1. Antonio Sparbaro, known professionally as Tony Sbarbaro or Tony Spargo was an American jazz drummer associated with New Orleans jazz.
12 Facts About Tony Sbarbaro
1. 2.
Tony Sbarbaro was the Original Dixieland Jazz Band drummer for over 50 years.
3.
Tony Sbarbaro did side work with Merritt Brunies and Carl Randall.
4.
Tony Sbarbaro joined the Original Dixieland Jazz Band for their initial recordings in 1917; he became its leader in 1925 and remained a member of the ensemble until its dissolution in the 1960s, being the only founding member still in the group at that time.
5.
Tony Sbarbaro composed for the group, writing the tune "Mourning Blues" among others.
6.
Tony Sbarbaro remained a fixture of Dixieland jazz performance for most of his life, playing later in life in New Orleans with Miff Mole, Big Chief Moore, Pee Wee Erwin, and Eddie Condon.
7.
Tony Sbarbaro played at the New York World's Fair in 1941 and with Connee Boswell in the 1950s.
8.
Tony Sbarbaro left music in the 1960s due to the popularity of rock and roll, and died in October 1969, in New York City, at the age of 72.
9.
Tony Sbarbaro employed wood blocks, cowbells, and Chinese tom-toms, and used a custom arrangement for his bass and snare drum.
10.
Tony Sbarbaro used the technique known as "double-drumming", hitting the bass drum with the butt end of the drum stick.
11.
Tony Sbarbaro even put stuffed animals inside drums to change their sound.
12.
Tony Sbarbaro had a kazoo attached to his set, providing some of the band's sound effects.