Marco Antonio Muiz, known professionally by his stage name Marc Anthony, was born
in New York City to parents from Yauco, Puerto Rico.[2] His mother Guillermina was
a housewife, his father, Felipe Muiz, a musician and hospital lunchroom worker.
Anthony's parents named him after Mexican singer Marco Antonio Muiz. Anthony grew
up in East Harlem, also known as Spanish Harlem and El Barrio, and is the youngest
of eight surviving children. He was raised Roman Catholic.[7]
Singing career[edit]
Muiz began his career as a session vocalist for freestyle and Underground New York
house music acts. After changing his name to avoid confusion with his namesake,
Anthony worked as a songwriter and backing vocalist for pop acts including Menudo
and the Latin Rascals. His first album was a freestyle music record, "Rebel," which
debuted in 1988 on Bluedog Records.[8] That same year he wrote and produced "Boy
I've Been Told" for fellow freestyle artist Sa-Fire. Then in 1989, he sang backup
vocals for Ann-Marie on the freestyle club hit, "With or Without You" produced by
Little Louie Vega and Todd Terry. A year later in 1990, with Little Louie Vega and
Todd Terry, Marc wrote a duet with Chrissy I-eece, called "You Should Know By Now."
In 1992, still working with Todd Terry, he provided vocals for "Love Change," which
is on the flip-side of a 12" vinyl released by Elan and The Powermachine titled
"Here's Your Hat," production of Todd Terry. At the same time, he collaborated with
music producer Little Louie Vega, who featured the singer on many freestyle-
flavored club hits "Ride On The Rhythm" and the "When The Night Is Over" album,
which featured the Freestyle classic "Time." In 1992, Vega and Anthony opened for
Latin bandleader Tito Puente at New York's Madison Square Garden. After 1992, he
changed his style from freestyle to salsa and other Latin styles.
RMM records[edit]
Anthony was initially reluctant to become a salsa musician and declined an offer to
make a salsa album when Ralph Mercado, president of RMM Records, asked him. Anthony
was in a taxi when he heard Juan Gabriel's hit song, "Hasta Que Te Conoc," which
influenced him to change his mind and ask Mercado if he could record it as a salsa
tune.[9] Inspired by the music of Tito Puente, Hector Lavoe, Rubn Blades, and Juan
Gabriel, Anthony released his Spanish-language debut, Otra Nota, in 1993. Anthony
performed at the Radio y Musica Convention hosted by Alfredo Alonso.[10] The album
also included a cover of Bread's song, "Make It with You." Subsequent tours
throughout the Americas, including an opening slot for Blades, established Anthony
as one of the new stars in salsa. In 1994, he was featured in La India's album
Dicen Que Soy, on the song "Vivir Lo Nuestro".
His 1995 follow-up, Todo a su tiempo, won Anthony a Billboard award for Hot
Tropical Artist of the Year. The album was also nominated for a Grammy with songs
like "Te Conozco Bien," "Hasta Ayer," "Nadie Como Ella," "Se Me Sigue Olvidando,"
"Te Amare," and "Llegaste A Mi." The album has sold more than 800,000 copies and
has become established as a gold record in the United States and in Puerto Rico.
Anthony's next Spanish language album, Contra La Coriente, was followed by the
television special Marc Anthony: The Concert from Madison Square Garden. It was
broadcast on HBO on Valentine's Day in 2000. The special was nominated for the
Music Special of the Year by TV Guide. The album's song "Y Hubo Alguien" became
Anthony's first number-one single on the Billboard Hot Latin Tracks and the first
by a salsa musician.[citation needed] The album became the first salsa album to
enter the English language Billboard 200 chart.[citation needed] After an ongoing
battle with RMM, he severed ties with Ralph Mercado and left the label in 1999.
[citation needed]
Otra Nota, Todo a Su Tiempo, and Contra La Corriente established him as the top-
selling singer in the history of the genre, able to sell out Madison Square Garden
and prestigious venues internationally.
