Anthony, Marc

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Marc Anthony

Singer

“M-I-C-K-E-Y” launches vocalist’s career

Star-Slated Salsa Sensation

Searching for a New Goal

Rejected Old School Dress Code

Translating His Songs

Hollywood Hopeful

Making Time for Things That Count

Selected discography

Sources

Marc Anthony is Ana vocalist whose contemporary version of salsa has been embraced internationally by Latino audiences and criticized as controversial by old school music critics. Not even thirty years old, Anthony has reached more lofty goals than many accomplish in the course of their entire careers. “I was born to be a singer, it has never been a question for me,” he told The Globe. In addition to his many recording credits, Anthony has appeared in several films.

Marc Anthony attributes much of his own unique style to a diverse musical upbringing. He was born in 1969, Antonio Marco Muniz, to Puerto Rican guitarist Felipe Muniz and his wife. Raised in the tough neighborhood of East Harlem, New York Anthony was exposed to two competing musical worlds; the street sounds heard on the sidewalks of his neighborhood and the authentic Puerto Rican jibaro music generating from his father’s Friday Night Jam Sessions. Jibaro music is the prominent music of Puerto Rico defined by the “le lo lai” of the vocalist. As he elaborated in the February 1996 issue of GTTV, “I would walk down third avenue and out of one window I could hear Ruben Blades’ music, while Gloria Gaynor came blasting out another and Doobie Brothers sounds from the window of a passing car’s stereo. But to be honest with you, I never liked salsa because it didn’t cater to the younger generation. And I couldn’t relate to it. I thought it was uncool.” Like many rebellious youngsters Anthony did not appreciate his parents’ tastes until much later in his life. However, at a very young age Anthony was taught music and composition by his father probably influencing his decision to pursue a career in music. While his childhood home was suffused with the background soundtrack of Ruben Blades, Hector Lavoe, and Willie Colon, Anthony credits his most relevant musical influences growing up as Air Supply and Puerto Rican superstar Jose Feliciano.

“M-I-C-K-E-Y” launches vocalist’s career

At age 12, Marc and his sister were discovered by commercial producer David Harris, in the midst of belting out the Mickey Mouse theme. They were used almost exclusively by Harris for quite sometime, providing background vocals for his productions and commercials. Ever since that fortunate break, Anthony’s career has been on the upswing.

While still in school, Anthony began writing songs. One of his compositions “Boy I’ve Been Told” caught the ear of his good friend and singer Sa-Fire. Anthony ended up recording background vocals for the dance siren’s entire album, as well as writing “You Said You Love Me” and “I Better be the Only One.” The single “Boy I’ve Been Told” went on to became a top-40 hit. During his teens, Anthony also worked with groups such as the Latin Rascals as well as Menudo.

With his interests moving toward club hip-hop and dance music, Anthony was fortunate enough to team up with DJ and producer Little Louie Vega who is described by Rebecca Mann of the Latin Times Magazine as “the nicest most talented star maker in New York.” Though Vega and Anthony had been acquainted though the New York Club scene for years, it wasn’t until a low-budget movie East Side Story that their professional paths finally crossed. Vega had written the score for the filmin which Anthony sang and had the main role. Louie impressed and delighted by Anthony’s abilities, asked if he would considerforming a partnership. Anthony agreed and the result was his first album When the Night is Over ( Atlantic Records) produced by Vegaand including appearances by India and the legendary Tito Puente. A showy single from the record, “Ride on the Rhythm” reached number one on the Billboard dance chart.

Star-Slated Salsa Sensation

Ambitious and driven, Marc Anthony created a series of far-fetched goals for himself. Before the age of 35, he wanted to sing at Madison Square Garden, perform at Carnegie Hall, and to have a number one record. With the fiery success of the dance smash “Ride on the Rhythm,” Anthony managed to achieve one his coveted goals before even reaching legal drinking age. At this point in his career he was a champion of the urban dance music

For the Record…

Born Marco Antonio Muniz, September 16, 1969 in New York, NY; son of Felipe Muniz, Puerto Rican jibaro guitarist; single; one child: Arianna

Marc Anthony was discovered at age 12 by commercial producer David Harris; as a teenager, he wrote songs and performed with Sa-fire, The Latin Rascals, and Menudo; at age 19, opened for Danny Rivera at Carnegie Hall; opened for Tito Puente’s 100th Album celebration at Madison Square Garden November 22, 1991. Released his debut album When the Night is Over (Atlantic Records) in 1991. Single “Ride on the Rhythm” reached number one on Billboard magazine’s dance singles chart; appeared in the MGM film Hackers, 1995.

Awards: Billboard Award, Best New Artist of the Year, 1994; Todo a su Tiempo, Tu Musica Award Best Tropical Album of the Year, Quadruple Platinum; Otra Nota -Double Platinum, 1994 Lo Nuestro Award, Ace Award, Diplo Award in Puerto Rico.

Addresses: Office —Marc Anthony Productions, 1385 York Avenue, Suite 6F, New York, NY 10021; phone: (212)396-0963

known as “freestyle” which basically is an ethnic combination of hip-hop and disco. Even though he was inherently proud of his heritage, the musician was not yet associated with the salsa music for which he became celebrated. At age 19, Anthony achieved the second of his desired goals when he participated at a Carnegie Hall concert with vocalist Danny Rivera. The third and most notable of success was accomplished on November 22, 1991 when he opened the tribute to jazz legend Tito Puente at Madison Square Garden on the occasion of his 100th album.

Searching for a New Goal

Upon achieving his aspirations, Anthony, still incredibly young and feeling invincible, began searching for a new path. The next road for the musician was paved by his friend and manager David Maldonado and Ralph Mercado(the president of Soho Latino/RMM records). The pair offered him and other artists such as India, who shared a similar musical background, the opportunity to cross over, to record a salsa record for the Soho Latino label. Anthony considered the record offer, thought it an interesting opportunity, and agreed. The successful vocalist was also interested in the opportunity to work with RMM main producer Sergio George. George and Anthony both were fans of each other’s work. Atthetime, Anthony was being mentally revisited by the sounds of his parents’ homeland and finally he was inspired by the music he had rejected as a child. He was elated when the legendary Tito Puente jumped on-stage with him at a Ne York Palladium performance, and through personal contacts he was happy to be able to land a gig as a “water boy” for legendary Ruben Blades. In this very glamourless position Anthony would run to obediently greet Blades with water should the star’s thirst present a need. In an ironic twist of fate through the course of his career, his relationship with Blades has developed from idolworship, to being a colleague, and finally culminating in a friendship.

The highly praised first salsa album by Marc Anthony was entitled Otra Nota. The record, sung entirely in Spanish, contains compelling versions of songs by musicians Jan Gabriel and Ian Chester. One original song on the album that received much attention, “El Ultimo Beso,” was written by none other than Anthony’s father. In a 1996 concert series at the Luis A. Ferre Performing Arts center in San Juan Marc, Anthony had the honor of performing this song with his dad. He told The San Juan Star in July 1996, “It’s special anytime you can give something back. For me it’s a very special concert, for him it’s a great big moment in his life. I know what it means to him and it means so much to me to be able to make his dream come true”. The album was a breakthrough success fromthe start. In January 1993, just 5 months after its release, Otra Nota went gold. The album eventually claimed double platinum status.

Otra Nota was a sales success and managed to gather a host of good reviews. In Billboard magazine Otra Nota was descriped as “a smashing salsa premiere and showcasing his (Anthony’s) emotive bari-setto searing over George’s customary fine arrangements.” The album was met with a lot of controversy regarding its authenticity as real salsa, generally from people at odds with the younger generation’s interpretation.

Rejected Old School Dress Code

“My critics say my take on salsa is heresy, but I say I just do salsa the way I would sing it.” Anthony claims that while he was initially attracted to the music, he couldn’t relate to the old school open shirts, gold chains and ultra flashy style. Rejecting the social requirement of dressing flashy to perform salsa, Anthony instead often dons a pair of jeans, T-shirt and a baseball cap on stage. “When I recorded my first album I didn’t know anything about technique. People sent me cassettes of traditionalists and said, ’Here learn this, you’re doing it all wrong.’ I said, ’No way. Let me contribute something new.’ I just closed my eyes and did it the way I heard it from my experience and thank G-d I did it the way I heard because now looking back I can say I have a style of music that is mine”

Translating His Songs

In June of 1995, Anthony released the super smash Todo a su Tiempo. The album gained platinum status literally overnight in an twenty-four hour sweep. The title translated into English means all “in due time.” Anthony found it an appropriate name due to the album’s two year, very detailed and demanding process of completion. “The record has that title,” Anthony explained to the El Daily News, “because I think artists cannot do things in a hurry” Since its release, the recording has gone quadruple platinum and has brought not only international acclaim but has also substantiated Marc Anthony as a force to be reckoned with within the music industry. The album was arranged and co-produced by Anthony and contains compositions by Omar Alsano, Rudy Perez, Victor Victor and Manny de Gado. In addition to its success, Todo a su Tiempo managed to place Anthony side by side with idols Ruben Blades, Willie Colon, and Celia Cruz as a 1996 Grammy nominee in the tropical album of the year category.

Marc Anthony’s career has demanded many live appearances. In 1995 the Salsa sensation hit the concert trail with vigor, spending an exhausting 50 out of 52 weeks on the road. His relationship with his fans and his pride in his heritage are of great importance to him personally and appear significantly in his music as well. On stage Anthony is described by Elizabeth Roman of GTTVs “shining like no other, as he displays an aggressive energetic passion that almost always brings the audiencesto their feet.” During his performances, he always pays atribute to the Puerto Rican Flag. He brings out the flag not in the essence of the performance but to express pride in his heritage. Anthony often sells out concerts, playing multiple nights at a single venue, and was described by Christina Veran of Newsday as having a similar stage strut to the provocative Rolling Stone singer Mick Jagger.

Hollywood Hopeful

Marc Anthony’s prolific charms, besides developing a gigantic fan base, have attracted additional attention by Hollywood big-wigs. He has starred in three major motion pictures to date. In the film Hackers, released in 1995 by MGM Entertainment, he portrays a young secret service agent. In The Substitute, Anthony is a gang leader who controls a high school and in The Big Night he appeared opposite legendary actress and model Isabella Rossellini. Though Anthony enjoys the challenges of acting, he reportedly has no intentions of giving up his musical endeavors. As he explained to the San Juan Star, “The day movie making satisfies me as much as music is the day I will be able to decide between the two.”

Making Time for Things That Count

Anthony’s career still maintains an accelerated pace. With prospective movie deals and musical opportunities, the singer has had many demands placed on his time. In 1997, Anthony sought to change that burden to accommodate what he described in Latina magazine as “the current love of his life,” his infant daughter Arianna. Anthony insists his next album will follow the same lengthy recording process as Todo a su Tiempo, with a possible two-year wait. In the meantime, after turning down many opportunities, he chose to accept a role in the much-anticipated Broadway play Capetown so he could stay close to Arianna in New York City. In the play, expected to open in summer 1997 on Broadway, Anthony will star along with his longtime hero and colleague Ruben Blades. Both men play the convicted-murderer-turned-lauded-writer, Salvador Algron. The music is composed by Paul Simon.

Anthony is fortunate and humble. He explained his gratitude to GTTV: “The truth is I’m doing what I was born to do. God gave me this gift and the tools to do this and even if it’s just to instill Puerto Rican pride in others, I am doing what I was born to do. What keeps me going is knowing my daughter will have all the options I never had”