Toni Gozza - Fat City

(South African Top Blues Rock Band 1986-1991)

Fat City... Is

Toni Gozza - Drums, Percussion & Vocals

Johnny Blundell - Guitars, Vocals, Brass Arr

Jiggs Downing - Bass & Tricks

Guest Artists...

Jethro Butow - Guitar

Eckie Ekhardt - Brass

Mike faure - Sax Solo

Backing Vocals - Jo Day, Wendy Oldfield, Julie Blundell, Kathy Raven (Van Rensburg)

FAT CITY - By "MARK PROCTOR"

Since my good friend Toni is the originator of this page, I must pay homage to him and the Blues rock band "FAT CITY" that in my opinion, turned this town on it's head in the Late 80's.

Toni an I being buds and living under the same roof for some time, I got to spend a lot of time with the band on a social level and at Gigs. One of the things which made this so special for me is that not only were they all a good bunch but shared the same bent sense of humour that I have, especially Jiggs.

There were times I can recall, never having laughed so hard in my life.

Among the many stellar performances that FAT CITY did around the country, one of the most memorable was the opening of the blues club "HOMICIDE HANKS" in Orange grove.

The club had all the makings of the typical downtown "wise guy's" social hangout that one sees in a good Mob movie, characterized and easily identified to the passing motorist, by a huge Fedora mounted above the front door.

Rising to the occasion, the band arrived clad in Chicago style gangster attire which went down so well it became their visual trade mark.

The opening set absolutely blew everybody off there seats with the band doing more than justice to songs by the likes of Robert Cray, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Lynyrd Skynyrd, 38 special etc. and original material that ultimately featured on their subsequent debut album.

As if by some voice on the wind people kept pouring into the venue to the point where one almost had to stand to see the band.

The music and the vibe intensified throughout the evening so much so that management were almost caught unprepared and the barmen's shoe soles were on fire!

FAT CITY continued to perform at Homicide Hanks for quite sometime thereafter to a full house before moving on to other venues and towns.

Although the club eventually closed for reasons unknown to me, it's initial success was in my opinion due to the unique atmosphere underpinned by who I believe at the time, were the best Blues band in the country!

With the greatest respect to all the awesome musicians in S A, I don't think the Club owners could have picked anyone better at the time for the kick start.

In the months succeeding the Album Launch the band took on a new Dynamic with the addition of Kathy Raven on vocals. So good was the result of this marriage, that I was of the impression that the "Next Big Thing" was about to explode onto the S A Music scene.

Kathy, apart from being an absolute belter delivered some of the most electrifying vocal performances I've heard to date.

Tony a renowned singer himself and Johnny no slouch behind the Mic either, made up a blitz harmony package.

Sadly and for reasons again unknown to me the band eventually started to lose momentum from within. I hope the guys dont get pissed with me for saying this, but it became clear to me when Trademark visio image of the band started to fall by the wayside.

As with the meteoric rise and fall of many Great S A Bands I've seen, I had the disappointment of having to add one more to the list.

But hey it's all water under the bridge now and a long time ago, and the Legacy left behind is in the form of a really good album!

So if you haven't got it . . GET IT!

We were all in "Time Out" a 7 piece dance and top 40 cover band,

Got fired from the top hotel venue in town "Sandton Sun" for being loud ha ha ha, Discovered that just the 3 of us sounded fat and amazing, So we created a 50's-60's gangster club called "Homocide Hanks" and played there for a year, Soon after that we toured a lot with (Kathy Raven) on vocals and achieved national status with songs and videos that reached no1 - 5 on radio 5fm and other national radio stations...

Only Special Party's Or Corporate Functions...

Paul Rodgers, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Supertramp, ZZ Top, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Doobie Brothers, Toto, Sting, Rare Earth, Steely Dan, Frank Zappa, Earth Wind & Fire, Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, Little Feat, Paul Carrack, Genesis, Peter Gabriel, Robert Plant, Robert Palmer Etc

Tama Drums.. Fender, Gibson & Ibanez Guitars.. Peavey, Trace Elliot & Specialist Audio Amps.. Sure Microphones, Zildjian Cymbals, StudioMaster Mixing Desk & EV Speakers etc..

Its not that we're the best... There's just no one better ha ha ha...

JUST READ ABOUT FAT CITY HERE...

FAT CITY - By "MARK PROCTOR"

Since my good friend Toni is the originator of this page, I must pay homage to him and the Blues rock band "FAT CITY" that in my opinion, turned this town on it's head in the Late 80's.

Toni an I being buds and living under the same roof for some time, I got to spend a lot of time with the band on a social level and at Gigs. One of the things which made this so special for me is that not only were they all a good bunch but shared the same bent sense of humour that I have, especially Jiggs.

There were times I can recall, never having laughed so hard in my life.

Among the many stellar performances that FAT CITY did around the country, one of the most memorable was the opening of the blues club "HOMICIDE HANKS" in Orange grove.

The club had all the makings of the typical downtown "wise guy's" social hangout that one sees in a good Mob movie, characterized and easily identified to the passing motorist, by a huge Fedora mounted above the front door.

Rising to the occasion, the band arrived clad in Chicago style gangster attire which went down so well it became their visual trade mark.

The opening set absolutely blew everybody off there seats with the band doing more than justice to songs by the likes of Robert Cray, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Lynyrd Skynyrd, 38 special etc. and original material that ultimately featured on their subsequent debut album.

As if by some voice on the wind people kept pouring into the venue to the point where one almost had to stand to see the band.

The music and the vibe intensified throughout the evening so much so that management were almost caught unprepared and the barmen's shoe soles were on fire!

FAT CITY continued to perform at Homicide Hanks for quite sometime thereafter to a full house before moving on to other venues and towns.

Although the club eventually closed for reasons unknown to me, it's initial success was in my opinion due to the unique atmosphere underpinned by who I believe at the time, were the best Blues band in the country!

With the greatest respect to all the awesome musicians in S A, I don't think the Club owners could have picked anyone better at the time for the kick start.

In the months succeeding the Album Launch the band took on a new Dynamic with the addition of Kathy Raven on vocals. So good was the result of this marriage, that I was of the impression that the "Next Big Thing" was about to explode onto the S A Music scene.

Kathy, apart from being an absolute belter delivered some of the most electrifying vocal performances I've heard to date.

TONI GOZZA - a renowned singer himself and Johnny no slouch behind the Mic either, made up a blitz harmony package.

Sadly and for reasons again unknown to me the band eventually started to lose momentum from within. I hope the guys dont get pissed with me for saying this, but it became clear to me when Trademark visio image of the band started to fall by the wayside.

As with the meteoric rise and fall of many Great S A Bands I've seen, I had the disappointment of having to add one more to the list.

But hey it's all water under the bridge now and a long time ago, and the Legacy left behind is in the form of a really good album!

So if you haven't got it . . GET IT!

TONI GOZZA (Drums & Vox)

JOHNNY BLUNDELL (Guitar & Vox)

JIGGS DOWNING (Bass)

FAT CITY - HELL YEAH! - FAT CITY

CHECK OUT THIS (1986-1991)

TOP SOUTH AFRICAN ROCK BLUES BAND

FREE - MP3 DOWNLOADS & HIT SONG "BAD HABIT"

http://www.new.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.soundclick.com%2Fbands%2Fdefault.cfm%3FbandID%3D617531%26content%3Dmusic&h=472bc75f9e2f89117b953a68c890a5d7

FAT CITY... Is

Toni Gozza - Drums, Percussion & Vocals

Johnny Blundell - Guitars, Vocals, Brass Arr

Jiggs Downing - Bass & Tricks

Guest Artists...

Jethro Butow - Guitar

Eckie Ekhardt - Brass

Mike faure - Sax Solo

Backing Vocals - Jo Day, Wendy Oldfield, Julie Blundell, Kathy Raven (Van Rensburg)

FREE..

MP3 DOWNLOADS & ALSO - HIT SONG "BAD HABIT"

http://www.new.facebook.com/pages/TONI-GOZZA-FAT-CITY/22896161853?ref=share

Genre: BLUES ROCK

Hometown: JOHANNESBURG - SOUTH AFRICA

Record Label: PRINCIPAL RECORDS