOV TV | ||
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