Tony King – friend, adviser and confidante: you can see why the Beatles, Stones and Elton thought he was the best company imaginable

Tony King was there when it all started, working for Decca in the late ‘50s, plugging records on Housewives’ Choice and Family Favourites and looking after visiting Americans like the Ronettes, Roy Orbison and Phil Spector. He went on to become a close friend of many of the acts he worked with and his memoir ‘The Tastemaker’ is full of wonderful tales and revelations about all of them. As is this podcast which includes …

… the day Reg Dwight changed his name (and getting him session work with the Barron Knights).

… wearing “lime green trousers, blue moccasins and a kaftan” at the Beatles’ One World broadcast.

… the weekend with George and Pattie Harrison in Esher when the Daily Express turned up to tell them McCartney had admitted he’d taken acid.

… taking Brenda Lee to the pictures.

… holidays with Charlie Watts in France and memories of his wake.

… why he used to ring Elton up and ask, “what’s the weather like there, Jean?”

 … seeing the Stones at the Scene club with Chrissie Shrimpton.

… the advice he gave John Lennon (and getting him on the Old Grey Whistle Test)

… and the qualities all stars need to be successful.

Buy ‘The Tastemaker: My Life With The Legends and Geniuses of Rock Music’ here …

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tastemaker-Life-Legends-Geniuses-Music/dp/0571371930

Tony dressed as the Queen in an ad for John Lennon’s Mind Games album …

https://www.facebook.com/johnlennon/videos/mind-games-advert/1009681682383878/

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