Nobody Did It Better

Saying Goodbye to a Friend

Tony Drake

In the year and a half that I was the Entertainment Editor of The Vegas Voice newspaper and Radio Host, I was privileged to meet a number of wonderful people who devote their lives to making people happy.... 

...those who are members of The Entertainment industry. 

I had an opportunity many don't have...getting to know a number of them "up close and personal", looking at the difficult roads they travel....their hours of dedication...so many without compensation.... 

...because of a love...a desire...a need...to express the talent God gave them.

 Time and again, I would watch these caring individuals devote themselves to charitable events in order to promote the worthiest of causes.... 

...so many times...at their own expense....always...giving, giving, giving. 

...and...at times watching some forego the basic necessities of life... 

..to "give" to others. 

This passion became so strong that one of the last articles I wrote for The Vegas Voice, was a plea to support these unique individuals... 

...the people who make Las Vegas...."The Entertainment Capital of the World".  

I'm writing this article because I lost a friend...a friend who was one of those giving individuals...one half of a loving partnership that has graced the music world for decades. 

We lost Tony Drake... 

"talented" Tony Drake....

"hard working" Tony Drake...

"giving" Tony Drake...

"generous" Tony Drake...

"appreciative" Tony Drake...

"kind" Tony Drake.

 ...and his passing leaves a void in an industry he proudly served. 

For those of you who attended the Vegas Voice "An Afternoon Affair" shows or any of the other production shows....Tony was usually a part of the band.....

 ..playing his guitar...as he did for some of the most famous musicians in our time. 

His widow, Lisa Gay-Drake, who shared his life....

Tony Drake & Lisa Gay (Drake)

...was kind to send a synopsis of Tony's professional life, and I would like to ask all of you to take a few moments to see the litany of "who's who" Tony Drake accompanied over the years....

TONY DRAKE'S BIOGRAPHY

One of soul music’s most respected session and touring guitarists, Tony Drake has worked with some of the genre’s top artists.

Mr. Drake started playing professionally at the age of 14, at clubs and parties in the Los Angeles area along with a “permission slip” from his mother.

While growing up in Compton, California, at the age of 16, he was accepted into the Dawkins Conservatory of Music where he studied classical guitar for two years, and later studied privately with the well known guitarist, John Blaylock, in the South Bay area.

After studying with Mr. Blaylock, Tony traveled with ”Little” Johnny Taylor, Mr. Johnny Taylor, Ronnie Dyson, T-Bone Walker and many other professional groups in the 60s even alongside then unknown guitarist, Jimi Hendrix,  on the same bill.

In the 70s, Mr. Drake became a staff musician for 20th Century Fox Studios doing numerous T.V. shows such as “Julia” starring Diahann Carroll, “The Lucille Ball Show” and the “Leslie Neilson Show”.

In the later part of the 70s, Mr. Drake was signed with A&M Records as a staff musician and recorded and toured with most of the artists on the label including, Herb Alpert, Merry Clayton, Cheech and Chong, and many others.

He was also a member of the Count Basie Orchestra, H.B. Barnum’s Big Band, and performed on various television specials, award shows and movies such as the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Telethons, Lou Rawls Parade of Stars, American Music Awards, The Grammy Awards, “American Hot Wax” and “Mother, Juggs and Speed” with Bill Cosby.

It was also during this time that Mr. Drake became the lead guitarist for the Checkmates and traveled extensively with them for four years.

When the Checkmates disbanded, he began to tour with such groups as The Fifth Dimension, Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. (when they left the group to do their own act), James Brown, Gloria Lynn, Little Esther Phillips, Aretha Franklin, Marla Gibbs, The Crusaders, Jimmy Witherspoon, Cher, Tina Turner, Marvin Gaye, Barry White, The Sylvers, Connie Stevens, Ray Charles, Joe Williams, Nancy Wilson, Etta James and others.

Tony Drake was also one of the “LA Motown Funk Brothers” (when Motown moved their studio from Detroit) and recorded countless hit tracks with James Jamerson, Earl Palmer, David T. Walker, Ray Parker Jr., Wah Wah Watson, Bill Upchurch, Ron Brown, James Gadson, Nate Neblett and Paul Humphrey for many artists at the time, some of the greatest entertainers of all time.

This experience benefited Tony and gained him even more recognition going forward.

Later in the early 80s Tony toured with groups such as The Supremes, En Vogue, The Temptations, The Sylvers, The Four Tops and others.

Through the mid 80s, Mr. Drake became the cherished personal guitarist of the renown singer and actress Della Reese for many years and joined back up touring with Barry White on 2 world tours in Europe, Africa, and Australia throughout the 90s followed by touring exclusively with the great Lou Rawls.

Tony’s exquisite style and signature sound can be heard around the globe on such hit recordings as Carl Carlton’s “Bad Mamma Jamma”, Little Johnny Taylor’s “Part Time Love”, Jean Knight’s “Mr. Big Stuff”, and Marvin Gaye’s “Here My Dear”and Cher’s “Half Breed”, Joe Williams “Here’s To Life”, Ray Charles’s “A Song For You”.

 Tony Drake was also part of a Las Vegas “Springs Preserve Commercial” and appeared in the Oscar Academy Award Winner Documentary Film, “20 Feet From Stardom” with Merry Clayton on the hit song “Gimmie Shelter” from Legendary Rock Band, “The Rolling Stones” collection.

Just some of the other Artists Tony Drake has recorded, performed and toured with include:

Percy Sledge

Sam Cooke

James Ingram

Richard and Karen Carpenter

Jackie Wilson

BB King (Created/ recorded the original demo with opening famed Guitar lick for “Thrill Is Gone”)

Arthur Adams

Joe Williams

Quincy Jones

Phil Spector (The Ronnetts/Darlene Love)

Captain and Tennille

Frankie Lymon

Tony passed away on his 69th birthday, April 16, 2015.

Rest in peace, Tony.  This will be your legacy for all time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjZoUI1Qgy4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kvq_yj8sVkI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdxehwjGb5U

His widow, Lisa Gay, has asked his friends and those who loved him, to attend a special benefit performance in his honor, which has been scheduled for Sunday, May 31, 2015.

Further details are still pending and we will keep you informed as to the place and time.

Dick Arendt