Tony Hardy lives in Kingston upon Thames, just south-west of London, England. His background is sales and marketing, initially on the client side but largely, on the agency side. He has a degree in English from Exeter University and specialised in Medieval English Literature, a qualification which equipped him perfectly for his first job as a Sales Rep for the erstwhile Milk Marketing Board. Today he has a business called fifty3 and combines brand marketing with music interests. He could be the oldest writer on CoS but don’t let that worry you.

Tony’s great passion in life is music. Nothing gives him more pleasure than unearthing good, original new music. He believes he can spot great talent and indeed, in a parallel universe, is already wealthier than Simon Cowell, has better taste and a lower waistband. He has a weakness for female singer-songwriters, championing UK breakthrough artiste, Kate Walsh, and claiming to have discovered Ingrid Michaelson before most of America did. Tony is a great supporter of unsigned bands and includes UK acts, Revere, Morton Valence, Gabby Young and Other Animals, and The Mayflys, plus singer-songwriters Andrew Morris, Susie Clarke, Kat Flint and Esther O'Connor among his favourites.

Tony’s love of music does not stop him playing bass in local covers band, PlanB (no, not that Plan B), at parties and charity events. Outside of music, Tony’s interests are his family and friends, writing, travel, football, cricket, F1, horse racing and fantasy sport. He manages to combine business with pleasure by running an online Fantasy Formula 1 competition for Red Bull.