Tony Christie is English by nationality. But is of Irish heritage and his people hail from Mayo.
Tony Christie’s career started in the accounts office of a steel company in Yorkshire, while he was singing semi-professionally in working men’s clubs in the North of England at the same time.
In 1969, Christie signed to MCA Records and released several hits such as Is This the Way to Amarillo, Las Vegas, I Did What I Did For Maria, as well as Avenues and Alleyways which was the theme to the TV series The Protectors (1972). By September 1972, Is This the Way to Amarillo” had sold more than one million copies and was awarded a gold disc.
Although Christie’s popularity in the UK waned in the 80s, he continued to have hits in Germany, with four albums recorded with German producer Jack White, including Welcome to My Music which reached No.7 on the German charts in 1991 and went triple Platinum. Between 1991 to 2002, Christie recorded nine albums in Germany.
Tony Christie’s UK comeback was secured by the Top 10 single “Walk Like A Panther”, released in 1999 under the name “All Seeing Eye” and written by Jarvis Cocker. The success of Amarillo in 2005 introduced Christie to a new generation.
In 2008, a collection of Yorkshire musical luminaries, including producer Richard Hawley, Arctic Monkey leader Alex Turner, Pulp’s Jarvis Cocker and The Human League’s Phil Oakey came together to work with Christie on what would become the Made In Sheffield album.
Tony’s Irish roots (his grandmother and grandfather played in a ceilidh band) are celebrated on the album The Great Irish Songbook that came out in 2015.
Tony Christie is still touring, having recently collaborated with folk band Ranagri on a tour last year.