The man who made “Funky Called Medina” a national phenomenon will be making an appearance on the campus of Denison University as a part of the Welcome Back Concert.
The event is scheduled from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Friday (Sept. 15) at Bancroft Field and is sponsored by the Student Activities Office. Dinner will be served from 5 to 7 p.m., the dining halls will be closed for the event, and Tone Loc will be starting promptly at 6 p.m.
In case of rain, Tone Loc will be performing at 8 p.m. in the Mitchell Athletic Center.
Tone Loc, born Tony Smith and a former member of an L.A. gang, broke onto the national scene in 1989 with the release of Loc-ed After Dark.
The album, which contained the singles “Funky Called Medina” and “Wild Thing,” co-written by Young MC, took the pop/rap world by storm. However, the album contained primarily rap-dominated songs as opposed to the two pop-oriented singles released.
Loc-ed After Dark was the second rap album to top the pop charts.
Tone Loc’s sophomore effort, Cool Hand Loc, did not contain the catchy pop-inspired rap songs that his debut album did. The album’s first single “All Through the Night” failed to reach the top 20 and was a premonition to the change in Tone Loc’s success of the past.
The album did, however, boast such catchy titles to songs as “Hip-Hop It Is Kinda Different” and “Pimp Without a Caddy.”
In addition to his music career, Tone Loc did have his share of movie and T.V. cameo appearances. Tone Loc has appeared in the FOX sitcom Roc as well as the movies Posse and Ace Ventura: Pet Detective.
Tone Loc returned to recording and released “Funky Called Medina ’99” in 1999 and “Funky Called Medina Y2K” in 2000.
Tone Loc’s appearance at Denison University is tied into an outdoor festival atmosphere, complete with inflatable games and food.
Though the event has a new name, it was formerly known as Baccnalia, it still features much of the same setup as years past.
Games to be included at the event are “an obstacle course, giant boxing, and a slide made to look like the sinking Titanic.” Additionally, there will be the ever-popular dunk tank.
For more information, contact the Student Activities Office at (740) 587-6662.