Tonetta

This article is about the Canadian entertainer. For other uses, see Tonetta (name).
Tonetta
Born (1949-02-17) February 17, 1949 (age 75)
Cabbagetown, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer-songwriter
  • visual artist
  • upholsterer
Instrument(s)Guitar, bass, keyboards, vocals
Years active1983–present
Websitetonetta777.bandcamp.com

Anthony Jeffrey (born February 17, 1949), also known as Tonetta, is a Canadian singer-songwriter and visual artist[3] who, in the early 1980s, began living as a recluse and recording original music on cassettes after separating from his wife.[4] In 2008, he started his first YouTube channel, which led to his record label debut.[4] His YouTube account, as well as many subsequent accounts established under other usernames, have been banned repeatedly for violating the site's content rules.[2]

Life and career

[edit]

Anthony Jeffrey was born on February 17, 1949, in the Cabbagetown neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.[5]

Style and recognition

[edit]

According to Jeffrey, "Tonetta" refers more specifically to his female alter ego.[6] He said that many of his songs are inspired by real life people or incidents[4] and cited John Lennon as his primary influence.[7] Of his music tastes, he said: "I like the Beatles, Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson. I followed soul artists. ... After [Lennon] died, I didn't know who to follow anymore. It was around then I started writing anyway so it kinda worked out."[4]

Critics have variously described Tonetta as "the savior of lo-fi music", "a pure artist", and a combination of "repulsion and intrigue".[8] In the description of music writer Johnny Dee, "For every YouTube comment that finds Tonetta hilarious or repellent there are dozens from people who have discovered that, beyond the shock value, is [sic] a genuine outsider pop artist."[1] Tonetta is best known for his song "Pressure Zone".

Jeffrey was interviewed on Season 5, Episode 14 of the American television series Tosh.0. South California rock band the Growlers covered Tonetta's song, "Drugs, Drugs, Drugs", during various live performances, notably their 2012 Coachella setlist.[9]

Personal life

[edit]

As of 2011, Jeffrey lived in Toronto, Ontario, as a part-time upholsterer. He was previously married to a woman until 1983, and has two sons.[4] He has not talked to his wife or seen his children since 1983, when his sons were eight and 10 years old. One of his sons reconnected with him by email shortly after Jeffrey began posting music to YouTube in 2008, but stopped writing once Tonetta began "puttin’ on the dresses and stuff."[10]

Discography

[edit]

Studio albums

[edit]
  • 777 (2010)
  • 777 Vol II (2010)
  • 777 Vol III (2011)
  • Red Wine (2013)

Singles

[edit]
  • "Get It Going" b/w "Mmm Mama!" (2010)

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Dee, Johnny (July 16, 2010). "Taking over YouTube: the irresistible rise of Tonetta". The Guardian.
  2. ^ a b c Weiss, Jeff (February 17, 2011). "Upcoming: The Growlers interpret the bizarre songs of Tonetta". Los Angeles Times.
  3. ^ Nickas, Bob (1 November 2010). "Tonetta".
  4. ^ a b c d e Traynor, Cian (December 6, 2011). "Hitler Would Have Loved You: Tonetta Interviewed". The Quietus.
  5. ^ "Tonetta - Part 2 - the Artist in Their Own Words (Tonetta Interview) - YouTube". YouTube. 30 January 2020.
  6. ^ Finn, Liam (March 9, 2014). "Tonetta". Magnet.
  7. ^ Frith, Anthony (December 7, 2011). "TONETTA-THE YOUTUBE SENSATION YOU'VE NEVER HEARD OF". Infectious.
  8. ^ Martins, Chris (February 16, 2011). "NSFW YouTube Freak Phenom Tonetta Comes to L.A. ... Sorta". LA Weekly.
  9. ^ "Coachella 2012 - The Growlers - Weekend 1 - Day 3 - Outdoor Theatre "Drugs, Drugs, Drugs"". Youtube. 8 October 2012.
  10. ^ "The Quietus | Features | A Quietus Interview | Hitler Would Have Loved You: Tonetta Interviewed". The Quietus. 6 December 2011. Retrieved 2019-12-22.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tonetta&oldid=1255795734"