Tony Barron (born Nick Sisk), a big band leader from South Bend, Indiana, started his band in 1968 not long after he graduated from High School.
His orchestra, which was popular in nearly 45 states, traveled throughout the Midwest and parts of the East coast for nearly 30 years.
When Guy Lombardo passed away in November of 1977, Tony started playing the music of Guy Lombardo and went around the country performing dances and concerts in tribute to the late bandleader. He always played some of his own arrangements during these dances and concerts.
Tony was born and raised on a farm in the small city of Mishawaka, just outside of South Bend. He converted the barn on the farm into a ballroom and big band museum called "Melody Manor." His orchestra played for dancing at Melody Manor during the winter months when the weather was bad and it was too cold to travel great distances.
He often performed in Florida at The Colliseum Ballroom. Other venues included the famed Willowbrook Ballroom (Chicago), The Aragon Ballroom (Chicago), and The Indiana Roof Ballroom (Indianapolis, Indiana). His orchestra was voted "Orchestra Of The Year" several times by The National Ballroom And Entertainment Association.
In 1997, just under a year short of his orchestra's 30th anniversary, Tony was diganosed with Lymphoma, a rare blood disease (cancer). By the time the 30th anniversary dance was to take place, Tony was too sick to attend. He had already turned the band over to his longtime Trombonist and friend, Barry Wagner.
Tony died on October 12th, 1998 in hospice.
The orchestra recently celebrated it's 36th anniversary and is still going strong under the direction of Barry Wagner. Today the orchestra confines it's activities to the Chicago and greater Midwest area performing dances and concerts in packed ballrooms and theaters all over that region.
Over the years, The Tony Barron Orchestra released a few recordings. In 2003, with the cooperation of Barry Wagner, The Guy Lombardo Society released a CD in remembrance of Tony and his love for Guy Lombardo's music.
His orchestra, which was popular in nearly 45 states, traveled throughout the Midwest and parts of the East coast for nearly 30 years.
When Guy Lombardo passed away in November of 1977, Tony started playing the music of Guy Lombardo and went around the country performing dances and concerts in tribute to the late bandleader. He always played some of his own arrangements during these dances and concerts.
Tony was born and raised on a farm in the small city of Mishawaka, just outside of South Bend. He converted the barn on the farm into a ballroom and big band museum called "Melody Manor." His orchestra played for dancing at Melody Manor during the winter months when the weather was bad and it was too cold to travel great distances.
He often performed in Florida at The Colliseum Ballroom. Other venues included the famed Willowbrook Ballroom (Chicago), The Aragon Ballroom (Chicago), and The Indiana Roof Ballroom (Indianapolis, Indiana). His orchestra was voted "Orchestra Of The Year" several times by The National Ballroom And Entertainment Association.
In 1997, just under a year short of his orchestra's 30th anniversary, Tony was diganosed with Lymphoma, a rare blood disease (cancer). By the time the 30th anniversary dance was to take place, Tony was too sick to attend. He had already turned the band over to his longtime Trombonist and friend, Barry Wagner.
Tony died on October 12th, 1998 in hospice.
The orchestra recently celebrated it's 36th anniversary and is still going strong under the direction of Barry Wagner. Today the orchestra confines it's activities to the Chicago and greater Midwest area performing dances and concerts in packed ballrooms and theaters all over that region.
Over the years, The Tony Barron Orchestra released a few recordings. In 2003, with the cooperation of Barry Wagner, The Guy Lombardo Society released a CD in remembrance of Tony and his love for Guy Lombardo's music.
Tony Barron (born Nick Sisk), a big band leader from South Bend, Indiana, started his band in 1968 not long after he graduated from High School.
His orchestra, which was popular in nearly 45 states, traveled throughout the Midwest and parts of the East coast for nearly 30 years.
When Guy Lombardo passed away in November of 1977, Tony started playing the music of Guy Lombardo and went around the country performing dances and concerts in tribute to the late bandleader. He always played some of his own arrangements during these dances and concerts.
Tony was born and raised on a farm in the small city of Mishawaka, just outside of South Bend. He converted the barn on the farm into a ballroom and big band museum called "Melody Manor." His orchestra played for dancing at Melody Manor during the winter months when the weather was bad and it was too cold to travel great distances.
He often performed in Florida at The Colliseum Ballroom. Other venues included the famed Willowbrook Ballroom (Chicago), The Aragon Ballroom (Chicago), and The Indiana Roof Ballroom (Indianapolis, Indiana). His orchestra was voted "Orchestra Of The Year" several times by The National Ballroom And Entertainment Association.
In 1997, just under a year short of his orchestra's 30th anniversary, Tony was diganosed with Lymphoma, a rare blood disease (cancer). By the time the 30th anniversary dance was to take place, Tony was too sick to attend. He had already turned the band over to his longtime Trombonist and friend, Barry Wagner.
Tony died on October 12th, 1998 in hospice.
The orchestra recently celebrated it's 36th anniversary and is still going strong under the direction of Barry Wagner. Today the orchestra confines it's activities to the Chicago and greater Midwest area performing dances and concerts in packed ballrooms and theaters all over that region.
Over the years, The Tony Barron Orchestra released a few recordings. In 2003, with the cooperation of Barry Wagner, The Guy Lombardo Society released a CD in remembrance of Tony and his love for Guy Lombardo's music.
His orchestra, which was popular in nearly 45 states, traveled throughout the Midwest and parts of the East coast for nearly 30 years.
When Guy Lombardo passed away in November of 1977, Tony started playing the music of Guy Lombardo and went around the country performing dances and concerts in tribute to the late bandleader. He always played some of his own arrangements during these dances and concerts.
Tony was born and raised on a farm in the small city of Mishawaka, just outside of South Bend. He converted the barn on the farm into a ballroom and big band museum called "Melody Manor." His orchestra played for dancing at Melody Manor during the winter months when the weather was bad and it was too cold to travel great distances.
He often performed in Florida at The Colliseum Ballroom. Other venues included the famed Willowbrook Ballroom (Chicago), The Aragon Ballroom (Chicago), and The Indiana Roof Ballroom (Indianapolis, Indiana). His orchestra was voted "Orchestra Of The Year" several times by The National Ballroom And Entertainment Association.
In 1997, just under a year short of his orchestra's 30th anniversary, Tony was diganosed with Lymphoma, a rare blood disease (cancer). By the time the 30th anniversary dance was to take place, Tony was too sick to attend. He had already turned the band over to his longtime Trombonist and friend, Barry Wagner.
Tony died on October 12th, 1998 in hospice.
The orchestra recently celebrated it's 36th anniversary and is still going strong under the direction of Barry Wagner. Today the orchestra confines it's activities to the Chicago and greater Midwest area performing dances and concerts in packed ballrooms and theaters all over that region.
Over the years, The Tony Barron Orchestra released a few recordings. In 2003, with the cooperation of Barry Wagner, The Guy Lombardo Society released a CD in remembrance of Tony and his love for Guy Lombardo's music.
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