Tony Messina, a native Philadelphian, is a pop/jazz singer/songwriter and actor who's appeared in concerts from coast to coast and internationally at jazz festivals, theaters, and nightclubs.
Tony's amassed "sold-out" performances everywhere he's performed; recently at The Iridium Jazz Club, Kitano, and The Metropolitan Room in New York City, the Nantucket Theater Workshop in Nantucket, MA, The Cuillo Center for the Arts in Palm Beach, FL, The Invisible Theatre in Tucson, AZ, and at The Beverly Hilton Hotel, Beverly Hills, CA.
Peter Leavy of Cabaret Scenes Magazine noted, "The Metropolitan Room audience reveled in Messina's velvety-voiced emulation...an easy-going entertainer, comfortable with his audience, possessor of an admirable voice and a crowd-pleaser."
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After presenting, "The Dino Show," his 'Tribute to Dean Martin, the Palm Beach Post's Thom Smith reported that "Dino was Superb." Maya Johnson from Palm Beach Today shared that "Dino is Sensational" and Dick Robinson of WXEL Radio and Television stated, "Dino is Irresistible."A few years ago, Tony was invited to sing for Tony Bennett, who was being honored by the Sons of Italy Organization. Messina caught the attention of Larry King and President Clinton, who was in attendance.
He's performed at the Oslo Jazz Festival, as well as the New Orleans, Nantucket, and Kansas City Jazz Festivals.
He also performed for the American Ambassador to Norway. Tony's musical project was an original tribute to George Gershwin, Cole Porter, and Johnny Mercer along with some of his original compositions, honoring some of the greatest composers of all time.
Tony has performed with such entertainment luminaries as Stan Kenton, Lionel Hampton, Louie Bellson, David Letterman, Johnny Carson, Joan Rivers, Rodney Dangerfield, Merv Griffin, George Carlin, Alan Broadbent, Don Friedman and had worked for the "Chairman of the Board" himself, who was a major fan!
After many recordings and performances while living in New York, Tony took a break from singing and moved to Hollywood, where he wrote and sold several screenplays that have yet to be produced. He also sharpened his acting skills for the big screen and television. Tony acted in "The Young and The Restless," "General Hospital" and in the Mel Brooks' films, "Life Stinks" and "History of the World"
Messina's rich, warm voice allows him to mix meaningful renditions of selections from The Great American Songbook with original compositions. Tony wrote ten of the eleven songs on his "Soft Nights in Vegas" album.
Tony has wowed listeners and reviewers alike. Labeled by Variety as "Dangerous, may be habit-forming," while The New York Post regarded Tony as, "Excellent, not to miss." The San Francisco Chronicle claims, "Tony owns the audience with each cascade of musical magic." Harrison Ford considers Tony to be "a great talent." Joan Rivers ranks Messina as "the most romantic singer." Steve Martin said, "A marvelous singer with an ebullient sense of swing!" Frank Sinatra proclaimed that "Tony is Dazzling."
