Tony Pomponio is one of the Valley’s newest and recognized television personalities whose TV debut and newfound passion unexpectedly came about in his 60s. Five years ago he was approached by Mike Colonna, who invited Tony to join a local show called Wiseguys Cooking Variety Show as the band leader. This opportunity sparked his new acting career. Tony subsequently appeared in television shows such as “Mark’s Place,” “The Mark & Tony Show,” and “PTSD: A Soldier’s Revenge.” His current ventures are hosting “Mangia & Music with the Tonys,” and “California Limelight” with his cohosts Tony Zoccoli and Will Stephanie Wilson pictured on the front cover.
Tony was born on January 22, 1955, in Detroit, Michigan; Antonio [Tony] Nicola Pomponio’s arrival into the world was anything but ordinary. Just a day before his birth his parents, Rocco and Littoria Pomponio, received the distressing news that no heartbeat could be found. Being devout Catholics, they turned to their beloved Saint Antonio for help. Miraculously, the following day Tony was born healthy and alive. It was this remarkable event that led to his name. As a first-generation American, Tony’s early years were spent with his Italian- speaking grandparents. The family later moved from Detroit to a suburb of East Detroit, where Antonio attended school and discovered his passion for sports.
At the age of eight he became enamored with the accordion after hearing his cousin play. Fascinated by the instrument, Antonio asked his father for lessons and soon embarked on a musical journey. By the time he turned twelve he had become the state champion, although he narrowly missed the title of eastern states champion due to a brief bout of stage fright. “A compassionate judge offered me a glass of water,” Tony recalls fondly. “That compassion stuck with me, and I regained my composure and then performed a 21-page concerto from memory!” From then on, stage fright never plagued him again.
The following year, when Tony turned thirteen, his life drastically changed; all he had ever known was his mom as a loving stay-at-home mom and his hard-working father a contractor in the construction industry.
One day his father announced they would be moving to Los Angeles, where they had extended family. Although he was initially devastated to leave his friends behind Tony, his pregnant mother and younger brother embarked on a train journey to Los Angeles. Tony took on the role of leader during their relocation. “I will never forget when I saw palm trees for the first time in my life. I stopped to stare; I was so fascinated by them,” Tony laughs.
Six months later, his father joined them and purchased a struggling Italian deli. Tony vividly remembers sitting in the front seat of his father’s Cadillac, hearing his father proclaim that he would be his right-hand man. At thirteen years old Tony began working for his father, and their joint efforts transformed the deli into a thriving family business. Tony cherished every moment of their fifteen years working side by side.
Meanwhile, Tony attended San Gabriel High School. He excelled academically and demonstrated extraordinary athletic talent. Tony pursued his passion for accordion playing professionally and participated in football and baseball. He dreamed of becoming a professional baseball player, and he even attracted attention from the St. Louis Cardinals scouts.
However, fate took an unexpected turn; one day while going home to pick up his baseball uniform before a playoff game, he was involved in a head-on collision with a drunk driver. Tony sustained numerous cuts, bruises and stitches, but the most severe injury was a double fracture in his left leg. This ended his full athletic potential before it could flourish. Thanks to a skilled specialist, he healed and was able to walk again after a grueling nine-month recovery period. Despite concerns of a potential limp, Tony was fortunate to regain full mobility.
After attending Cal State Los Angeles, Tony began a seventeen-year career at an Italian cheese company after his father sold the deli. Despite climbing the ranks to become Vice President, he desired to establish his own business. During this time, he married Franny, his soulmate, to whom he has been married for 37 years, and together they operated three successful companies. However, as the years passed Antonio realized the importance of prioritizing time with their sons.
They sold their businesses in Rancho Cucamonga and relocated to Palm Desert, California in 1995 before moving to Sun City in Northern Indio. Tony secured a position as a key account manager at a dairy company. This job offered Tony flexiblity to coach high school-level football, baseball and basketball and new-found television opportunities.
Tony’s new enthusiasm for being a TV entertainer and performer has also been able to flourish, especially with retirement from the dairy company on the horizon. He is excited to spend his retirement years focused on his new passion for acting and TV. You can watch his current productions on YouTube: “Mangia & Music with the Tonys” and his variety show “California Limelight” which will air on Fox 11 later this year. “I am also in production of an fun series called ‘Hopalong Stugots’,” Tony says. “I am surrounded by good people and fun projects; I have been blessed with many opportunities and challenges. The Valley is my home and always will be!”
