Latin American singer Marc Anthony performs onstage
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.