Anthony Swete was an American soul and pop singer who for a long time was associated with Ed Chalpin and his PPX record label. Recording in the 1960s and throughout the 1970s, he had a multitude of singles issued on a plethora of record labels. He also had albums released on the Clan Celentano, RCA and Zafiro labels. During his career, he had chart hits. Two of them, "Judy in Disguise" and "Hold Me Tight" were top ten hits in Argentina during the late 1960s.
Background Anthony Swete's real name of Tommy Wesley Knighton was revealed in both the 14 and 15 February 1969 issues of the Argentine newspaper Crónica. The 15 February article said that had a passion for rugby and politically seemed to be a Nixon supporter.Crónica, 14 de Febrero de 1969 - Página 24 or 26 LLEGAN NUEVOS ASTROS PARA BRILLAR EN LOS CARNIVALES He was born on 10 May 1942.Legacy - Tommie W. Knighton 1942 - 2017
Swete started out in 1958 as a 15-year-old in a night club in America's South, filling in for the singer who was unwell on that day. In the beginning he had a vagabond kind of lifestyle and earned little money. Along the way he also learned to play piano in order to accompany himself. At some stage he met a girl on the music scene who would become his wife. This curtailed his wandering lifestyle, and he headed to the music scene in New York in pursuit of success.Crónica, 13 de Febrero de 1969 - Página 24 * ANTONIO EL DULCE
He became an artist signed to the PPX label. This label had at various times signed Jimmy Cliff,Billboard, May 12, 1973 - Page 12 Talent, PPX adds Cliff Jimi Hendrix, Curtis Knight and Ella Moore.Cash Box, May 9, 1970 - Page 12 3 Para Acts Via Chalpin’s PPXJimi Hendrix.com, October 23, 2020 - Curtis Knight & The Squires, NO BUSINESS: CURTIS KNIGHT & THE SQUIRES THE PPX SESSIONS, VOLUME 2
He was listed by Cash Box in the December 28, 1968 issue as one of the artists that made the Argentina Top Ten that year.Cash Box, December 28, 1968 - ARGENTINA'S SONGS & ARTISTS THAT MADE THE TOP TEN CHARTS IN 1968 In addition to the chart success he had in Argentina with "Judy in Disguise" and "Hold Me Tight", his album also made the top twenty.Crónica, Año VI — Buenos Aires, Sábado 15 de Febrero de 1969 — No. 1.972 - Página 21 LUVIA DE ASTROS PARA EL CARNAVAL DE BUENOS AIRES, * Anthony SweteLa Nación, 20 de Abril de 1969 - Pág. 18 TOPS, LONG PLAYS, 17 (_) Abrázame fuerte When he was in Argentina, he was also referred to as Antonio Dulche.Crónica, Año VI — Buenos Aires, Sábado 15 de Febrero de 1969 — No. 1.972 – Página 21 Luvia de Astros Para el Carnaval de Buenos Aires, * Anthony Swete
In the early 1970s via PPX, he was signed to the Paramount label.Record World, May 9, 1970 - Page 14 Famous Signs 3Cash Box, July 4, 1970 - Page 47 OUR FUTURE IS IN OUR STARS
Both Anthony Swete (Tommy Knighton) and his wife Annie P. Knighton used the pseudonyms Tommy Knight and Ann Knight for the songs they composed.The Daytona Beach News-Journal - Life Story, MEMORY BOARD, Annie KnightonCatalog of Copyright Entries: Third series Volume 28, Part 5, Number I, Section 2Music Current & Renewal Registrations January–June 1974 ISSN 0041-7866 - Page 1969 EU477090. Is it good to you? w & m Tommy Knight. pseud. of Tommy Knighton & Ann Knight, pseud. of Annie P. Knighton 2p. © Tommy Knight & Ann Knight; 8Apr74: EU477090.
Career 1968 "Judy Disfrazada" Judy in Disguise Anthony Swete recorded his version of "Judy in Disguise". It was released in Argentina as "Judy Disfrazada". The B side was the Scott English and Larry Weiss composition "Doblame, Modelame" ("Bend Me, Shape Me"). The recordings were released on Groove GS-8005 in 1968.Second Hand Songs - Doblame, Moldeame by Anthony Swete As shown by Cash Box in the 16 March issue, Swete's version debuted at no. 10 on the Argentina's Best Sellers chart.Cash Box, March 16, 1968 - Page 80 Cash Box Argentina, Argentina's Best Sellers, This Week 10, Last Week _ It peaked at no. 5 on the Cash Box Argentina's Best Sellers chart for the week of 20 April.Cash Box, April 20, 1968 - Page 77 Cash Box Argentina, Argentina's Best Sellers, This Week 5, Last Week 6Cash Box, April 27, 1968 - Page 61 Cash Box Argentina, Argentina's Best Sellers, This Week 6, Last Week 5 It was still in the chart at no. 17 on 25 May.Cash Box, May 25, 1968 - Page 55 Cash Box Argentina, Argentina's Best Sellers, This Week 17, Last Week 11 As shown by Billboard, it was at no. 4 on the Buenos Aires Top Ten chart for the week ending April 6.Billboard, April 6, 1968 - Page 45 Billboard HITS OF THE WORLD, BUENOS AIRES, This Week 4, Last Week _
1969 Swete would have more success in Argentina in 1969Cash Box, January 25, 1969 - Page 76 Cash Box Argentina, Argentina's Best Sellers, This Week 5, Last Week 9 Hold Me Tight (Odeon) Anthony Swete (RCA) which would take him to the Latin American country.
"Abrazame fuerte" a.k.a. "Hold Me Tight Anthony Swete reciorded "Hold Me Tight" which was released as "Abrazame Fuerte" on Groove GS-8015.Jhon BigFive channel, Jul 25, 2015 - Anthony Swete - Hold Me Tight As recorded by Cash Box, the single was at no. 5 on the Argentina's Best Sellers chart for the week of 25 January. The 9 February issue of La Nación had "Abrazame fuerte" at no. 4 in the Tops en Otra Banda chart. It had moved down from no. 3.La Nación, 9 de Frbrero de 1969 - Pag 24 DISCOS DISCOS DISCOS DISCOS DISCOS DISCOS DISCOS DISCOS DISCOS, TOPS EN LA OTRA BANDA, SIMPLES, 4 (3) Abrazame fuerte According to the 15 March issue of Cash Box, the song would eventually reach the peak position of no. 5 on the Best Sellers chart.Cash Box, March 15, 1969 - Page 56 Cash Box Argentina, Argentina's Best Sellers, This Week 7, Last Week 5 Hold Me Tight (Odeon) Anthony Swete (RCA) The 20 April issue of La Nación had "Abrazame fuerte" moving down six places from no. 12 to 18 on the Tops Simples chart.La Nación, 20 de Abril de 1969 - Pág. 18 TOPS, SIMPLES, 18 (12) Abrázame fuerte
Further activities Anthony Swete's pending arrival in Argentina was mentioned in the 13 February issue of Crónica, that he was to arrive on Aerolíneas Argentinas Flight 301. According to the article, in addition to appearances on television, Swete's personal appearances were to be exclusively at Carlos Ballón's Escala Musical venues. It was reported in the 15 February 1969 issue of Crónica that Swete, known for the hits "Judy in disguise" and "Hold Me tight" had come to Argentina with his manager Ed Chalpin. He had actually arrived the day before on the 9:10 plane at the Ezeiza international airport and was to appear at a concert with The Tremeloes. The 25 February issue of Crónica wrote that Swete, who came for a concert at the Hermitage had problems in understanding Spanish. The concierge at the hotel put him in the picture about the disc jockeys in the city. He didn't realize that they were up to date with the music, and they were from venues other than radio.Crónica, 25 de Febrero de 1969 - Página 20 iFLASH!, ★ ANTHONY
Abrazame Fuerte album Swete recorded the album Abrazame Fuerte that was released in Argentina on RCA GLE-80005. By March 1969 it was available.
It was noted in the 29 April issue of La Nación that Swete's album Abrazame Fuerte had made its debut at no. 17 on the Tops Long Plays chart. Meanwhile the single, "Abrázame fuerte" had moved down from 12 to 18 on the Tops Simples chart.
According to the 23 June issue of Crónica, "Abrázame Fuerte" ("Hold Me Tight") was a big seller in Argentina. His album was also reviewed in the issue. The reviewer noted the album's youth appeal value.Crónica, 23 de Junio de 1969 - Página 23 CRONICA DE NUEVOS ★ Anthony Swete DISCOS y una selección de Temas Deparados The album had actually been reviewed in an earlier issue of Crónica, the 3 March issue.Crónica, 3 de Marzo de 1969 - Página 23 CRONICA DE NUEVOS ★ UNA SELECCION DE PASODOBLES PARA RECORDAR, "ABRAZAME FUERTE"
Further activities According to the 5 May 1969 issue of Crónica, a various artists record featuring Swete Jack Ritt, R. U. Fine, Mark Juhns and Lois Shane was being released in Argentina on RCA.Crónica, 5 de Mayo de 1969 - CRONICA DE NEUVOS DISCOS, SUS PREFERENCIAS An album Los Mios, Los Tuyos, Los Preferidos De Todos which was released in Argentina on RCA's Groove series (cat# RCA GLP-80007) was reviewed in the 25 August issue of Crónica. Swete covered the songs "Gente Cotidiana", "Veinticinco Millas" and "Dame, Dame Buen Amor". The album also included songs by Jerry Walsh with "Tu Me Enseñaste", "Hamacame" and "Sr. Sol, Sra.Luna", Lois Shayne with "Hijo De Un Predicador" and "Muevete Un Poco Mas Cerca", Joe Moss with "Tengo Una Idea De Ti", Dan Sona with "Galveston" and Mark Juhns with "Dulce Vino De Cereza" and "Cesped Grande".Crónica, 25 de Agosto de 1969 - ★ CRONICA DE NEUVOS DISCOS, Un Long Play Con Varios Artistas de Alta Escuela
At some stage, an album Discotequeando En El Safari Club was released in Venezuela on the Orbe label. This various artists album had songs such as "The Horse" by The Foundations", "Bang-Shang-A-Lang" by Young Blood, "Sweet Blindness" by Billi Sapphire, "Just Beyond Your Smile" by Jackie Trent & Tony Hatch, "White Room" by R. U. Fine, "Run to the Door" by Clinton Ford, "I've Gotta Get a Message to You" by John Clark, "Colours" by Donovan, "Encore" by John Clark, "The Na Na Song" by The Ferris Wheel, "Red Red Wine by "Jimmy James & the Vagabonds" and "Little Green Apples" by Swete.Celebri - Discotequeando En El Safari Club
1970s Swete recorded his version of "Backfield in Motion" which saw a release in the UK. It was reviewed by the Record Mirror in the magazine's February 7, 1970 issue. It did get a positive review with James Hamilton calling it a nicely dated beater with soulful Sam & Dave touches. At the time Swete's version was the only one available in the country, predating the Mel and Tim UK release.Record Mirror, February 7, 1970 - Page 12 Taste of things to come Backed with "Yester Me, Yester You, Yesterday" by Pip Bravo, the single had a release in New Zealand on Allied International PPX 302.Audio Culture - Allied International, Singles & EP's Also in 1970, a single was released on the RCA Twin Hits label featuring his versions of "My Honey and Me" bw "Rainy Night in Georgia".Australian Record Labels, Compiled by Michael de Looper - RCA / BMG 45’s, 12” singles and E.P.’s 1956–1992, RCA TWIN HITS
According to Cash Box in the magazine's May 9, 1970 issue, Swete along with Curtis Knight and Ella Moore were to have releases in the near future on the Paramount label. They were to be promoted under the wing of Bill Gallagher of Famous Music. With Knight's album Down in the Village already released, Swete and Moore were to have their recordings released in the near future.
He composed the song "Is it Good to You" which was registered in the first half of 1974. It was credited to his pseudonym Tommy Knight.