Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you .. Anthony "Tony" Horvath. He competed on the floating stage in Bemus Point during the Bemus Bay Pops signing competition entitled Chautauqua Lake The Choice. He became one of the 5 finalists along with Liz Osborne who is now with Osborne/Nash. The other contestants that year were Angel Rodrigues, Ryan Buzzetto and Eric Wilbon. Eric, a music student at SUNY Fredonia took the title that year. The Choice was presented in 2015 and 2016. It was to empower, inspire and mentor talent.
Anthony is from Columbiana, Ohio and loves to sing. After his first appearance on the floating stage he enjoyed a dinner with friends in the Italian Fisherman. During the competition he met many locals including my husband and myself. Upon leaving the restaurant that night he told his girlfriend, Christine .. "I've already won". When Anthony told me this during a recent phone conversation I knew exactly what he meant. He simply didn't enter the contest to win he just wanted to experience singing on the floating stage after letting the Lord enter his life. By doing so it allowed him to receive a spiritual message .. Go out, young man and proclaim your faith in me and love of music through song where ever you find it. During that summer he found it .. on a stage that floats!
For this interview I asked Anthony what it was like to be on that stage in 2016! His response was "I was at peace, not nervous. Ask and you shall receive. God will take you to the highest of highs if you believe in Me."
Anthony was "flying" and "soaring like an eagle" that summer in Bemus Point NY.
Anthony's mother, Louise has always been an uplifting inspiration in his life as was his late father, Fred. He was Anthony's hero. As a young boy he was the shy child in the family though Anthony loved to imitate many famous singers such as Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Paul Anka and Johnny Cash. Later in life at one of his mother's birthday celebrations his siblings gave her many beautiful material gifts though Anthony's gift to his mother was to sing Volare, in Italian, from his heart. He performed it with no musical accompaniment (acapella). Volare was recorded and released in 1961 by Domenico Modugno. In the lyrics there is a familiar line .. Nel Blu' Dipinto Di Blu'. The translation is "in the blue painted blue". Anthony's special gift of song was given to his Mom on her 77th birthday! Another Italian recording artist who performed Volare was Dean Martin. The word, Volare is the Latin and Italian verb to fly. The word, cantare means to sing of. Another Italian, Al Martino recorded Volare in 1976 with a unique uptempo rhythm.
"No wonder my happy heart sings your love has given me wing".
Since the world has been coping with COVID-19 Anthony has been performing concerts via the internet. On Easter Sunday he could be found entertaining his many friends and family through an Italian themed concert from his home. He truly sings with the love of the Lord in his heart. He tells me that he doesn't speak Italian though he can hear a song in Italian and can then sing it! He calls it .. divine intervention.
Thank you Anthony for coming to Bemus Point that summer and sharing with us your God-given talent, your infectious laughter and your warm genuine smile. Since visiting Chautauqua County and sharing his singing talent with all of us Anthony sings at local venues in Ohio including several Ohio wineries. One of them is The Vineyards at Pine Lake located at 14101 Market Street in Columbiana. Hopefully, Anthony will return to singing outside of his home in the near future.
As a warm footnote, Anthony explained to me how he met the lovely lady in his life named Christine. When he told her that he was a singer he proceeded to sing, Slow Dancin' by Johnny Rivers. He began singing the words "and we're slow dancin', swayin' to the music". Suddenly he forgot the second line "slow dancin', just me and my girl". They both laughed when they realized the words included "just me and my girl". It wasn't long before Christine did become .. his girl.
"Slow dancin', swayin to the music
No one else in the whole wide world just you, girl".
Slow Dancin' was released in 1977. Sweet memories for many a couple swayin' in the high school gym after a football game, back then. My high school had a vintage jukebox that would be rolled out from the coach's office so I, too, recall this song and slow dancin'. As with many teenage girls, my age, we all had a crush on Johnny Rivers!
Be safe.
Pat Locke
Maestro Muse
