The Fabulous Mr. Tony Lee

I have a best friend. His name is Tony Lee. I have known Tony for about 10 years. He is the co- host on Les Goodman After Dark. Tony and I co-hosted the Bowie Ball. He plays with me in The Nightflower Orchestra. He makes me laugh ever time I see him.

Tony is also a very talented graphic artist and designer. Over the past 8 years, Tony has been responsible for the design of all the beautiful posters that you see on this post. I am in awe of his talent. He brings tears to my eyes and makes me laugh like no other.

But I have a confession. Perhaps there is something missing in my dna. When I posted the announcements for the shows noted above, I failed to publicly acknowledge Tony as the artist responsible for the poster art. 

On stage, it is customary to introduce the band members. Ladies and Gentlemen, Mister Tony Lee on the drums, Mister Tony Lee on the mic, Mister Tony Lee wearing the cat head.

On social media, it is very common to grab images here and there, to cut and paste. It’s as if all the world’s art is there for our picking. But is that right? To choose images without credit? 

I should know better. I should know this intimately. My wife Michelle is a fabulous photographer and artist. Yet I routinely post her photos, then fail to credit her. Often it is because I forget where they came from. Who took them. Some photographers help with marking their photos with their names. But many times, I have to go back years to the posting of the original events to track down ownership. Sometimes I credited them, but then I repost the same photo, and forget to credit again. It is complicated.

But the oversight of crediting the poster designs is just bad manners. Or a glitch I’m my dna. Or the asshole gene.

So let me shout it out here at the top of my lungs. 

Please know that I have love and respect and appreciation for my dear friend, Tony Lee.  Tony is responsible for the design of these posters.  I thank him for his art, and his friendship.