The Flying T
Tony Mills is The Flying T, a ham and natural storyteller who was born in Oklahoma. The Grandson of a cowboy known as Smilin’ Bill, and the son of an oil-driller, he moved overseas as an “oil brat” at age 2. He lived in Libya, Nigeria, and Norway, and “soaked up the culture” (ran feral) everywhere he traveled. In high school in Norway, he took up guitar and drums and was in choir and the drama department. He still speaks Norwegian with a flawless farmer accent at a second grade level.
Upon graduation from High School he moved back to the USA to Tulsa, OK in 1981, to attend the University of Tulsa. In addition to a broadcasting degree he took 8 semesters of private instruction in percussion. As a guitarist and drummer, singer and songwriter he was a part of the vibrant New Wave and Alternative Rock scene, anchored around Explosive Records and Club Nitro. He helped found The Mad Daddies, The Rocket Rangers, and Act IV It. He opened for Los Lobos and The Killer Bees and had several songs on various albums. He was the station manager at KTOW AM1340/FM102.3 from 1987-1989 and helped put alternative music radio on the map in the Midwest.
In 1990 Tony walked away from performing music to follow his girlfriend to Washington DC where he started a career in video editing and visual effects. Over the years Tony has worked on Super Bowl commercials, music videos, films, and high end video installations. He has gained a national reputation for attracting eyeballs. In 2020 Tony launched The Flying T Editing Company, as a home for his work in visual effects. He has created and directed music videos and promos for Turn Turn Turn, Dessa, The Shiny Lights, The New Standards, Eva Haanen, and others.
In 2021, a songwriting class with Rock star Adam Levy led to exploring songwriting and lyrical expression again. The recent gift of an accordion and the revelations of a capo, have led to a renaissance of creative longing to make new music and perform live again. Tony has spent the last year writing new material for a debut modern offering, coming out as The Flying T Music & Amusements. Any given show may include cowboy rope spinning, one-handed accordion, and a splash zone. Tony promises to bring his best to every performance.