Marc Anthony: Biography

VITALS
Born Marco Antonio Muniz, September 16, 1968, New York, New York

Marc Anthony was born Marco Antonio Muniz in 1968. He was raised by Puerto Rican parents in New York City’s Spanish Harlem, where he began his career singing for his family at the kitchen table. His father, also a musician, hoped he would pursue music, and named him after a famous Mexican singer with the same name. Later, as Marco gained popularity, he shortened the name to Marc Anthony so as to avoid confusion.

Growing up, Marc listened to rock and R&B, and got his start writing songs and performing with such pop acts as Menudo and the Latin Rascals. Eventually, he began singing solo in New York City night clubs, and met up with house producer Little Louie Vega, who he would go on to collaborate with.

In 1992, Vega and Anthony hit the mainstream when they opened for Latin legend Tito Puente. It was around this time that the influence of salsa performers such as Puente, Rubin Blades and Juan Gabriel began to show in Anthony’s music. In 1993, he released his first Spanish language album, Otra Nota, to both popular and critical acclaim. Tours around the world followed, but Anthony remained relatively unknown outside of the Latin music scene until September 1999, when he released his debut English language album titled “Marc Anthony.” Sixth months after its release, the album went platinum. It is now quadruple platinum.

Most recently, Anthony finished filming the video for an upcoming single titled “Tragedy.” The video was filmed in Rio de Janeiro, but a release date has not yet been set.

DISCOGRAPHY

Oltra Nota, released 1993
Summary:Anthony’s salsa debut features his rendition of Juan Gabriel’s “Hasta Que Te Conoci” and is a bit softer than the work that would follow it.

Todo a Su Tiempo, released 1995
Summary:Anthony dedicated this album to Puerto Rico, and it went on to receive a Grammy nomination. Although it did not win in 1996, many fans and critics contend that this is his best album to date.

Contra La Corriente, released 1997
Summary:This mix of salsa, R&B and pop helped Anthony win the 1999 Grammy for Best Tropical Latin Performance. It’s his third Spanish language album and was recorded with the help of the well-known arranger Angel “Cucco” Pena.

Desde Un Principio: From the Beginning, released 1999
Summary:This modern salsa album won the 2001 Billboard Latin Award for Latin Greatest Hits Album. It features songs from 1993’s “El Ultimo Beso” to “No Me Ames,” his 1999 duet with Jennifer Lopez.

Marc Anthony, released 1999
Summary:This self-titled album won the 2000 Latin Grammy Award, and was nominated for the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance and the 2000 Latin Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.

Headliners, released 2000
Summary:“Headliners” is made up of eight interviews with Marc Anthony and comes with a 100-page booklet.