Tonio K

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Steve Krikorian (July 4, 1950 - ) aka Tonio K was born in California's San Joaquin Valley. He is of Armenian descent^[1].

Krikorian is a singer/songwriter, whose songs have been recorded by Charlie Sexton, Bette Midler, Peter Case, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Vanessa Williams, Bonnie Raitt, Alias and others. He is frequently regarded as a Christian artist because he released two albums on the Christian Word record label "What? Records" starting with Romeo Unchained (1986); but a listen to any of his records reveals that, while he is a Christian, he is decidedly a secular artist.

Krikorian and Alan Shapazian (rhythm guitar) formed a band called The Raik's Progress which recorded one single for Liberty Records, released in 1967. (A full-length album by the band was issued on Sundazed Records in 2003.) In the early 1970s, he appeared on two albums by Buddy Holly's former backing band the Crickets: "Remnants" (1973) and "Long Way from Lubbock" (1974). (In 2004 he reunited with the Crickets for one track on their Crickets and Their Buddies album, appearing as lead vocalist on the Holly classic "Not Fade Away.")

In 1978, Krikorian went solo with Life in the Foodchain, adopting the name of Tonio K., a reference to the Thomas Mann novel Tonio Kröger. The album garnered critical acclaim, most famously from Steve Simels of Stereo Review, who proclaimed it "the greatest album ever recorded."

Tonio continued as a performing singer/songwriter into the 1990s, but gradually withdrew from live concerts and focused more on crafting songs for other artists. In 2005, Krikorian co-wrote eight of the nine vocal tracks with Burt Bacharach on Bacharach's album At This Time.

[edit] Discography

Remnants (with the Crickets), 1973, Vertigo Records
Long Way from Lubbock (with the Crickets), 1974, Mercury Records (UK) (UK-only release)
Life in the Foodchain, 1978, Full Moon / Epic Records
Amerika (Cars, Guitars and Teenage Violence), 1980, Arista Records
La Bomba, 1982, Capitol Records / EMI (EP)
Romeo Unchained, 1986, What? Records / A&M Records
Notes From The Lost Civilization, 1988, What? Records / A&M Records
Strong Hand of Love, tribute to Mark Heard, 1994
Orphans of God, tribute to Mark Heard, 1996
Olé, 1997, Gadfly Records (recorded 1990)
Rodent Weekend '76-'96 (Approximately), 1998, Gadfly Records (rarities and outtakes)
Yugoslavia, 1999, Gadfly Records
16 Tons of Monkeys, 2001, Gadfly Records (live album)
Sewer Rat Love Chant (with Raik's Progress), 2003, Sundazed Records
Crickets and Their Buddies, 2004, Sovereign Artists