Amarillo's Tony Christie helps out performing arts college in financial crisis

Still touring and delighting fans through Europe and on the way to Amarillo, Tony Christie’s 60-plus-year career is something to celebrate.

A national treasure and one of the most recognisable voices the UK music industry has ever produced, on Wednesday, January 18, Tony will be performing a special one-off show to help raise funds for READ College here in Newbury.

There are some who think Tony Christie appeared on our TV screens out of nowhere in 2005 to ask the way to Amarillo. Those who know better, can tell you that over the last 50 years he has recorded a string of hits.

Tony’s chart breakthrough came in 1971 with Las Vegas, which made it to the UK Top 30. His follow up I Did What I Did for Maria, made it to no 2.

Later in 1971 his next single was (Is this the way to) Amarillo by Neil Sedaka. Further chart success was followed by singing the role of Magaldi on the original 1976 recording of Evita.

For the last 14 years, READ College has aimed at making sure young people from every walk of life have equal access to industry standard performing arts training.

Due to the cost-of-living crisis, their recovery from Covid-19 and the loss of their ability to host international students, the future of READ College is now uncertain.

A pre-Christmas fundraising campaign raised £40,000 to prevent the college closure at the end of term. But the fight goes on.

These young people deserve to finish their training and have their educational expectations met.

Arlington Arts is supporting this event in aid of such a vital resource for talented local young people.

Visit www.arlingtonarts.co.uk for booking details.

Go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqLLDZvbG-U for the Is this the Way to Amarillo? Comic Relief video