Tony Romeo

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Tony Romeo (December 25, 1938 – June 23, 1995) was an American songwriter, singer, and producer from Troy, New York. He wrote many hits in the 1960s and 1970s, most famously “I Think I Love You” for The Partridge Family, which reached number one in 1970. He also wrote songs such as “Oh Boy (The Mood I’m In)” for Diana Trask and Brotherhood of Man, “Walking in the Sand” (Al Martino), “Indian Lake” (The Cowsills), and “I’m Gonna Make You Mine” (Lou Christie). His songs were recorded by The Seekers, The Everly Brothers, Richard Harris, and David Cassidy, and were used in movies like Rain Man and Gaby: A True Story, as well as on The Debbie Reynolds Show.

Through the Pocket Full of Tunes agency, Romeo created jingles for brands including Breck shampoo, Muguet de Bois fragrance, Pall Mall cigarettes, and Scripto lighters. He also pursued singing, releasing solo singles such as “My Ol’ Gin Buddy and Me” / “Mr. Hunkachunk” (1966, Columbia) and “Go Johnny Go” / “Doctor Recommended Me a Potion” (1977, Lifesong). In addition to writing and producing, he worked on various projects, including the MGM album The Trout with his brother Frank Romeo and Cass Morgan, and an unreleased solo album Moonwagon. He wrote nine platinum records and contributed to a stage version of A Dog of Flanders in 1970.

“I Think I Love You” was released in November 1970 by Bell Records as The Partridge Family’s first single, and it spent three weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart (Nov 15–Dec 5, 1970).

In the last 15 years of his life, Romeo lived in Pleasant Valley, New York. He died at home on June 23, 1995, at age 56 from a heart attack. He was survived by his mother, Irene Romeo Perrelle, and his brother, Frank Romeo.