At the age of 16 Garrett Kleitz and Tori Ponce started playing Country and Rock music in local Kansas City music Venues. Tori won the Winfield Kansas Soundscape song writing contest for her first song "Dance With Me". Tori also wrote the song Comfort and Pain during this time. Tori and Garrett started dating within months of starting a band. Love is a powerful thing!
The Name "Black Onyx" as well as a bass player Jimmy fate joined the band in 2016. Black Onyx was awarded 1st place 2016 Roxy Battle of the Bands. Published by InTheNow and MegaMetal Magazine at Providence Medical Center Amphitheater in Bonner Springs Kansas. Tori Ponce was awarded best female vocalist by The 2016 Roxy Music Awards. During this time Tori wrote the songs Corruption, The Black House, While I've Got You, I've Never Been this High, Abandoned Things and Burn Him Down.
Guitar player William Keen joined Black Onyx at the beginning of 2017 completing the 4 piece Rock band. Black Onyx has played many of the larger Kansas City music venues. Black Onyx was published in working on completing their Freshman Album at their private studio in Wellsville Kansas. Black Onyx has 4 talented musicians with a powerful Rock show ready to tour Nationally and Internationally..
Thanks for supporting Black Onyx we hope you like our art and share it with your friends.
This is a Review from Memories by Dotty and published by Music Mahem Network in June of 2017.
"Here we have the incredibly talented Tori Ponce ofBlack Onyx. As I sat watching the setup of Black Onyx's instruments, I assumed this little lady was merely a roadie, boy was I completely surprised, the moment she began to sing the very first song in their setlist, I was completely shocked to hear her vocals resemble the lovely Lizzy Hale of Halestorm. I was far from disappointed and felt myself mesmerized by the pipes on this lil lady!
I felt compelled to meet her after the show, just to tell her how wonderfully she sang for us all this evening. Keep a close watch on this band as they play at Jim Kilroy's Battle of the Bands, July 14, 2017 at the Aftershock Venue in KC. You can bet, I will be there once again to watch them perform live! Thank you Tori for your magnificent performance and voice, it was magic to my ears ;) Congrats goes to Black Onyx we will hopefully get you out to those unknown to your music!!!
— with Black Onyx at Ottawa Memorial Auditorium."