Tony Levin is an American musician, composer, photographer, writer, specializing in electric bass, the Chapman Stick, (which he helped popularize) and upright bass.

‍
He has recorded on a great number of albums and has played over 2,500 shows, has been nominated for a Grammy, and is an inductee of the Rochester Music Hall of Fame.
_____________________

Born in Boston, June 6, 1946, Levin grew up in the suburb of Brookline, starting playing upright bass at 10 years old.In high school he picked up tuba, soloing with the concert band, and started a barbershop quartet. Primarily he played Classical music, performing at the JFK WhiteHouse with a youth orchestra, attending Eastman Schoolof Music in Rochester, NY, where he had the chance to play under Igor Stravinsky and in the Rochester Philharmonic. Also at the school was drummer Steve Gadd, who introduced Tony to jazz and rock, leading to his trading in his upright for a Fender bass, later moving toNew York, joining the short-lived band Aha, the Attack of the Green Slime Beast, and becoming a studio musician.

‍

Having played on many albums in the 70’s, Levin jumped at the chance to tour with Peter Gabriel in 1977, switching to Music Man basses, which he still favors, and learning the Chapman Stick, which he played extensively in King Crimson from 1981, and led to his starting the band Stick Men in 2007.

‍

In 1984 Tony released “Road Photos”, a collection of photos taken during his travels with King Crimson, Peter Gabriel, and others. Soon followed by a book “Beyond the Bass Clef” featuring stories and essays about bass playing. Another photo book, “Crimson Chronicles, volume1, the 80’s” contains an extensive collection of his b&w photos of life on the road with the band. In 2019 he released a larger photo book, both in size and scope, titled“Images from a Life on the Road”. His photographs havebeen exhibited in museums, and he’s also published“ Fragile as a Song”, a book of his poetry. Levin invented “Funk Fingers”, modified drumsticks used to play the bass, and pioneered touch style playing on the bass. As a member of Paul Simon’s band, he acted in the movie “One Trick Pony.”

‍

In 2003 Levin was nominated for Grammy Award for best rock instrumental performance, and in 2018 he was inducted into the Rochester Music Hall of Fame.

_____________________

Solo albums: World Diary, Waters of Eden, Pieces of theSun, Resonator, Double Espresso, Stick Man, and now: Bringing It Down to the Bass.

‍

Collaborative albums: From the Caves of the IronMountain, Bozzio Levin Stevens, Bruford Levin Upper, Extremities, Levin Torn White, Levin Minneman Rudess.

‍

Bands: King Crimson, Peter Gabriel Band, Liquid TensionExperiment, Stick Men, Levin Brothers, HoBoLeMa(Holdsworth Bozzio Levin Mastelotto), L’Image, StepsAhead, White Elephant, Spin 1ne 2wo, and Aha the Attack of the Green Slime Beast.

‍

Books: Beyond the Bass Clef, Road Photos, CrimsonChronicles, Fragile as a Song, Images from a Life on theRoad.

Some of the notable artists Levin has recorded and/or toured with: Peter Gabriel, King Crimson, John Lennon, Ringo, Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Lou Reed, Alice Cooper, Paul Simon, Peter Frampton, Seal, Bryan Ferry, CarlySimon, Judy Collins, Paula Cole, Buddy Rich, Chuck Mangione, Steven Wilson, James Taylor, Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe.

Levin has maintained his website tonylevin.com since 1996, giving behind the scenes views of life on the road and featuring his photographs from stage, before the term “weblog” was even coined. It has hundreds of tour pages, and has had millions of views.

He lives in Kingston, NY having moved to nearbyWoodstock in the 1970’s. His wife Andi owns and runs a dog training and event facility. His daughter Maggie Levin is a filmmaker.