Love Is Here to Stay

Tony Dagradi

Anthony Arnold "Tony" Dagradi (born September 22, 1952) is an American jazz saxophonist. Dagradi was born in New York City, and began playing alto saxophone when he was eight years old; in his professional career, he has primarily played tenor and soprano saxophone. He studied under Pepper Adams, Andy McGhee, Kidd Jordan, and Tony Aless in his youth, and was a student at Berklee College of Music (1970-1972). The following year he founded the ensemble Inner Visions, which included Ed Schuller and Gary Valente as sidemen. After touring with Archie Bell and the Drells, he relocated to New Orleans in 1977 and freelanced regularly with jazz and blues musicians in the city. He was a member of Professor Longhair's touring band in the final years of Longhair's life,… more »