Tony Brent
Encyclopedia
Tony Brent was a British
traditional pop music
singer, most active in the 1950s. He scored seven Top 20 chart hits
in the UK
over an almost six year period, starting in January 1953.
, India
of Anglo-Indian
descent. During the 1950s Brent became a popular UK based vocalist, having relocated there in 1947. Two years after his move, Brent entered and was successful in a talent show
held at the Regal Theatre in Kingston
. He had sung a version of "Some Enchanted Evening
", and this led him on to work with Ambrose
and Cyril Stapleton
's BBC
Showband. His subsequent chart
hits included "Walkin' to Missouri
", "Cindy, Oh Cindy
" and "Dark Moon
". Brent's hits were all released on the Columbia
label
. He enjoyed iconic status in South Asia
where his hits topped the music charts on Radio Ceylon
.
He resumed his travels in 1961, and left the UK to live in Australia
. He owned a succession of Indian food
restaurants, whilst maintaining his singing career. Brent died in Sydney
, at the age of 65, of a heart attack
in June 1993. His ashes
were scattered in the Ganges.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
traditional pop music
Traditional pop music
Traditional pop or classic pop or standards music denotes, in general, Western popular music that either wholly predates the advent of rock and roll in the mid-1950s, or to any popular music which exists concurrently to rock and roll but originated in a time before the appearance of rock and roll,...
singer, most active in the 1950s. He scored seven Top 20 chart hits
Hit record
A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
over an almost six year period, starting in January 1953.
Biography
He was born Reginald Hogan Bretagne, and lived at Ebrahim Terrace, Spence Road, Byculla, BombayMumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
of Anglo-Indian
Anglo-Indian
Anglo-Indians are people who have mixed Indian and British ancestry, or people of British descent born or living in India, now mainly historical in the latter sense. British residents in India used the term "Eurasians" for people of mixed European and Indian descent...
descent. During the 1950s Brent became a popular UK based vocalist, having relocated there in 1947. Two years after his move, Brent entered and was successful in a talent show
Talent show
A talent show is an event where participants perform their talent or talents of acting, singing, dancing, acrobatics, drumming, martial arts, playing an instrument, and other activities to showcase a unique form of talent, sometimes for a reward, trophy or prize...
held at the Regal Theatre in Kingston
Kingston upon Thames
Kingston upon Thames is the principal settlement of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames in southwest London. It was the ancient market town where Saxon kings were crowned and is now a suburb situated south west of Charing Cross. It is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the...
. He had sung a version of "Some Enchanted Evening
Some Enchanted Evening (song)
"Some Enchanted Evening" is a show tune from the 1949 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical South Pacific.In the musical, it is sung as a solo by Emile de Becque, the French plantation owner, who falls in love with the American navy nurse Nellie Forbush. In this song he sings of seizing the moment so...
", and this led him on to work with Ambrose
Ambrose (bandleader)
Benjamin Baruch Ambrose , known professionally as Ambrose or Bert Ambrose, was an English bandleader and violinist. Ambrose become the leader of a highly acclaimed English dance band, the Bert Ambrose & His Orchestra, in the 1930s.-Early life:Ambrose was born in the East End of London; his father...
and Cyril Stapleton
Cyril Stapleton
Cyril Stapleton was an English violinist and jazz bandleader.Born in Mapperley, Nottingham, Stapleton began playing violin at age 7, and played on local radio at the age of 12. He performed on the BBC Radio often in his teenage years, and played in film orchestras accompanying silent films...
's BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
Showband. His subsequent chart
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
hits included "Walkin' to Missouri
Walkin' to Missouri
"Walkin' to Missouri" is a popular song written by Bob Merrill in 1952. The best-known version of the song was recorded by Guy Mitchell in 1952...
", "Cindy, Oh Cindy
Cindy, Oh Cindy
"Cindy, Oh Cindy" is a song written by Robert Nemiroff and Burt D'Lugoff and credited to their pseudonyms, Robert Barron and Burt Long. Nemiroff took the name of the song from his young daughter, Cindy....
" and "Dark Moon
Dark Moon (song)
"Dark Moon" is a 1957 country song by Ned Miller. With its haunting rhythm and forlorn lyrics, it scored on both the country and popular charts in the year of its release. Singer Bonnie Guitar took it to the country charts; Gale Storm to the pop charts. Storm's version, with Ned Miller himself on...
". Brent's hits were all released on the Columbia
Columbia Graphophone Company
The Columbia Graphophone Company was one of the earliest gramophone companies in the United Kingdom. Under EMI, as Columbia Records, it became a very successful label in the 1950s and 1960s...
label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
. He enjoyed iconic status in South Asia
South Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
where his hits topped the music charts on Radio Ceylon
Radio Ceylon
Radio Ceylon is the oldest radio station in Asia. Broadcasting was started on an experimental basis in Ceylon by the Telegraph Department in 1923, just three years after the inauguration of broadcasting in Europe.- Edward Harper :...
.
He resumed his travels in 1961, and left the UK to live in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. He owned a succession of Indian food
Indian cuisine
Indian cuisine consists of thousands of regional cuisines which date back thousands of years. The dishes of India are characterised by the extensive use of various Indian spices, herbs, vegetables and fruit. Indian cuisine is also known for the widespread practice of vegetarianism in Indian society...
restaurants, whilst maintaining his singing career. Brent died in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, at the age of 65, of a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
in June 1993. His ashes
Cremation
Cremation is the process of reducing bodies to basic chemical compounds such as gasses and bone fragments. This is accomplished through high-temperature burning, vaporization and oxidation....
were scattered in the Ganges.
Chart single discography
All entries relate to the UK Singles ChartUK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
- "Walkin' to MissouriWalkin' to Missouri"Walkin' to Missouri" is a popular song written by Bob Merrill in 1952. The best-known version of the song was recorded by Guy Mitchell in 1952...
" (1952) - #7 - "Make It Soon" (1953) - #9
- "Got You on My Mind" (1953) - #12
- "Cindy, Oh CindyCindy, Oh Cindy"Cindy, Oh Cindy" is a song written by Robert Nemiroff and Burt D'Lugoff and credited to their pseudonyms, Robert Barron and Burt Long. Nemiroff took the name of the song from his young daughter, Cindy....
" (1956) - #16 - "Dark MoonDark Moon (song)"Dark Moon" is a 1957 country song by Ned Miller. With its haunting rhythm and forlorn lyrics, it scored on both the country and popular charts in the year of its release. Singer Bonnie Guitar took it to the country charts; Gale Storm to the pop charts. Storm's version, with Ned Miller himself on...
" (1957) - #17 - "The Clouds Will Soon Roll By" (1958) - #20
- "Girl Of My Dreams" (1958) - #16
- "Why Should I Be Lonely?" (1959) - #24