Tony Avitia started life in the small border town of Rio Bravo, Tamaulipas, Mexico. As an infant, he was brought to the U.S. by his immigrant parents. His early years were spent in the diverse and creative city of Houston, Texas. Avitia finished a public education and bounced around various gigs after graduating; grocery store clerk, bicycle messenger, and legal services gopher for a well-heeled law firm, before landing on music full time.
Throughout the 90s, Avitia‘s boundless work ethic and passion for music helped establish some of Houston’s most revered bands. Punk-rock mainstays 30footFALL, Fenix TX and Slip-Hop legends I-45 all count Avitia as a founding member and all have gone on to critical and commercial success in their respective genres. In addition to an extensive discography, touring with I-45 (Houston Press “Best Hip-Hop” award) included 200-300 shows a year across North America for most of the decade. Often supporting some of the most diverse artists of the era; Linkin Park, At The Drive In, Blink-182, KRS-1, Ice-T and many others. Avitia also established and currently operates indie music label Broken Note Records (Houston Press “Best Label“ Award Winner). Since 1994, the label has released over 60+ albums and compilations featuring bands from all over the globe. The label continues to this day with Marshall Falcon and associated acts as its primary focus.
The 2000s came with a move to Southern California to expand the musical reach to new fans and to connect within an American music hub. Avitia would go on to form the self-named space-blues outfit “AVITIA” . He and his band were regular fixtures at the historic venues on the Sunset Strip; The Roxy, The House of Blues, and the iconic Whisky A Go Go. 5 full-length albums (including an album recorded by renowned engineer Steve Albini) and multiple nationwide tours followed. Avitia would achieve a few personal milestones in the decade, including becoming a father, finishing a BA at Cal State and finishing the New York City Marathon.
The 2010s ushered in a move to the Pacific Northwest and the founding of short-lived amphibious thrash band The Big Small. After 2 albums, The Big Small disbanded and Avitia went dormant for the rest of the decade. While music writing and recording continued, the decades of live performances had taken an emotional and physical toll. Avitia channeled his energy into hundreds of canvases and became an active and exhibited visual artist. In addition, he opened a recording studio in Eugene, Oregon where he has produced/engineered over 300+ albums for a wide variety of music clients. He also went on to complete an MBA (Management) program at Northwest Christian University.
He most recently produced and recorded the latest Marshall Falcon release “Go West Young Man”
