The Tastemaker

From the Beatles to Elton John and the Rolling Stones, Tony King has been a confidante and creative muse for some of the world's greatest artists. Now, for the first time, he tells his story.

The Tastemaker charts the singular life of a man who has been at the beating heart of music's most iconic moments for over sixty years.

Leaving school and starting his career at Decca Records in 1958 at the age of sixteen, Tony King would soon find himself becoming close friends with Elton John, rekindling John Lennon and Yoko Ono's relationship, mediating a quarrelsome Mick Jagger and Keith Richards and spending time with Freddie Mercury in his final days - a far cry from his childhood days in Eastbourne.

Living in an era of seismic social, technological and cultural transformation, King experienced these defining moments as a stalwart in London and New York's gay scenes. Alongside his heady life in showbusiness, he was witness to the AIDS crisis and its devastating consequences: the death of family, the death of friends and the stultifying weight of responsibility in being called upon to hold things together.

At once profound and suffused with Tony King's disarming warmth and unparalleled charisma, The Tastemaker paints an intimate portrait of a music legend and captures the unpredictable world he stamped his indelible mark upon.

About the Author

Tony King started his career in the music business at Decca Records in 1958 before going on to become the youngest promotion man of the time. After setting up Immediate Records with Andrew Loog Oldham, he was approached by Sir George Martin's independent production company to do promotion for his artists and others in the company, including The Beatles and Cilla Black. In 1970 he joined Apple Records as general manager, continuing to work with the Beatles before becoming executive vice-president of Elton John's label, Rocket. He worked with Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones for almost three decades.