Florida’s Best Loved Cabaret Couple
Tony and Gloria are a much loved, and revered cabaret husband and wife team that have been a greatly loved fixture within the gay community for many years. The Agenda caught up with them to find out how they stay relevant and why they love working in the community.
You have had amazing careers, please tell the Agenda readers a bit about your backgrounds.
Tony and I have both had long careers in different musical backgrounds. Tony started in jazz playing with big bands touring the country and small Jazz ensembles in NYC. Gloria started in the church singing with her sisters and moved on to pop and contemporary and Jazz since working with Tony.
What brought you and kept you here?
We moved here after a few years working in Key West along with many of our friends. We’ve stayed because we feel comfortable and safe.
You have remained ever popular here in Wilton Manors. How do you maintain your following?
By trying to always expand our repertoire and please our audience.
What would you say has been the highlight of your time here?
Meeting and becoming close friends with the great composer Murray Grand. Guess Who I Saw Today? is his most well-known composition, but he has composed over 800 songs
Any cringe moments?
Sure, when we’re playing outdoors at Festivals and it starts to lightning.
If you weren’t doing your act what would you do instead?
Gloria would draw and paint and Tony would teach guitar and play and practice and play and practice.
You clearly support the gay community. How do you feel you help the community?
We have played and volunteered at numerous events and charity functions here and in Key West.
How do you feel attitudes towards the community are changing?
We are seeing a more diverse audience from the US and all over the world.
What are the advantages of working within the gay community?
We love that people here appreciate and are enthusiastic about music, culture and the arts.
What disadvantages do you feel there are here?
It’s starting to become expensive.
What do you have planned for the future? What exciting things can we look forward to from you both
?
We are in the process of working on a new CD of all original material; Gloria is preparing for a show of her artwork.
Tony & Gloria’s Weekly Live Schedule: Thursdays and Saturdays from 7-11 at Tropics, Friday 6-9 at Dudes, Sundays 5-7 at Lips.