Tony Avila, born October 1, 1953 to Consuelo and Santonino Avila in Toledo, Ohio, is one of eight children. Tony, being the second youngest in his family, discovered his love for music by watching classic musicians like Frank Flores (Chencho Flores y Su Conjunto). At 8 years of age, Tony picked up the drums fairly easily and began playing with Conjuntos San Juan in 1961. His parents allowed him to keep the monies he earned as a young musician.
Tony’s older brother, Mike taught him his first guitar chord. From there, Tony would be inspired by Ramiro “Snowball” de la Cruz and his fancy harmonies on guitar. He remembers listening to Snowball playing with Los Únicos, Los Fabuloso 4 and then Snowball and Company/Felicidad with Laura Canales. Tony continued his love of music by learning the keyboards as a young teenager, then adding the trumpet in his late teens and finally the accordian.
Tony graduated from Anthony Wayne Trail high school in 1971. The last two years of high school, he attended Penta County, where he learned engineering. One of his teachers in the Transit & Engineering department recommended Tony for an internship with Art Iron (a structural engineering company located in Toledo, Ohio). Tony would continue with Art Iron for many years and have opportunities to travel the world.
When asked how he managed work and music, he said music offered a nice balance from the stresses of engineering. His ‘day’ job allowed for him to purchase instruments and accessories he enjoyed when playing with the band. Tony would play with La Fuerza Band for 8 years in the 1980s. Their first album took the band a year to produce. The members both wrote and recorded all of the songs on the album. Tony recalls fondly how writing the horn arrangements for Roy Rodriguez, La Fuerza band and Jay Perez, stretched him creatively. His keyboard style would also be influenced by the jazzy tejano style of artist, Joe Posada.
Tony was also an active participant and contributor to the Midwest Tejano Awards in Toledo, Ohio, as a member of the Midwest Tejano All-Star Orchestra. He had the privilege of working with many A-listers in the Tejano music community such as Sunny Ozuna, Jimmy Edward, Laura Canales, Ram Herrera and David Marez. He enjoyed inviting musicians that would fit with the genre or style of the venue for any particular year.
Tony’s nearly 50 year music career has blessed him with opportunities to meet and work with so many iconic musicians in the Tejano music industry; Jimmy Edward, Jay Perez, Laura Canales, Selena, Jessy Serrata, Mel Villarreal, Anges Torres, Ram Herrera, Gato Negro, and Stephanie Montiel, to name a few! When asked if he had a favorite male vocalist, Tony said both Jay Perez and Jimmy Edward stood out.
Tony is thankful for the love, care and support of the love of his life, La Mujer de mi Sueños, Irma Cortez, and his children Alejandro (Alex) Avila, Angela Avila, Rachel Avila Berro, Mariah Lopez, Miguel Lopez, and Maritza Lopez, as well as all his grandchildren and extended family.
