Tony is lead vocalist and has only been singing professionally since October 2003

 His first acquaintance with music was as a young child listening to gramophone records at his Granddad’s pub in the fifties. As the sixties progressed, however, he enjoyed most of the popular chart music but developed a particular liking for Elvis Presley, The Everlys and Ricky Nelson, especially. But another American singer was to steer him towards country music, that was Marty Robbins with the likes of 'El Passo' and Devil Woman. Since then he has concentrated on that genre and now lists Merle Haggard, Vince Gill, Collin Raye and Alan Jackson, amongst his favourite artistes.

 

 A few years ago with the advent of Karaoke Tony fulfilled a wish to sing in public, but had to concentrate on pop songs as very few, if any, country songs were available.

   In due course he acquired country music backing tracks and several local singers encouraged him to perform at shows during the interval. Such an occasion led to his meeting Kevin Hall a local experienced guitarist. A mutual admiration for each other's talent developed and after a lengthy series of practicing and rehearsals the Duo "Double Barrel" was formed. 

 

Kev (as he prefers to be known) started playing guitar at the age of 12 in the school folk groups. By the age of 14 he had started to play bass and, as bassists were a bit difficult to find decided to stick at it. He played in  working men’s clubs up and down the country with various bands doing support work to the top artistes of the day, the Swinging Blue Jeans, The Troggs, The Searchers and The Pinkertons (Assorted Colours as they were then known) to name a few.


Kev`s music varies from heavy rock to country but also disco as Kev and his son Phil run a rather large mobile disco called Mirage Roadshow.

 

You may think the name was chosen to reflect a coming together of two lone single barrels (as in shot gun) to make a superior double barrel one, but no, one clue for the real reason is in the photo – you don’t need to look too closely and the other clue is the two beer barrels in the logo! The lads are known to like a drop or two of the old brown stuff! Hence DOUBLE BARRELL in more ways than one!