Marc Anthony: Biography

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• Discography
• Biography
• Related Artists

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• Héctor Lavoe
• Frankie Ruiz
• Johnny Rivera
• Sergio Contreras
• Tito Nieves
• Rokabanda
• Rey Ruiz

• Miami Sound Machine
• Latin Rascals
• Rubén Blades
• Luis Miguel
• Menudo
• Julio Iglesias
• Celia Cruz

• Obie Bermúdez
• Bustamante
• Christian Daniel
• Elvis Crespo
• Camila
• Thalía
• Son by 4

• Alberto Barros
• Ana Isabelle

Birth Name:

Marco Antonio Muniz

Born:

Sep 16, 1969 in New York, NY

Genres:

Classical Music, Latin Music, Rock En Espanol Music, Mambo Music, Merengue Music, Salsa Music

Decades Active:

1990's|2000's

Artistic Quality

High

Cultural Impact

High

Popularity

High

Ratings Guide

A multitalented artist, Marc Anthony (born Marco Antonio Muniz) has balanced an acting career with a musical career. In addition to appearing in films like The Substitute, Big Night, and Hackers, and in Broadway productions such as Paul Simon's +Capeman, Anthony rose to the top level of Latino music. The biggestselling salsa artist of all time, Anthony was included on a top ten list of influential New Yorkers compiled by New York Magazine.

Instructed in music theory and composition by his father, Anthony grew up listening to Latin musicians, including Rubén Blades, Hector Lavoe, and Willie Colón, and contemporary pop recordings by Air Supply and José Feliciano. At age 12, Anthony and his sister were discovered by David Harris, a producer of demos and commercials; Anthony was hired to sing background on several productions. His songwriting skills became evident, and an early composition, "Boy, I've Been Told," became a Top 40 hiphop hit for school friend Safire. Anthony subsequently sang background vocals on Safire's debut album. He also sang on albums by the Latin Rascals and Menudo.

Teaming with producer and disc jockey Little Louie Vega, Anthony recorded his debut album, When the Night Is Over, in 1991. The Latin hiphopstyle album, which featured guest appearances by Tito Puente and Eddie Palmieri, included the single "Ride on the Rhythm," which reached the top slot on Billboard's dance music charts. On November 22, 1991, Anthony was the opening act on a show at Madison Square Garden that celebrated Puente's 100th album release. Anthony's second album, Otra Nota (produced and arranged by Sergio George), was a better representation of Anthony's salsa roots and included the original tune "Juego o Amor." Todo a Su Tiempo, released in 1995, was a continuation of Anthony's collaboration with George.

With his fourth album, Contra la Corriente, Anthony began working with producer/arranger Angel "Cucco" Peña, and it won the 1999 Grammy for Best Tropical Latin Performance. A selftitled Englishlanguage album released in 1999 was an overt attempt at crossing over to the mainstream, and it did reach the Top Ten of the main Billboard album chart, with "I Need to Know" peaking at number three. While 2002's Mended was an even greater commercial success, Anthony continued to release Spanishlanguage albums that were closer to his roots, like 2001's Libre and 2004's Amar sin Mentiras. His profile was only raised by starring as Héctor Lavoe in 2007's El Cantante, which costarred his wife, Jennifer Lopez.

- Craig Harris, All Music Guide