Tony O'Malley (born 15 July 1948 in Bushey, Hertfordshire) is a British composer, singer, arranger, and keyboard player. He was the keyboardist for Arrival"Kokomo", Dinosaurdays. Retrieved 27 January 2014 who had a No. 4 UK hit with "Friends" (written by Terry Reid) in 1970, and the hit "I Will Survive", written and arranged by fellow Arrival member Frank Collins. Following this he became one of the founder members of the british soul band Kokomo.Williams, Richard; "The groove abides", Thebluemoment.com, 19 December 2013. Retrieved 27 January 2014"Kokomo", Soulwalking.co.uk. Retrieved 27 January 2014 He joined 10cc in 1977,Mann, Ian; "Tony O'Malley Trio...", TheJazzMann. Retrieved 27 January 2014 after the departures of Kevin Godley and Lol Creme, and played on their live album, Live and Let Live.
O'Malley lived and worked in Georgia for four years,"Tony O’Malley Band", Gazette Live, 14 May 2010. Retrieved 27 January 2014 where he became a national television star, leaving in 2008 for his new domicile, Brussels, and returning to England in 2012."Tony O'Malley Trio", Black Mountain Jazz. Retrieved 27 January 2014 His song, "Hear My Plea", was one of the proposed songs for Georgia's 2009 Eurovision Song Contest entry.Brey, Marco; "Tonight: The Georgian national final - don't miss it!", European Broadcasting Union, 18 February 2009. Retrieved 27 January 2014 He has worked with Pino Palladino, Laurence Cottle, Andy Newmark, Hamish Stuart, Alan Spenner, Jim Mullen, Gordon Haskell Adam Phillips, Jody Linscott, Ash Soan, Mel Collins, Mark Smith, Mornington Lockett, Jeremy Stacey, Ian Thomas and Neil Hubbard.
In May 2008, O'Malley was part of the reformed Kokomo, with Mel Collins, Neil Hubbard, Mark Smith, Adam Phillips, Andy Hamilton, Bernie Holland, Glen Le Fleur, Paddy McHugh, Dyan Birch and Frank Collins, which also included performances by Eddy Armani and Franke Pharaoh.
O'Malley then formed a band, singing and playing Hammond organ, with Belgian musicians Frank De Ruyter (tenor sax), Patrick Deltenre (guitar), Frédéric Jacquelmin (drums), and the French bassist Thierry Fandant.
The current 'Tony O'Malley Band' includes Richie Aikman on guitar, Sonny Winslow on bass and Ally McDougal on drums.
Tony O'Malley is the brother of playwright Mary O'Malley, who wrote the plays Once a Catholic and Oy Vay Maria.
References
External links Tony O'Malley website Georgia Today, Tony O'Malley Tony O'Malley in performance Tony O'Malley in performance