Quantum Media Publishing is proud to announce the release from its Master Musician Series the exciting and inspirational autobiography “GOLD THUNDER – The Legendary Adventures of a Motown Bassman” from iconic musician-composer TONY NEWTON, funk-rock fusion artist.
The work covers over 50 years of performance and composition legacy beginning with his early days in the 60’s growing up and working in the Detroit music explosion with legendary Blues and Motown artists recording and touring. Artists include John Lee Hooker, T-Bone Walker, Little Walter in addition to Motown Stars Smokey and the Miracles, Stevie Wonder, Diane Ross and the Supremes, Temptations and others.
The work also covers Newton’s migration to Hollywood, CA. his work with Miles Davis drummer in the Tony Williams Lifetime composing and performing the funk-Rock-Fusion classics, “Snake Oil,” and “Red Alert” in the 70’s. Further work includes rock guitar legends Gary Moore, Thin Lizzy and Robby Krieger of the Doors up through the millennium. Additional topics include Newton’s return to college for further artistic development, as well as his innovative “Novaphonic” harmony system discovery up until his current, new “Thunderfunkfusion” project.
The insightful work is an up close and personal workings’ of an immensely creative and fruitful mind of artistic creative expression and the struggles and challenges one must overcome to reach a level of personal gold. Newton, a performer on over 25 historic gold and classic recordings leads you through many musical and spiritual adventures in the ubiquitous world of the music business and history. Gold Thunder will truly entertain and inspire those who grace its’ pages.
Gold Thunder will be released at this years’ 2011 NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) International Music Convention in Anaheim, CA. Jan. 13-16 where Newton will be present for book signing in conjunction with the release of the Newton Bass Sample and Loop Library marketed and displayed at the “Art Vista” presentation booth (#6427) throughout the popular event. Gold Thunder is also part of a 3 product package of music CD, book, and upcoming Groovemonster film documentary from Newton.
Excerpt
This story is about my personal quest for Gold as a musician to the stars. My journey led me to many well-springs of shinyGold by performing on many Gold and Platinum recordings and performing live concert tours for many years with Gold and Platinum recording artists. The ride has not been an easy one, it has been filled with plenty of heartache, financial un-compensation, disrespect, mental and emotional anxiety, depression for some and other negative energies that make the path quiet challenging if you want to still live a reasonable fulfilling life. On the other hand, there is no greater joy than doing what you most love, and were put here on Earth to do! The amount of profound and infinite joy and pure creative energy rush which you receive from performing music is pureheaven.The quest for Gold, a Gold Record that is which represents 1 million record sales. This is the upper most, and important goal in a music artist or musicians mind. The Gold Record represents a literal lifetime of secure work as long as you are healthy and of sound mind. To play-perform on a Gold Record as a musician and is also a big boon for both the bank and the ego. For a musician playing with Gold Record Artists is also much desired! This is because of the higher pay scale and work stability. To play on a Gold Record is a lifetime dream for many musicians throughout the world 24/7. It means Fame and fortune literally.
It really is your 15 minutes of glory. Some even are lucky enough to perform on more than one or several Gold Recordings.When I started playing professionally at age 14, I listened to a lot of music on the radio and recordings, and wanted in on that American Dream. I didn't realize what a Gold Record was until later when I learned about the top 10 or forty million sellers. I dabbled in sports speed-skating in a few local races with moderate success, and really liked it, but I decided music was my ticket to ride. I knew what a Gold Ribbon award was and it usually meant fame and fortune on some level, so this was my early experience with winning Gold. But I knew inside that "Music" was my golden opportunity!Detroit in the 60's was a dynamic, creative and economical urban city. Bustling with Plenty of jobs from automobile manufacturers Ford, GM, Chrysler etc, the Vietnam War, the Hippy movement, social and racial change were also happening in a big way. It was a time of great change. Music of all types was coming on the scene and having a huge impact on society. Detroit was also a town of intense danger and the criminal element. Detroit actually was called "murder capital" in those times. With all this going on, Detroit was still one of the most exciting places to live for a musician.
Professional Reviews
Motown Legendary Musician Gets Intimate
Gold Thunder deals with Newton’s everyday challenges as a young musician challenging the massive competition to become a Motown bassist and keep his sanity as a 16 year old kid musician in a world of highly critical and older, more experienced players, coming from all around the country to play in Detroit, music city. Gold Thunder’s beginning is set in Detroit Michigan during the 60’s and 70’s, during the revival of music’s most infectious expansion. The story also includes highlights of Newton’s experiences while playing numerous with Motown and Blues stars, including John Lee Hooker, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, 4 Tops, Marvin Gaye, Diane Ross and the Supremes, Martha and the Vandellas and others. Gold Thunder deals with a young, cocky kid trying to fight his way through and into the music business from playing in a bedroom, playing to records to playing around the world. Gold Thunder additionally features times throughout Newton’s career as a musician-artist-composer in various music groups and historical recordings with The Eighth Day, Tony Williams Lifetime, G-Force with Gary Moore and up to the present 2011 with his emerging current, innovative group, TNT Xtreme, and music recordings from the Thunderfunkfusion” project. NEWTON Quotes from book: This story is about my personal quest for Gold as a musician to the stars. My journey led me to many well-springs of shiny Gold by performing on many Gold and Platinum recordings and performing live concert tours for many years with Gold and Platinum recording artists. The ride has not been an easy one, it has been filled with plenty of heartache, financial un-compensation, disrespect, mental and emotional anxiety, depression for some and other negative energies that make the path quiet challenging if you want to still live a reasonable fulfilling life. On the other hand, there is no greater joy than doing what you most love, and were put here on Earth to do! The amount of profound and infinite joy and pure creative energy rush which you receive from performing music is pure heaven. “Tony Newton, super genius, will go down in history as one of the most vital path-forgers of our era” …Music critic Randali of Mean Street Magazine. Tony Newton has experience in certain areas that make it almost impossible to play anything else; and that anything else is what I didn't want to hear anyway. He worked eight years with Motown, so he had to play a certain way. Like Allan Holdsworth, he not only plays long beautiful lines, but at the same time he plays very rhythmically. Some bass players are busy playing the bass as if it's another guitar. That's fine with me, except that it wasn't what I wanted for the band..…Tony Williams Architect of Fusion Brings The Edge To Extreme Music Minds! Legendary Musician-composer new Thunderfunkfusion project promises inspiring music frontiers for exploring music lovers. – Quantum Media Music
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