Marc Anthony is a multi-talented singer, dancer, actor, songwriter, producer, and fashion designer. He is inarguably one of the world’s biggest pop stars, and the top-selling salsa artist of all time, considered the only rightful heir to the late Hector Lavoe’s throne. Anthony has sold tens of millions of recordings, won multiple Grammys, Latin Grammys, and dozens of other awards. Since releasing 1997’s Contra La Corriente, he’s regularly scored Top 200 albums and Top Ten Latin Albums that include 2007’s El Cantante, 2013’s 3.0, and 2019’s multi-platinum-certified Opus. As an actor he has appeared in starring and supporting roles in films including The Substitute, Big Night, and Blue in the Face. He starred as Lavoe in El Cantante, had a recurring role in the television series Hawthorne, and appeared in Broadway productions such as Paul Simon’s The Capeman. While rightfully regarded as one of the great salseros to emerge in the 20th century, he continues to innovate by embracing and exploring new directions and trends in Latin music and pop; he has employed tenets from hip-hop, electro, rock, soul, and trap, as on 2022’s Grammy- and Latin Grammy-winning Pa’llá Voy and 2024’s Muevense.
Instructed in music theory and composition by his father, Anthony (who was born in 1968 in New York City) 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 hip-hop hit for school friend Safire. Anthony subsequently sang background vocals on Safire’s debut album and 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 hip-hop-style 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 his 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.