Tony Levin was born on June 6, 1946 in
Boston, Massachusetts. At age 10, Levin began his
musical voyage, learning to play the
upright bass (
contrabass). In high school, he learned several other instruments, including the brass bass and tuba. He was selected while in high school to play with the
Greater Boston Symphony Youth Orchestra. After high school, Levin went to the
Eastman School of Music in
Rochester, New York, and was a member of the Rochester Philharmonic. He earned a
bachelor's degree in music performance, and developed his interest and skills on several other instruments.
At Eastman, Levin met percussionist
Steve Gadd, who introduced Levin to the worlds of
jazz and
rock. Levin traded in his upright bass in favor of a
bass guitar, specifically a
Fender Precision bass. In 1970, he moved to
New York City and started playing in studios as a session musician and sitting in with local jazz and rock groups. In the late 70s he was picked up by
Peter Gabriel, and began touring and recording with him. It was at this time that Levin first was introduced to the
Chapman Stick, a bass-like instrument played by striking the strings rather than by plucking them. He later developed "
Funk Fingers", a method for striking the strings with cut-down drumsticks strapped to his fingers. Levin was soon working again with Gadd in the band,
L'Image, with
Mike Mainieri and
Warren Bernhardt. Levin and Gadd also started a comedy band, the
Clams, which also included Levin's brother, Pete, on keys. While working previously with Peter Gabriel, Levin had met
Robert Fripp, and in 1979, he played on Fripp's "
Exposure". Following this successful project, Levin joined Fripp's band,
King Crimson.
Other musicians who have played with Levin include
Adrian Belew,
Gary Burton,
Judy Collins,
Alice Cooper,
Dire Straits,
Peter Frampton,
John Lennon,
Herbie Mann,
Pink Floyd,
Buddy Rich,
Carly Simon,
Paul Simon and
James Taylor. Levin published a book titled
Road Photos in 1984. The book is a series of
black and white photographs taken while Levin was touring with King Crimson, Gabriel, Simon and others. He has also written a collection of short essays, stories from the road, and other short works, titled
Beyond The Bass Clef.
Levin continued working with King Crimson through the 90's. He also released a fantastic studio album with drum legend
Bill Bruford, also of King Crimson (and of
Yes), titled
Bruford Levin Upper Extremities. in 1997, he made
Black Light Syndrome with drummer
Terry Bozzio and guitarist
Steve Stevens as
Bozzio Levin Stevens, and recorded the
Liquid Tension Experiment with
John Petrucci of
Dream Theater. In order to gain total artistic freedom in his music, Levin recently founded
Papa Bear Records, whose goal is to defy genre stereotyping.
all in all (in an attempt to sum-up...), Levin has worked as a:
- bassist (fretted, fretless, upright)
- Chapman Stick player
- vocalist
- producer
- guitarist
- drummer
- cellist
- clarinetist
- tuba player
- didjeridu player
- saxophonist
- keyboard player
- banjo player
- painter
- photographer
http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/levin_tony/bio.jhtml
http://www.tonylevin.com
props to toalight for the petrucci info!
wanna see something scary? check out http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=R98056#APPEAR
props once again to machfive