Tony Bellamy
Encyclopedia
Anthony Bellamy or Tony "T-Bone" Bellamy, born as Anthony Avila on 12 September 1946 to parents James and Olga Bellamy, died 25 December 2009 in Las Vegas
, Nevada
, was a Mexican-American Yaqui Indian, who became the lead guitarist, pianist and vocalist for the Native American
rock
band Redbone
, in 1968.
Before joining the band Redbone, Bellamy had performed with Dobie Gray
, and a member of Peter and the Wolves (a band from San Francisco that evolved into the psychedelic
band Moby Grape
). Bellamy grew up in a family of dancers and musicians and learned to play the flamenco guitar
as part of his musical education.
Bellamy left Redbone in 1977.
In the early 1980s Bellamy formed, together with his cousin Butch Rillera, the R&B
band "Bimbam", which performed several times at "Medley's" in Fountain Valley, California
.
Medley's is a bar/restaurant owned by Bill Medley, former member of the Righteous Brothers.
In 1998 Tony Bellamy appeared with Pat Vasquez in a Redbone special guest performance at the inaugural Native American Music Awards
. On October 4, 2008 they appeared at the 10th Annual Native American Music Awards and were inducted into the Native American Music Association Hall of Fame.
Tony Bellamy died at age 63 in a Las Vegas hospital on Christmas Day, 25 December 2009, as the result of a liver failure
. Tony has five children. Some sources reported that Tony was born in 1940 and was 69 years of age, but this is incorrect; Bellamy's family confirmed that Tony originally used a birth year of 1940 so that he could legally play in the clubs.
Las Vegas metropolitan area
The Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
, was a Mexican-American Yaqui Indian, who became the lead guitarist, pianist and vocalist for the Native American
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band Redbone
Redbone (band)
Redbone is a Native American rock group that was most active in the 1970s. They reached the Top 5 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1974 with the million-selling gold-certified single, "Come and Get Your Love".-History:...
, in 1968.
Before joining the band Redbone, Bellamy had performed with Dobie Gray
Dobie Gray
Dobie Gray is an African American singer and songwriter, whose musical career has spanned soul, country, pop and musical theater...
, and a member of Peter and the Wolves (a band from San Francisco that evolved into the psychedelic
Psychedelic
The term psychedelic is derived from the Greek words ψυχή and δηλοῦν , translating to "soul-manifesting". A psychedelic experience is characterized by the striking perception of aspects of one's mind previously unknown, or by the creative exuberance of the mind liberated from its ostensibly...
band Moby Grape
Moby Grape
Moby Grape is an American rock group from the 1960s, known for having all five members contribute to singing and songwriting and that collectively merged elements of folk music, blues, country, and jazz together with rock and psychedelic music...
). Bellamy grew up in a family of dancers and musicians and learned to play the flamenco guitar
Flamenco guitar
A flamenco guitar is a guitar similar to a classical guitar. Flamenco guitar also refers to toque, the guitar-playing part of the art of Flamenco.-Brief history:...
as part of his musical education.
Bellamy left Redbone in 1977.
In the early 1980s Bellamy formed, together with his cousin Butch Rillera, the R&B
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
band "Bimbam", which performed several times at "Medley's" in Fountain Valley, California
Fountain Valley, California
Fountain Valley is a city in Orange County, California. The population was 55,313 at the 2010 census. A classic bedroom community, Fountain Valley is a middle-class residential area.- History :...
.
Medley's is a bar/restaurant owned by Bill Medley, former member of the Righteous Brothers.
In 1998 Tony Bellamy appeared with Pat Vasquez in a Redbone special guest performance at the inaugural Native American Music Awards
Native American Music Awards
The Native American Music Awards , commonly known as the Nammys, are an awards program presented annually by The Native American Music Association & Awards, which recognizes outstanding musical achievement among Native Americans...
. On October 4, 2008 they appeared at the 10th Annual Native American Music Awards and were inducted into the Native American Music Association Hall of Fame.
Tony Bellamy died at age 63 in a Las Vegas hospital on Christmas Day, 25 December 2009, as the result of a liver failure
Liver failure
Acute liver failure is the appearance of severe complications rapidly after the first signs of liver disease , and indicates that the liver has sustained severe damage . The complications are hepatic encephalopathy and impaired protein synthesis...
. Tony has five children. Some sources reported that Tony was born in 1940 and was 69 years of age, but this is incorrect; Bellamy's family confirmed that Tony originally used a birth year of 1940 so that he could legally play in the clubs.