Since leaving the Yale School of Music in 1987 as a Tuba Major. Tony is a 24 year member of the Two-Time Grammy Awarding Winning McCoy Tyner All-Star Big Band. Featuring such reknowned artist as: Dianne Reeves, Savion Glover, and Legendary Jazz Trombones and Arranger Slide Hampton. Tony began his career performing Jazz tuba in New York City Jazz Clubs, back in 1979 (Lush Life, Sweet Basil’s,Lofts, Manhattan Beach, Art Galleries, St. Johns The Devine, Merkin Hall,Soloist at the New York Brass Conference-Roosevelt Hotel, Village Gate,etc.)(Jazz Festivals JVC,South Street Seaport, and others) at the age of nineteen.
In addition to featured performances with Historic Jazz Legend and McArthur Genius Award Recipient,The Late Max Roach, Tony is featured on stage with Jazz performers Christian McBride,Latin Jazz Legend Jerry Gonzalez,Famed arranger Bob Belden, Jazz Trombonist Julius Preister, Jazz Saxophonist Joshua Redman, Legendary Jazz Guitarist Paul Motian, Jean Paul Bourelly, Innovative Jazz Pianist Cecil Taylor, Legendary Jazz Trumpeter, The late Lester Bowie, Band Leader and Jazz Bassist Charlie Haden, Jazz Trombone Legend Steve Turre, Trumpet Legend Virgil Jones, Jazz Saxophonist,The Late John Stubblefield, Joe Lavano, Howard Johnson, Jazz Tuba Pioneer, The Late Ray Draper, Jazz Pianist and Legendary Composer Muhal Abrahams, Premiere Jazz Violinist/Violist, The Late Leroy Jenkins, Founder of the World Saxophone Quartet,Saxophonist,The Late Julius Hemphill, Henry Threadgill, Gughenheim Fellow, Saxophonist David Murray, Jazz Cellist, Akua Dixon, Legendary Drummers Andrew Cyrill, Billy Higgins, JT Lewis, Buddy Williams,The Late Jazz Bassist Fred Hopkins, and The Late Vocalist Ed and Guitarist David Townsend.
Tony has been a cast member of “Juan Darien” by Composer Elliot Goldenthal, a regular in the Tony award winning play, Jelly’s Last Jam. Other performances include on stage performances of “One Mo’ Time” and “Further Mo’“.
Antonio’s credits include recordings by Be Be Winans, Terry Dexter, John Purcell, The World Saxophone Quartet and others.
Antonio publishes works for Tone East Music and owns NUSURE MUSIC (ASCAP)
Antonio Underwood is a music writer, educator, and producer—owner and producer of Tone-East Music Technology LLC.
Antonio is the newly elected Mid-Atlantic District Vice-President of Yale Science & Engineering Association, inc. (2024-26)—and Insights Success Magazine, “Trailblazing Leader to Follow 2024” special edition.
Leaving the Yale School of Music in 1987 as a Tuba Major (Classical), Antonio was a member of the two-time Grammy Award-winning musician, McCoy Tyner Big Band, featuring such artists as Dee Dee Bridgewater, George Benson, Savion Glover, Diane Reeves, and Slide Hampton, playing in all major jazz venues throughout the world. Beginning his career in NYC clubs (Lush Life, Sweet Basil’s, Village Gate, The Vanguard, the Greenwich House, The Public Theatre, Alternate Museum, etc) and festivals (JVC, South Seaport, etc.).
Featured with Jazz Legend late Max Roach, Tony has shared stages with the late Sandra Reaves Phillips, Jerry Gonzalez, Amina Claudine Myers, Akua Dixon, Julius Priester, Delfeayo Marsalis, Bob Belden, Christian McBride, Cecil Taylor, Ray Chew, Vincent Herring, Joshua Redman, Joe Ford, the late Lester Bowie, John Faddis, Lou Soloff, Charlie Haden, Paul Motian, Eddie Henderson, Billy Harper, John Zorn, Steve Turre, Virgil Jones, Dave Bargeron, John Clark, the late John Stubblefield, Joe Lavano, Howard Johnson, the late Ray Draper, Muhal Abrahams, the late Leroy Jenkins, Joe Daley, the late Julius Hemphill, Henry Threadgill, Andrew Cyrille, Joseph Jarman and so many more.
Tony has been an original cast member (production credit) of ‘Juan Darien’ (Obie | Tony Award-nominated) by Academy Award Composer E. Goldenthal and Tony Award Winning Director J. Taymor, as well as a regular in the off-Broadway on-stage musical, ‘Further Mo’ (production credit), and Tony Award Winning play, ‘Jelly’s Last Jam’, featuring the late Gregory Hines.
Fulbright Scholar Lecturer (Serbia) and the first African-American George Lucas scholar with the Scoring for Motion Pictures and Television program at the University of Southern California. Tony was awarded the Alumni Award at the Yale School of Music in 1987. Antonio won the Yale University African American Cultural Center Award, as a Francis Louis Kirchoff and NY Philharmonic Aspen Festival Scholar.
1st Yale School of Music Delegate in 2021- 2024.
Member: ASCAP (NuSure Music) | BMI (Tone East Music Publishing) | Society of Composers and Lyricists | Harry Fox Agency
Specialties: Composition | Orchestration, Tuba, Euphonium, Piano Performance | Vocal, Songwriting, and Producing.
