At 72 years old, Tony Morris is proving that age is just a number as he takes the dance music scene in Scotland by storm. The retired book-keeper, who previously considered himself a failure, discovered electronic dance music just before lockdown and it has completely changed his life.
Tony composes his songs at home, with each track lasting no longer than a minute as he gets out of breath easily. His sets only last 30 minutes, but that doesn’t stop his adoring fans from clamoring for selfies and kisses after his performances. In fact, one woman even went as far as kissing his feet.
Despite his age, Tony enjoys playing in small clubs around Glasgow where his fans range from people in their early 20s to those in their early 70s. He has gained quite a following and has been received by clubbers “ridiculously well”.
“I don’t dance myself – I want to make that absolutely clear,” Tony said in an interview. “But I’ve always liked dance music and I got the opportunity to mess about with it myself when someone introduced me to the software.”
Tony’s songs are short and sharp, reflecting his own limited attention span. He grew up listening to The Beatles and The Kinks, but it was radio DJ John Peel who introduced him to avant-garde music in his late teens.
Now, Tony has a gig lined up with musician David Holmes in Belfast and his first single, entitled Single, will be released in September on Glasgow’s Optimo music label.
Despite his late start in the electronic dance music scene, Tony Morris is proving that it’s never too late to follow your passion and make a mark in the music industry.
