'I ’m Histo ne Lord Jesus Chris)1 as his personal Saviour. has been a Christian for a long time. She’s a nurse. I suppose in High School you were quite active in Music? Yes. I sang in the High School can tatas and State Musical contests, and received the High School award as tenor soloist for two years. Well, following High School training, what did you do? I tried to get jobs in show business but then the Coast Guard beckoned. When were you married, Tony? May 2, 1950 Well, before that time, what were you doing? I was knocking around New York City trying to get a job somewhere in show business. I was auditioning so much that they called me a “ profes sional auditioner.” Then, in 1945, I went to Chicago where I finally land ed a program. What kind of program was it? It was a teenager show. We had with us Mary Hartline, who used to do a children’s program called “ Super Circus.” Our program was “Teen Town.” It featured me as a singer, an orchestra, and various skits. Was that the only program you did? No. After that I started a program on Mutual, and I had a sponsored musical program for the Pepsi Cola Company on T.Y. We used the top tunes, and it was from there I got my contract with Mercury Records. During your time in Chicago, did you ever go to your father's Alma Mater, Moody Bible Institute? No! And I never wanted to either, I’m sorry to say. Then, after you finished your stay in Chi cago, where did you go? Well, I had been working several times in New York, making records for Mercury, and then I started get ting bookings in night clubs for one large theatrical agency. I suppose you drank and smoked like most people do in that business? No! Maybe it’s bragging, but I never smoked or drank. I was afraid it would hurt my voice. I think God must have had His hand on me in a special way, for that reason. What were some of the programs you did in those days? Ed Sullivan, Steve Allen, Paul White
man, Eddie Bracken and then, of course, appearing in all the night clubs, including Las Vegas, “The Strip” here in Hollywood, and other places. During the time in show business did you meet other children of ministers? I surely did! In fact, I thought they all must be in show business and not in the Lord’s work. Since I met so many, I thought show business must be all right because they were in it. Tony, what were some of your "b ig " recordings? Well, one I made “ Cold, Cold Heart!” sold over a million. The writer of the song died the year it became a hit. Actually, I had refused to record it but my manager suggested that I should do it. Then, I made albums with Patti Page, Frankie Laine, Sophie Tucker, and some of the others. I understand you toured quite a bit of the world? Yes, I started doing some of the book ings myself. My wife ,and I went to Australia and to Europe. We had vaudeville acts, ranging from a ven triloquist to acrobats, even using our little girl in some productions. Do you ever have a longing to go back into that work? No, I haven’t and I thank the Lord and also thank my best friend, Phil Kerr, for inspiring me so that I have been able to leave it alone. Well, Tony, can you lead us up to the events that brought you to see your need of Christ as Saviour? I’ll try to give them to you briefly. On September 3, 1957, I was in an automobile accident out in San Fer nando Valley. A car ran through a red light and hit my car at the driver’s side where I was. It took them two and a half hours to extricate me. Someone felt my pulse and declared that I was dead. Evidently, I was in a state of shock. For thirty days fol lowing this I was unconscious. When I came back to consciousness, I had lost my eyesight. For several months doctors wouldn’t give us any hope as to whether I was going to live or die, and my thought wasn’t of my voice or my career, but of my life. I was fed intravenously through my arms and legs. One morning, however, I took a turn for the worse and the doctors had the nurses summon my wife. They
m Tony and Phil share radio program together
told her that this was the end. I had slipped back into unconsciousness. My wife had been working, previous to this time, at MGM and Universal Studios. She had had no time for Christ. She was too busy looking for success and fortune. Of course, the family had told the doctors to do » everything they could. But now it was too late. There was nothing more they could do. There was no one else to turn to. On a few occasions my wife met my mother who was such a won derful Christian. As I mentioned, she died of spinal cancer, but her radiant life bore witness to the fact that Christ, the Lord, lives within the hearts of those who by faith have re ceived Him as Saviour. She recalled the words of my mother and right there, at my bedside, knelt down and accepted Christ as her own personal Saviour. Three and a half hours later, I became conscious again. When I opened my eyes there were tears on
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SEPTEMBER, 1959
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