A long-standing presence in the Bowling Green music scene, Tony is a hair stylist, local business owner, and founder of the Son Rhea Foundation, a local nonprofit that promotes music and arts for the youth in Bowling Green. The Jambodian Bash is an annual Foundation fundraiser providing local school children with instruments.
Born in Brownsville, Tony has spent most of his life in Bowling Green. He credits watching the Grand Ole Opry and the Ed Sullivan Show with his father as an inspiration. Tony started playing music in high school and quickly started writing his own music. His band, Ty Barc, found early success playing in venues such as the Caribou and Picasso’s. Tony warmly recalls friends that he has made here, like Sam Bush, David Dorris, Graham Hudspeth, Greg Phelps, and Kenny Lee Smith.
“The music was the main reason that people came, it wasn’t to pick someone up or to drink, it was the music that drew people...This area is home grown, its people that grew up here and stay here -- it's magic”