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| Tony Carey | |
|---|---|
| Name | Tony Carey |
| Background | solo_singer |
| Birth name | Anthony Lawrence Carey |
| Birth date | 16 October 1953 |
| Birth place | Watertown, New York |
| Genres | Hard rock, Progressive rock, Synth-pop, AOR, New wave |
| Occupations | Musician, singer-songwriter, Record producer |
| Instruments | Keyboards, Piano, Organ, Synthesizer, Guitar, Bass guitar, Vocals |
| Years active | 1973–present |
| Associated acts | Rainbow, Planet P Project, Eric Burdon, Eurythmics, Roger Waters, John Wetton |
Tony Carey Anthony Lawrence Carey (born October 16, 1953) is an American keyboardist, songwriter, producer, and recording artist noted for his work in rock music and progressive rock contexts. He achieved prominence as a member of Rainbow in the mid-1970s, later establishing a solo career and the conceptual project Planet P Project. Carey has contributed to sessions and tours with numerous artists and composed for film and television.
Carey was born in Watertown, New York and raised in a family with strong musical interests; his early exposure included performances and studies in Classical music and popular forms. He studied piano and organ and was influenced by performers and institutions such as Keith Emerson, Rick Wakeman, and conservatory-style training environments. During his formative years he participated in regional ensembles and local venues in the United States, which led to relocation to pursue professional opportunities in Europe and the United Kingdom.
In 1975 Carey joined the newly formed Rainbow, led by Ritchie Blackmore, contributing keyboards and backing vocals to touring lineups that promoted albums such as Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow. His tenure included performances across Europe, the United States, and major festivals, sharing bills with acts like Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, and Uriah Heep. Carey’s work within Rainbow coincided with tours featuring musicians linked to Ian Gillan and other contemporaries from the British rock scene, helping to raise his profile among record labels and producers.
After departing Rainbow, Carey launched a solo recording career and created the conceptual outlet Planet P Project, releasing albums that blended synthesizer textures with rock songwriting on labels and through distributors across Europe and the United States. His solo discography includes melodic AOR releases that found airplay on album-oriented rock radio and chart presence in markets such as Germany and Switzerland. Carey's work as Planet P Project explored dystopian themes and science-fiction narratives, attracting attention from critics of progressive rock, new wave, and electronic music.
Carey has performed and recorded as a session musician and touring keyboardist alongside a wide range of artists, including vocalists and bands such as Eric Burdon, John Wetton, Roger Waters, Eurythmics, and members of Genesis-related projects. His session credits span studio recordings, live performances, and production roles with labels, producers, and ensembles in Los Angeles, London, and Munich. He also collaborated with songwriters and producers active in AOR and pop rock, contributing arrangements, keyboard parts, and production expertise.
Beyond album work, Carey composed and recorded music for film and television projects, contributing themes, cues, and source music used in international broadcasts and cinematic releases. His soundtrack activities involved collaborations with composers, music supervisors, and post-production facilities in Hollywood and European production centers, integrating his synthesizer and orchestral arranging skills into visual media contexts.
Carey’s musical style synthesizes elements from Hard rock, Progressive rock, and Synth-pop, characterized by prominent keyboard arrangements, melodic hooks, and conceptual lyricism. Influences cited in his playing and writing include Keith Emerson, Rick Wakeman, Vangelis, Tony Banks, and contemporary electronic musicians of the 1970s and 1980s. He frequently employed analog and digital synthesizers alongside traditional piano and organ textures to create layered, cinematic productions associated with AOR radio formats and progressive concept albums.
Carey has maintained residences and professional bases in both the United States and Europe, remaining active in recording, archival reissues, and occasional live performances. His legacy includes influence on keyboardists in rock and progressive genres, the cult status of Planet P Project releases, and contributions to the wider body of 1970s and 1980s rock production and session work. Collectors and historians of rock music and progressive rock note his role in bridging classic keyboard virtuosity with modern studio-centric songwriting approaches.
Category:American rock keyboardists Category:Progressive rock musicians