(LAKEWOOD, NJ) -- Georgian Court University, in conjunction with the Strand Theater, will host a special seminar and Q&A session with famed music producer Tony Visconti on Saturday, April 27 from 10:00am to noon on GCU’s historic Lakewood campus.
Mr. Visconti will be in Lakewood to conduct two songs with the Terra Nova Orchestra as part of the Strawbs 50th Anniversary weekend, slated for Friday, April 26 through Sunday, April 28. Mr. Visconti also has written new orchestral scores for Sandy Denny’s “Who Knows Where The Time Goes,” first recorded with Strawbs, and “Oh How She Changed,” the 1969 single by Strawbs.
The lifelong producer, arranger, musician, mixer, and exemplary collaborator is considered to be among the greatest and most genuine musical souls of the industry.
During his seminar and Q&A at Georgian Court, Mr. Visconti will speak about his historic career and what it was like to work with artists like David Bowie, T Rex, The Moody Blues, Strawbs and many others. A question and answer period will follow the Saturday morning discussion at Georgian Court. Tickets are available at www.strawbs50.com/shop for $25 per person. In addition, tickets for Strawbs 50th Anniversary shows are available at www.strand.org.
Visconti, a native of Brooklyn, N.Y., has been described as one of the most important producers in the history of rock. “Get It On (Bang A Gong)” and “Cosmic Dancer” by T. Rex are true cornerstones of rock and roll, and David Bowie’s “Young Americans,” “Heroes” and “The Man Who Sold The World” are masterpieces. The Moody Blues’ “Your Wildest Dreams” and “I Know You’re Out There Somewhere” are indelibly etched into rock’s collective memory.
In 2017, Mr. Visconti received two Grammys for David Bowie’s Blackstar as Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical and Best Alternative Music Album. That same year, he received three MPG Awards in London: Outstanding Contribution to UK Music, International Producer of the Year; and as producer on the UK Album of the Year for Blackstar.
Previously, Mr. Visconti produced Angelique Kidjo’s Grammy-winning Djin Djin, featuring guest artists Alicia Keys, Josh Groban, Peter Gabriel, Carlos Santana, Joss Stone and Ziggy Marley; the work earned him a Grammy for Best Contemporary World Music Album. Visconti also had a #1 release with Morrissey’s solo album, Ringleader of the Tormentors, just a year earlier!
His 2009 autobiography, Bowie, Bolan and the Brooklyn Boy (Harper Collins UK) is an evocative, brilliant overview of his musical beginnings, and adventures in London with David Bowie, Marc Bolan, Thin Lizzy and Paul McCartney and so much more.
The Visconti style is versatile and mercurial, vis-à-vis Thin Lizzy, Luscious Jackson, The Strawbs, U2, Fall Out Boy, Alejandro Escovedo, Gentle Giant, Mercury Rev, Sparks, Badfinger, The Alarm, D-Generation, Kristeen Young and Elaine Paige, the queen of British musical theater.
Founded in 1908 and sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, Georgian Court University is Central and South Jersey’s only Catholic university. GCU is a comprehensive, coeducational university with a strong liberal arts core and a historic special concern for women. As a forward-thinking university that supports diversity and academic excellence, Georgian Court expands possibility for more than 2,400 students of all faiths and backgrounds in 35 undergraduate majors and 10+ graduate programs.
