Tony Arata
Born and raised in the Savannah, Ga., area, Tony Arata paid his dues in regional bands performing everything from Bluegrass to Rock ’n’ Roll while in college as a journalism major. He was discovered in an Atlanta nightclub by a representative of the Noble Vision record company. As a result, the label’s Jim Glaser recorded Tony’s first hit as a writer, 1983’s “The Man In The Mirror.” Tony also recorded his own LP for the label. The songwriter moved to Nashville in 1986 and signed with Dennis Morgan’s publishing company. In 1990, “The Dance” (Garth Brooks — 1990 ACM Song of the Year) became his first #1 hit. Among Tony’s best-known songs are “A Handful Of Dust” and “Here I Am” (Patty Loveless), “Dreaming With My Eyes Open” (Clay Walker), “I’m Holding My Own” and “You Can’t Get There From Here” (Lee Roy Parnell) and Garth Brooks’ “The Change,” “Why Ain’t I Running” and “That’s The Way I Remember It” (as Chris Gaines).
© Moments By Moser Photography * Bev Moser
