Toby Beau is an American band from Texas, formed in the early 1970s and best known for the 1978 hit single "My Angel Baby." The band remains in existence and continues to perform on the club circuit. The band's name was derived from one of the last original wooden shrimp boats docked in the Gulf Coast community of Port Isabel, Texas.
Formation
Toby Beau was formed in the Rio Grande Valley in south Texas. Original members included guitarists Danny McKenna, Balde Silva, and Art Mendoza, bassist Steve Zipper, and drummer Rob Young. After performing at clubs throughout South Texas, the band relocated to San Antonio, Texas, and secured a recording contract with RCA Records. The deal brought in the production talents of Sean Delaney, who was also producing Kiss at the time. Guitarist Mendoza was subsequently replaced by guitarist and banjoist Ron Rose, who added a country flavor to the band's sound. Early recording sessions took place at Robin Hood Bryan's studio in Tyler, Texas, followed by a session at RCA studios in Hollywood, California.
"My Angel Baby"
Following the completion of their self-titled debut album, the band moved to New York and toured with major acts including the Doobie Brothers, Bob Seger, and the Steve Miller Band. The pop ballad "My Angel Baby," co-written by Danny McKenna and Balde Silva, reached number 1 on the Easy Listening Chart for one week and number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album achieved gold status, and the song was granted the "Million-Aire Award" by BMI for over a million radio airplays. The album was later re-released with "My Angel Baby" as its title.
More Than a Love Song
Following the success of the first album, the band temporarily moved to Miami to record a second album. Unsatisfied with the initial sessions, the band relocated to Tennessee to work with major session players. The second album, More Than a Love Song (1979), was produced with the assistance of Daniel Moore and Norbert Putnam, with musicians including Victor Feldman and Larrie Londin. The album produced a Billboard Hot 100 single with a cover of John D. Loudermilk's "Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye," but was otherwise a financial disappointment. Within a year of its release, McKenna, Zipper, Rose, and Young departed the band.
If You Believe
Balde Silva completed the third album largely on his own, securing legal rights to retain the band's name. He moved to Los Angeles to record with producer Jerry Fuller. The album If You Believe was released in 1980 and produced a third hit with the ballad "If I Were You," though it was not a commercial success.
1980s to the present
RCA dropped the band after the third album, but Silva adopted "Toby Beau" as his own stage name and continued performing. In the 1980s, his wife Rennetta (under the stage name Dennett) joined the band. Sessions for a fourth album were recorded in the 1980s and again in the late 1990s, but no studio release has been produced. Silva continues to perform on the club circuit, frequently around South Padre Island, Texas, and for the cruise ship industry, with guest musicians including his son, saxophonist Michael Silva.
Danny McKenna was found dead in his home in McAllen, Texas, in April 2006, at age 54. Police reported that he died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Discography
Studio albums:
- Toby Beau (1978; re-released as My Angel Baby), US 200 peak: 40
- More Than a Love Song (1979), US 200 peak: 204
- If You Believe (1980)
Compilation albums:
- My Angel Baby: The Very Best of Toby Beau (1999)
Singles:
- "My Angel Baby" (1978): US Hot 100 peak 13; US Easy Listening peak 1
- "Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye" (1979): US Hot 100 peak 57; US AC peak 7
- "If I Were You" (1980): US Hot 100 peak 70
