Smooth Sunday Sessions with Tony Dobson

Tony Dobson

Having got his first guitar from his parents, aged 12, in 1959, Tony started to learn in the Summer of 1960 when coincidentally, The Shadows first hit record, an instrumental called Apache, went to No.1 in the record charts.

Joining forces with a couple of older lads from his school, one of them (Iain) began to teach Tony the basic chords. In 1961 (a month after the Shadows first album had been released which had topped the LP charts) a classmate lent Tony his copy and he was blown away by the 4-piece guitar, bass and drum sounds coming out of the record player!

Later that year, a lad named Geoff who played electric guitar, turned by at Tony’s house to audition him playing along to the latest Shadows record, and from there they sought a bass guitarist, to join the band which happened to be Iain. They played their first gig in the November, and the following year acquired a drummer and a front man. Colin King & The Royals was born. The band continued playing regular gigs until 1963.

Tony and Colin then formed another 5-piece band called Jon Best & The Challengers with a view to becoming professional musicians. After a spell of being the resident Saturday night band at The Scala Ballroom in Dartford  supporting bands such as The Hollies etc., their dream finally became a reality in March '64 when they all gave up our day jobs, signed a contract with a very good manager, and traversed England and Wales in a beat up old van playing 5 or 6 nights a week and earning more than their dads, but not getting much sleep!

This lasted until August 1965, and since then Tony has continued to play in bands on and off as a semi-professional for 60 years.

In 2007 Tony started to perform at local open mic nights and since then has had the most successful period of his musical journey as a solo performer, as well as leading his own Holly' s Buddies tribute band since 2015 and it has all snowballed from there, a little late in life but better late than never.

Great Art, Tasty Food and Amazing Music from talented Kent-based Acts

Join us at the St George’s Arts Centre Café twice a month for live music from talented singers and musicians.

Music starts 12.45pm lasting 45mins - 1 hour

No need to book, just turn up

Please note: Photography and videography may take place during Smooth Sunday Sessions. This will mainly comprise of the performer(s) but may also include generic shots of the audience from behind. Should you not wish to be photographed/videoed at all, please inform a member of staff.