HONG KONG – Tributes are being paid to renowned Hong Kong bandleader Tony Carpio, who died this week at the age of 82.
Originally from the Philippines, he picked up his father Tom Carpio’s guitar at the age of 12 before arriving in Hong Kong in 1957 when he was 17.
Tony Carpio soon began playing professionally.
He also became the musical director of Diamond Records, home to many local artists and pop groups at the time.
In 1972, he joined DJ “Uncle Ray” Cordeiro at RTHK, producing 18 jazz programmes.
He later formed the Tony Carpio Big Band and an eight-piece jazz ensemble.
The band had an 18-year run at Dickens Bar at Excelsior Hotel in Causeway Bay, dazzling fans on Sunday afternoons.
The musician and composer had a strong influence on Hong Kong’s music scene and was considered an inspiration to the younger generation of performers.
He was the father of Hong Kong pop singer Rita Carpio, who is of Filipino-Macanese ethnicity.
– RTHK, MPD
Undated photo of Tony Carpio performing on Macau’s Monte Fort – Photo courtesy of Rosalie Carpio via RTHK
