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Anthony "Tony" Lawrence Gloster was born January 12, 1947, to the late Mrs. Audrey M. Gloster Lucas and the late Mr. Albert Jerome Dupree in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.


Anthony, known affectionately as Tony was a graduate of Buffalo Public Schools where his love of music was nurtured. He attended: School #12; Clinton Jr. High School #87; and East High School graduating with a Music Diploma in 1963. Tony began to study music while at Clinton Jr. High School under Mr. Jonas Waites. His music odyssey began with the Clarinet Because all of the saxophones had been assigned. He studied music at East High School under the late Donald Hilliard. Mr. Hilliard was a mentor and often arranged for Tony to compete for scholarships with the Buffalo Philharmonic, Berklee School of Music, and other organizations. East High School had a strong music curriculum at the time and produced other notable musicians such as Imam Dawoud Sabu Adeyola who perform with Jazzman Amad Jamal, and Grover Washington, Jr.


Meanwhile Tony supplemented his studies by sneaking into local bars and "after-hour joints," where there was "live" music. He would go to the Pine Grill to witness the legends of the day. Tony was tall for his age, and he drew a mustache on his face, so bar owners didn't realize that he was only twelve (12), years old. As a teenager, he often played with local musicians such as Herman Fisher, Joe Madison, James Pappy Martin, Spider Martin, and Count Rabbit. Tony never passed up an opportunity to play music.


The next step in Tony's musical odyssey occurred when he was drafted into the United States Army in 1966, during the Viet Nam War. His childhood friend Grover Washington, Jr. suggested that he audition for the United States Army Band at Ft. Dix, New Jersey. In order to become a member of the United States Military Band, one had to pass an audition. Tony aced the audition with no trouble. Besides Grover Washington, Jr., another bandmate was Jazzman Billy Cobham.


Although Tony was a member of the Army Band, he was also a part of the Infantry while in Viet Nam. As a member of the 1st Cavalry, better known as the Buffalo Soldiers, he lived through the Battle of Hue and the Tet Offensive. When he wasn't carrying out soldier functions he entertained the troops. One notable occasion was when he accompanied Martha Raye who wanted to take him on the "road" with her. His commander wouldn't hear of it. He said: "Who's going to perform all of the solos if you leave?"


After his honorable discharge from the Military in 1968, Tony played the "Chitlin' Circuit, "with Herman "Junior" Parker and Bill "Honkey Tonk" Doggett. During his travels as a "road" musician, he met many of the legends of the day such as James Brown, Ike and Tina Turner, The Dells, Little Anthony and the Imperials, Johnny Taylor, BB King, Bobby Blue Bland, Edwin Starr, Aretha Franklin, Ester Phillips, Big Mama Thornton, etc.
Tony recalled the time he encountered Big Mama Thornton who performed R&B Package Tours with Junior Parker. She invited Tony to her room to eat dinner. Apparently, cooking in the hotel was against the rules. Big Mama started pulling out her pots and pans. When he questioned her, she said: "you have to eat don't you?" Tony often spoke of the comradery of musicians; how they would go to their fellow musicians' "gigs" appearing in the same locales. Atlantic City during the summer was an opportunity to meet and perform with some of the giants of the music world.


Tony returned to Buffalo in 1986 to care for his mother who was gravely ill. On July 29, 1989, Tony was united in holy matrimony with Nadine S. Lockwood.


Tony was very active in the local music scene. As a saxophonist at large, he played with a number of local bands. Some of the local musicians he played with: Rodney Appleby, Willie Coleman, Al Ferguson, Greg Millar, Jerry Livingston, Trigger Gaston, Emile Latimer, Harry Pender, Greg Pionteck, Count Rabbit, Skip Williams, Abdul-Rahman Quadir, Dawoud Sabu Adeyola, to name a few. He was a fixture at the Blue Note Jazz Club. Eventually, he put together his own band "Buffalo's Best Kept Secret" (BBKS), which became the house band at Hemmingway's Restaurant for about four (4) years. During this time, he returned to college and completed an Associate's degree from Erie Community College, and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in music from Buffalo State College.


Regrettably, illness slowed Tony down. However, always a musician, he continued to play when his health allowed it. When he couldn't play, he composed music. Anthony "Tony" Gloster, Saxophonist at Large made his transition on May 22, 2022, in the Buffalo Veterans Hospital.


He leaves to mourn his passing, his wife of thirty-three (33) years, Dr. Nadine S. Lockwood of Buffalo, New York; a son Anthony (Christine) Gloster II, grandchildren: Anthony L. Gloster III (Elizabeth), Christoph Gloster, Gabriella Ursula Susan Gloster; Great grandchild Rhiannon Sage Gloster all of Cheraw, South Carolina; step-son Ronald Douglas Hicks; brothers-in-law: Dale H. Lockwood, Byron C. Lockwood; sisters-in-law: Cassandra Lockwood-Davis (Henry) And Lisa L. Lockwood and host of cousins, nephews, nieces, and friends. Internment is at Forest Lawn Veterans Field of Valor in Buffalo, New York.