Toni’s Musical Journey

Toni Bellini, a rockstar at heart from Sault St. Marie, hit the stage at the age of five in Italy and never looked back. With her soul steeped in rock ‘n’ roll, she’s rocked cover bands with her raw, untrained voice, channeling the greats like Cher and the power ballads of the '80s. Juggling numbers by day as an accountant, she’s a frontwoman by night, belting out tunes in a medley of languages. Her life’s a track list of contrasts. Now, she’s amped to get back to the club scene, guitar riffs in tow, ready to inspire a new generations of artists with her music legacy. 🎸

Press

Written by author: Mike Beggs

With thirty-three years of experience fronting GTA cover bands, Toni Bellini has vocal versatility, and stage presence to spare. But then, you might say the vivacious Sault St. Marie native got an early start.

"I was a year-and-a-half," she laughs. " I couldn't speak English, but I could definitely sing in English."

"My brother played the accordion, and my sister sang," she continued. "My Mom played harmonica, and my Dad played guitar and sang like Dean Martin. So, he and my mother would serenade each other.”

She first climbed on stage at age 5 while on holidays in Italy, perennially placed first in her hometown Kiwanis Variety Show, she appeared in a production of "Oklahoma" in her teens. Bellini never took vocal lessons. So, who was her biggest influence?

"Cher," she says, without hesitation. " I used to watch "The Sonny and Cher Show" when I was 7. She had the type of voice you couldn't duplicate." I like her personality. I like who she is."

From there, there were pop chanteuses like Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Madonna, and Celine Dion - but she also likes heavier groups like Metallica, Def Leppard, Journey, and Trooper.

Bellini relocated to Toronto in 1983, planning to study Comedy but in the end opting for Business. She married at 20 and had two daughters, while holding down a day job and gigging at night.

"It's an interesting life I’ve led," she muses.

"(Music is) a great stress reliever. I love being with people."

Most notably, she fronted the '80's/Top 40 band The Trades from 2006-'09 (doing Journey, U2, Guns 'N Roses, etc.). For several years she was also a featured guest at The Harp jam in Port Credit, hosted by Juno-nominated singer/songwriter Tom Barlow.

Just check out the polish she puts on Fleetwood Mac's "Don't Stop", her affecting rasp on 4 NonBlonde’s "What's Up", and the soul and sheer vocal power displayed on Amanda Marshall's "Let It Rain".

By day, she's a Certified Management Accountant. "I’ve been told there's a connection between numbers, and numbers on stage," she jokes. Bellini also spent many years singing with the wedding bands Dusk, and Vienna -requiring her to learn songs in English, Italian, Spanish, and French.

Surprisingly, she says it wasn't all that tough.

"No, I'm fluent in Italian. That was my native tongue, so I'm good at languages. I find them all very similar to Italian," she explains.

Having passed the music bug on to her daughters Alesia (who plays piano), and Kristen (acoustic and electric guitar), she now hopes to get back to playing in the clubs. And she has penned and recorded originals like the catchy "Naughty Or Nice", and the radio-friendly ballad, "You're The One For Me".

"I’ve written a lot of inspirational material for the younger generation," she adds.

Community

Toni Bellini’s music has a unique way of bringing our community together. Her rock and roll tunes, performed alongside her band, create a welcoming atmosphere that encourages people to connect and enjoy the moment. Toni’s concerts are more than just live music events; they’re gatherings where locals can celebrate their love for rock and share a sense of belonging. 🎸

Band practice

Band practice is where the rhythm of hearts and the harmony of souls come together to create music that resonates beyond the walls of any room. Whether it’s in a garage, a studio, or a school, Toni ensures her band mates are preped and ready to preform on any occasion.

Other Services

• Comedy
• Creating Jingles
• Film/Theatre
• Dancing
• Modeling
  

Toni

Toni