Biography
Meet Guitar-Phenom TOBI, his Debut Album “Spirit In Me” is available now on Mctrax Records. Stream or purchase "Spirit In Me" at: http://www.mctrax.com/album.php?id=46
Connect with TOBI on facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/TOBI/142080285857047
or Tweet with Tobi @TheOfficialTobi
New York, NY – August 2, 2011 As Reported in Streetdate.com – "The world has a new guitar wunderkind to watch out for, someone raised on the Blues and R&B, who is ready to burst onto the Rock and Pop scenes with near limitless potential. Meet TOBI, the bright-eyed young musical mastermind and creator of the new album Spirit In Me which is out now. Click through to watch video of TOBI doing his thing with friend and mentor Andy Fraser (bassist of the legendary band Free).
TOBI will soon make his Street Date debut with a performance in the CBS Interactive Music Groups NYC studios." ~ Matthew Simpson ~ Executive Director, Producer, Artists Relations, CBS Interactive Music Group
London, UK – June 3, 2011 - Represented by Mctrax International, Tobi and bassist / songwriter Andy Fraser are about to embark on a US promotional tour in support of his upcoming debut album “Spirit In Me", scheduled for release summer/ fall 2011. The catchy tune “Brighten Up My Day,” which was inspired by a summer fling TOBI had with a blonde haired female companion, is quickly gaining airplay on iHeart Radio and the attention of CBS Interactive Music Group. The song is currently being promoted in the US, Canada and the UK.
A London, UK native, TOBI's Brighten Up My Day Promotional Tour, launches June 23, 2011. Immediately on his arrival to North America he will spend 2 days in Los Angeles, CA shooting the next video for the up coming album release.
His first official stop will be in Vancouver, BC as an in studio guest along with Mctrax Records CEO Andy Fraser, Producer of 'Spirit In Me' and former bassist of the famed 70’s Rock group FREE, visiting with Bro Jake and Mike Reno (Loverboy) at CIFM's Classic Rock 101, later that same day TOBI will host a Meet & Greet, plus press conference announcing his participation in ‘Artists Support Japan’, at Vancouver's MODA Hotel. Then the whirlwind begins with stops all through the U.S.
Tobi's formal training and studies took place at the world famous Susi Earnshaw Theater School and Bull Theatre in London which boasts an impressive list of fellow alumni, most notably singer Amy Winehouse.
Born as Tobias Earnshaw, and known simply as TOBI, he has been around the performing arts literally his whole life, joining his mother in her dance studio on a weekly basis until he was old enough to join himself. Before he could even walk, he observed an R&B street dancing class, which he has now mastered. As a student at his mother's "Susi Earnshaw Theatre School" in London he continued his training in all theories of the performing arts. Tobi was soon dancing in such venues as the London Palladium, Sadler's Wells; Her Majesty's Theatre in London's West End; and the Golders Green Hippodrome and the London 02, and later found himself winning awards for his singing talents, being a regional finalist in 2009 and 2010 at London's Festival4Stars for his age group. As a child actor, his talent was quickly noticed, and soon he was being booked on a number of shows in London, which included The Quick Trick Magic Show for CITV, and later demonstrated a video game for Trbl TV Monkey TV alongside So Solid Crew.
Tobi soon discovered his passion for the guitar, which he took to as if he was born with it in his hands. Listening to such artists as Gary Moore, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughn and John Mayer, he found it natural to create songs similar to his inspirations. Having received his first guitar for his 12th birthday, he formed a band with three friends calling themselves 'Wired', however members didn't practice enough for Tobi's liking, so he decided to join an older band known as 'The Warren', who rehearsed every Thursday evening at The Royal British Legion and performed gigs to raise money for local charities.
During this time, Tobi learned to play all the rock n’roll classics while taking lessons from guitar legend Bill Liesegang and also took singing lessons from Stevie Lang. His father recalls the day when he wanted a new JJ guitar, “We wouldn't commit to getting Tobi the guitar he wanted unless he sang and played his Axa guitar at the next Open Mic Night at his school. He played and sung 'Still Got The Blues For You' by Gary Moore. That’s when he got his JJ.”, says he father David Earnshaw.
Tobi has played gigs in various London venues including: The Half Moon in Putney, The Relentless Garage in Islington and The Camden Underworld. Tobi also performs at local events including Get Loud in Libraries, Open Air Festivals; Barnet Hospital and Barnet Police Station Open Day, and is a regular performer on the Get Familyar Showcases; a youth lead organization using arts and entertainment to socially and economically unify and strengthen the next generation where performers take part in dance, music and spoken word. Tobi is one of a handful of new young acts that supported Westlife at the Battersea Evolution in aid of the Outward Bound Trust in November 2011.
Having been born in the middle of the information age, Tobi jots down lyrics on his Blackberry while using the guitar to create the melodies. This combination of pop vocals and blues guitar evolved the catchy pop song "You Brighten Up My Day" which got immediate attention from local radio and television stations. It was not long after that mega-hit songwriter, and legendary bassist for the blues rock group Free, Andy Fraser, heard Tobi and immediately recognized (as a child prodigy himself) Tobi's greatness and potential. After negotiating with his parents, they signed a contract with Fraser’s record label Mctrax International, and was flown to Los Angeles, CA to start recording his debut album in the early months of 2011.
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