Tony Hicks facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tony Hicks
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Hicks performing with The Hollies in 2017.
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Anthony Christopher Hicks |
| Born | 16 December 1945 |
| Origin | Nelson, Lancashire, England |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | |
| Years active | 1957–present |
Anthony Christopher Hicks (born December 16, 1945) is an English guitarist and singer. He has been a member of the famous British rock and pop band The Hollies since 1963. In 2010, he was welcomed into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the band. Tony Hicks is known for being the lead guitarist and a backing singer for The Hollies.
Contents
Tony Hicks's Musical Journey
Starting Out in Music
Tony Hicks first became known at age 12. He was part of a group called Les Skifflettes. They appeared on the Carroll Levis talent show in 1957. By the early 1960s, Tony was a respected musician in Manchester, England.
He became the lead guitarist for Ricky Shaw and the Dolphins. At the same time, he was training to be an electrician.
Joining The Hollies
In February 1963, a local band called The Hollies needed a new guitarist. Their guitarist, Vic Steele, had left. The band immediately asked Tony Hicks to join them.
At first, Tony was not sure about joining. But after listening to The Hollies play, he decided to say yes. He even managed to get paid more than the other band members!
The Hollies soon got a chance to record with EMI's Parlophone label. Tony joined their recording session in April 1963. This led to the band signing a recording contract with Parlophone.
Success with The Hollies
The Hollies quickly became one of Britain's most successful bands. They had a unique, cheerful pop sound. This sound was built around three-part harmonies. Tony Hicks sang the lower harmony. Allan Clarke sang lead vocals. Graham Nash sang the high harmony.
Tony wrote his first song for the group in 1964. It was called "When I'm Not There." He also co-wrote a song called "Keep Off That Friend of Mine." Soon, Tony joined Allan Clarke and Graham Nash to form the band's main songwriting team.
From 1964 to 1966, they wrote songs using different names. Later, they used the name Clarke-Hicks-Nash. By the mid-1960s, these three wrote most of The Hollies' songs. These included hit singles like "Stop! Stop! Stop!", "On a Carousel", "Carrie Anne", and "King Midas in Reverse".
Tony Hicks rarely sang lead vocals on Hollies songs. But he did sing on "Look Through Any Window" (1965). He also sang parts of "Too Much Monkey Business" (1964) and "Carrie Anne" (1967). Tony sang the main vocals on his own song "Pegasus" (1967).
In 1966, Tony played guitar on The Everly Brothers' album Two Yanks in England. He played alongside Jimmy Page, a famous guitarist.
Tony's Unique Contributions
In the 1960s, Tony Hicks was very important to The Hollies' sound. He played special lead guitar parts. He also added unusual instruments to their songs. For example, he used a banjo in "Stop! Stop! Stop!". He used a Greek-style guitar in "Tell Me to My Face." He also played an electric sitar in "The Baby" and a fuzz guitar in "Have You Ever Loved Somebody."
Tony also found demos (early versions) of future Hollies hits. These included "Just One Look" (1964), "I Can't Let Go" (1966), and "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" (1969). "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" became one of their biggest hits.
In late 1968, Tony suggested the band record an album of Bob Dylan songs. Graham Nash disagreed with this idea. This was one reason why Nash left the band. The Hollies replaced Nash with Terry Sylvester. Their album Hollies Sing Dylan (1969) reached No. 3 in the UK Albums Chart. This was one of the first "tribute albums" by a vocal group.
After Nash left, Tony Hicks started writing more songs by himself. These songs were used on the B-sides of singles or on albums. He wrote many songs for The Hollies' 1970 album Confessions of the Mind. This included "Too Young To Be Married," which was a No. 1 hit in Australia and New Zealand.
Tony also co-wrote songs with UK singer Kenny Lynch for The Hollies. These included "Long Dark Road" (1971), which was a hit in the US. He continued to co-write Hollies songs with Allan Clarke and Terry Sylvester until 1978.
In 1990, Tony co-wrote "Naomi" for The Hollies with his son, Paul. In 1993, he added new guitar parts and vocals to a version of "Peggy Sue Got Married" by Buddy Holly.
The Hollies continued to have hits after the 1970s. They had a UK chart hit with "Holliedaze" in 1981. They also had a US Top 30 hit with "Stop! In the Name of Love" in 1983. In 1988, "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" became a UK No. 1 single again. The group still performs and records music today. Tony Hicks and drummer Bobby Elliott are the only members left from the band's early days in the 1960s.
Awards and Recognitions
In 1995, The Hollies won an Ivor Novello Award for their great contribution to British popular music. In 2006, they were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.
In 2010, The Hollies were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Tony Hicks and Bobby Elliott could not attend the ceremony. They were busy touring with the current Hollies band in the UK.
Personal Life
Tony Hicks married Jane Dalton in 1974.
See also
In Spanish: Tony Hicks para niños
