Tony Guerrero started playing trumpet when he was nine years old. He thought his teacher had given him the trombone. After a few weeks, he told his parents that he was playing the trombone. His dad then saw the instrument, and informed him that it was indeed a trumpet. He was hooked by the time it was too late. Although he was naturally drawn to music, Mark Takeuchi, his junior high music teacher inspired him to make music his lifelong passion. He spent his high school and college years self-teaching, taking lessons, and forming self-propelled bands. This allowed him to start writing songs. He grew up loving rock’n’roll music and was influenced by KISS and Led Zeppelin. His love for KISS and Led Zeppelin inspired him to learn how to play the trumpet. He developed a passion for jazz music and jazz musicians over the years. His musical influences and his writing helped him to create his own style. He experimented with many other instruments as a child, including clarinet, clarinet and drums, the flute, clarinet and clarinet, along with guitar, bass, piano, guitar, French horn, baritone, guitar and bass. He was already working six nights per week in jazz clubs, along with more experienced musicians, by the time he entered college. His own band, Vision, was eventually discovered by White Light Productions, an original music label. Lucille Hunt, his manager, was able to sign his first record deal. Tony’s first CD, TIARA, was released in 1988. This marked the beginning of his career as a well-known recording artist. His distinctive flugelhorn sound, and his writing were first exposed to the world by this debut album. This disc featured special guests Grant Geissman and Phil Keaggy, Max Bennett and Merry Clayton. It also gained national airplay due to the smash hit “L.A.’d”. Tony made his first forays into touring at this point, performing to new audiences across the country. The 1989 release of “Different Places” by the established artist was a hit. It featured the hits “Slam Shack”, Pancho, “Mangione”, and many more. Also, it featured a who’s who from the smooth-jazz scene including Richard Smith and Norman Brown, Steve Reid and Greg Vail. Tony was the only flugelhornist on the market at the time. Contemporary jazz radio openly stated that they didn’t play horn players but instead saxophone, piano, and guitar. Tony’s disc received substantial airplay. His 1991 disc, “Another Day, Another Dream”, cemented his status as a prominent and well-respected musician. This disc, which featured the talents Gerald Albright and Rob Mullins, Brian Bromberg and Bill Cantos, was hugely successful on radio and among fans. His rendition of Quincy Jones’ “The Secret Garden”, received jazz station airplay and was also featured on urban market stations alongside Janet Jackson songs. Popular songs like “Amorado” or “Another Day, Another Dream”, were also popular. He toured the United States and Western United States.
