Artist
Tony Hooper
Born in Mississipi in 1968 to a poor Pentecostal family with no television or other distractions. Tony remembers listening to 78’s and 33’s by Chet Atkins and The Singing Rambos. Tony says, “I started playing guitar around age 6 and I honestly don’t remember not playing. “I was sneaking around and listening to Public Radio when I could because everything except Southern Gospel and loving your mother was a sin.” Hooper tuned the radio in to the lonely and soulful sound of the Delta Blues and Bluegrass. “Then the 80’s happened and messed everything up.” Hooper says. “Eddie Van Halen, Steve Vai, Steve Lukather, and others bent my ear and suddenly I became a mutt musically. Playing Rock and Roll with banjo picks should explain it.” Tony joined then famed rock band “Radio Tokyo” based in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Hooper says “I was 18 and found myself rehearsing across the hall from Lynyrd Skynyrd. Funny, at the time, I didn’t know who they were. I played Gary Rossington’s Peavey head and cabinet for a while and had no idea who he was. I was just a kid and they were nice to me.”
Tony started a Rock Christian band in 1984 with friends called Heart and Soul and recorded one LP. Then as a solo artist Tony went own to record, “Month of Sundays,” “Shepherds Field,” “ Worship Rising,” “East To West” and other recordings. Tony’s music career has been linked to the church which Hooper says is a miracle.
In 1988 Hooper joined forces with bassist and Christian Rock Artist, Rick Cua, formerly with "The Outlaws." Rick and Tony have been together making recordings and touring ever since. Recordings include: "Like A Cool Drink," "Won't Fade Away," and now, " Blues Counsel," a band of rockers featuring: Will McFarlane, Tom Lane, Tony Morra, Emedin Rivera and Rick.
Currently Tony is a co-member of “Of Warriors and Poets” with Michaela Compton and other great musicians in North Mississippi. Hooper is also recording and touring the US and other Nations performing his music and playing for crowds from “2 people and a dog to 500,000 in Ghana, South Africa recently.” says Hooper.
Tony also mentors 30 plus young men and women in his region weekly. "It's a ministry!" says Hooper. Tony Hooper does many festivals, concerts, and large Christian events around the country and the world. Events includes: Men at the Cross with Michael W. Smith, where Tony was the music director and worship leader, E Women Events with Michael O’brien, where Tony was the guitarist and joined Michael in leading worship, Camp Electric with Toby Mac where Tony teaches guitar clinics and helps host the A Team Jam. Tony has been a regular at Kingdom Bound (with Rick Cua, Blues Counsel and others) for 30 years, Tony produces and plays guitar for others like Bryan Duncan, Heather Headley, Phil Keaggy, Ceili Rain, Lindell Cooley, Kathryn Scott, Meredith Andrews, Kari Jobe, and many more. Hooper has 1 Gold Record with "I Could Sing of Your Love Forever" EMI. Tony played guitar on the studio side of the double disc release and was a writer for EMI during the early years of EMI Worship.
