Marc Anthony

2.1. Early Life and Upbringing

Marco Antonio Muñiz was born on September 16, 1968, in New York City, United States, to Puerto Rican parents. His father, Felipe Muñiz, worked in a hospital cafeteria and was also a musician, while his mother, Guillermina Quiñones, was a homemaker. Anthony was named after the renowned Mexican singer Marco Antonio Muniz. He grew up as the youngest of eight children in East Harlem, an area also known as Spanish Harlem or El Barrio, and was raised as a Roman Catholic.

His musical education began at home under the guidance of his father, Felipe, who was a professional guitarist. From an early age, Anthony learned to sing in both Spanish and English. His childhood was filled with diverse musical genres and artists, including rock music, rhythm and blues, and pop music stars such as José Feliciano from Puerto Rico and Air Supply from Australia. He also listened extensively to salsa legends like Héctor Lavoe (Puerto Rico), Willie Colón (United States), and Rubén Blades (Panama). According to Anthony, the esteemed Puerto Rican percussionist and bandleader Tito Puente had a profound personal and professional influence on him throughout his life.

2.2. Early Musical Career

Anthony began his professional career as a session vocalist for freestyle music and underground New York house music acts. To avoid confusion with his namesake, the Mexican singer Marco Antonio Muñiz, he adopted the professional name Marc Anthony. He also worked as a songwriter and backing vocalist for pop groups such as Menudo and the Latin Rascals. Anthony's early salsa style distinguished itself from the more socially conscious New York salsa musicians of the 1960s and 1970s and the highly produced "romantic" salsa artists of the 1980s, by drawing heavily from the African American and urban genres like rhythm and blues and house that he grew up listening to.

His first album, "Rebel", a freestyle music record, debuted in 1988 on Bluedog Records. In the same year, he wrote and produced "Boy I've Been Told" for fellow freestyle artist Sa-Fire. In 1989, he provided 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, Anthony collaborated with Little Louie Vega and Todd Terry again to write a duet with Chrissy I-eece titled "You Should Know By Now". In 1992, he continued working with Todd Terry, providing vocals for "Love Change", which was featured on the B-side of a 13-inch vinyl release by Elan and The Powermachine titled "Here's Your Hat". Concurrently, he collaborated extensively with music producer Little Louie Vega, who featured Anthony on several freestyle club hits, including "Ride on the Rhythm" and the "When The Night Is Over" album, which included the classic freestyle track "Time." In 1992, Vega and Anthony performed as an opening act for Latin bandleader Tito Puente at Madison Square Garden in New York. After 1992, he transitioned his musical focus from freestyle to salsa and other Latin styles.

3.1. Transition to Salsa

Despite his initial reluctance to become a salsa musician, Marc Anthony was persuaded to change his mind after hearing Juan Gabriel's hit song "Hasta Que Te Conocí" while in a taxi. This experience inspired him to approach Ralph Mercado, president of RMM Records, and request to record the song as a salsa tune. Influenced by the music of Tito Puente, Héctor Lavoe, Rubén Blades, and Juan Gabriel, Anthony released his Spanish-language debut album, Otra Nota, in 1993. The album also featured a cover of Bread's "Make It with You". Subsequent tours across the Americas, including an opening slot for Rubén Blades, quickly established Anthony as one of the newest stars in salsa.

By the early 1990s, Anthony had become the top-selling salsa artist globally, solidifying his position among the most important new salsa artists to emerge in the decade. In 1994, he was featured on La India's album Dicen Que Soy, performing the song "Vivir Lo Nuestro". His 1995 follow-up album, Todo a Su Tiempo, earned Anthony a Billboard Award for Hot Tropical Artist of the Year and was nominated for a Grammy Award. The album featured popular songs such as "Te Conozco Bien", "Hasta Ayer", "Nadie Como Ella", "Se Me Sigue Olvidando", "Te Amare", and "Llegaste A Mi". It sold over 800,000 units and achieved gold record certification in both the United States and Puerto Rico.

Anthony's next Spanish-language album, Contra La Corriente, was followed by the television special Marc Anthony: The Concert from Madison Square Garden, which aired on HBO on Valentine's Day in 2000. This special was nominated for 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 chart, marking a historic achievement as the first by a salsa musician. Contra La Corriente also became the first salsa album to enter the English-language Billboard 200 chart. After an ongoing dispute with RMM, Anthony severed ties with Ralph Mercado and left the label in 1999. The success of Otra Nota, Todo a Su Tiempo, and Contra La Corriente cemented his status as the top-selling singer in the history of the genre, enabling him to sell out prestigious venues internationally, including Madison Square Garden.

3.2. Crossover to Pop and English Market

Following his success in salsa, Marc Anthony entered the English-language market. He recorded the duet "No Me Ames" with Jennifer Lopez for her album On the 6, assisting her in her Spanish-language crossover attempt. He also recorded the duet "I Want to Spend My Lifetime Loving You" with Tina Arena, written by James Horner for the soundtrack of the 1998 film The Mask of Zorro.

In 1999, capitalizing on the crossover success of artists like Ricky Martin and Enrique Iglesias in the Anglophone market, Anthony released his self-titled English-language album. Working with producers such as Walter Afanasieff, Cory Rooney, Dan Shea, and Rodney Jerkins, the album featured the US Top 5 single "I Need to Know" and its Spanish version, "Dímelo". His song "You Sang to Me" was featured in the 1999 film Runaway Bride, with a dance version remixed by Dutch producer Rene Van Verseveld. The album debuted at number eight on the Billboard album chart, achieved platinum status within six weeks, and eventually became triple platinum. "I Need To Know" earned a Grammy nomination for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.

In 2001, Anthony released another salsa album, Libre, which was certified gold and included songs like "Celos", "Este Loco Que Te Mira", and "Viviendo". This album spent 14 consecutive weeks at the number-one spot on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart. The following year, he released another English-language album, Mended.

In June 2004, Anthony released the Latin pop album Amar Sin Mentiras. The subsequent month, he re-released its songs with a danceable salsa rhythm in another album, Valió la Pena. The song "Escapémonos" was a duet with Jennifer Lopez. At the Latin Grammy Awards of 2005, Amar Sin Mentiras won Best Latin Pop Album of The Year, and Valió La Pena won Best Tropical Album of the Year. Lopez and Anthony performed "Escapémonos" at the Grammy Awards of 2005.

On July 11, 2006, Anthony released Sigo Siendo Yo, a Spanish greatest-hits album. In May 2010, he released Iconos, a tribute album featuring old Latin songs by artists such as José Luis Perales, Juan Gabriel, and José José. In 2012, he released a new song titled "Cautivo De Este Amor" and was inducted into the Billboard Latin Music Hall of Fame.

In December 2012, it was announced that Anthony was recording a new salsa album with longtime producer Sergio George. "Vivir Mi Vida", a Spanish adaptation of Khaled's song "C'est la vie", was released as the lead single on April 25, 2013. In July 2013, Anthony released 3.0, a salsa album that included "Vivir Mi Vida". The album has since been certified Platinum. Following the album's release, Anthony embarked on his Vivir Mi Vida World Tour, performing in 15 countries across three continents. After this tour, he announced a second world tour for his 3.0 album, the Cambio de Piel Tour.

Following his Cambio de Piel Tour, Marc Anthony commenced UNIDO2, an international tour with Carlos Vives. Anthony remains a highly sought-after touring artist. The Vivir Mi Vida world tour, recognized as one of PollStar's top-selling tours of 2013, was extended until May 2014 due to popular demand and received a Premio Juventud for Super Tour of the Year. His US and Latin American tour, Gigant3S, with Marco Antonio Solís and Chayanne, topped the 2012 Billboard Hot Latin Tours charts. In September 2016, a segment of his "Marc Anthony Live" tour included five dates at Radio City Music Hall, with three of these shows selling out.

3.3. Discography

Marc Anthony's discography includes a wide range of studio albums, live recordings, and compilations, showcasing his versatility across salsa, Latin pop, and English pop genres.

3.4. Tours

Marc Anthony has undertaken numerous major concert tours, often collaborating with other prominent Latin artists, reaching audiences globally.

• Juntos en concierto (Together in Concert) series:**
  • Juntos en concierto 2005 with Chayanne and Alejandro Fernández
  • Juntos en concierto 2006 with Laura Pausini and Marco Antonio Solís
  • Juntos en concierto 2007 with Jennifer Lopez
• Gigant3S Tour:** A US and Latin American tour in 2012 with Marco Antonio Solís and Chayanne, which topped Billboard's Hot Latin Tours charts.
• Vivir Mi Vida World Tour:** Launched in 2013 following the release of his album 3.0. This tour covered 15 countries across three continents and was extended into May 2014 due to popular demand, earning a Premio Juventud for Super Tour of the Year. It was recognized as one of PollStar's top-selling tours of 2013.
• Cambio de Piel Tour:** A second world tour for his album 3.0, following the Vivir Mi Vida World Tour.
• UNIDO2 Tour:** An international tour with Carlos Vives.
• Marc Anthony Live:** A tour in September 2016 that included five dates at Radio City Music Hall, with three of the shows selling out.

4.1. Film

Anthony has appeared in a range of film roles, from supporting characters to leading parts, often incorporating his musical talents.

4.2. Television

Anthony has made several appearances in television series, including guest roles and involvement in music production.

• 2000:** Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child (TV series) as Mario (voice) in the episode "Robinita Hood" (Season 3, Episode 12).
• 2010-2011:** HawthoRNe (TV series) as Officer Nick Renata, a recurring role in season 2 and a main role in season 3. He was later named the executive music producer of the show.
• 2011:** Co-hosted and produced Q'Viva! The Chosen, a Latin talent series created by Simon Fuller, alongside his then-wife Jennifer Lopez and director-choreographer Jamie King. The show followed Lopez and Anthony as they traveled across 21 countries to discover new talent. It aired simultaneously on Spanish and English television in the US and Latin America in 2012.
• 2012:** Guest-mentored on Season 2, Episode 9 of The X Factor.

4.3. Stage

Marc Anthony has also performed in theatrical productions, most notably on Broadway.

5.1. Major Awards and Nominations

Marc Anthony has sold over 12 M albums worldwide, earning numerous gold and platinum certifications from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). He has won a total of 29 Lo Nuestro Awards, which is the most for any male artist. He has also been honored with the ASCAP Founders Award, 12 Billboard Latin Music Awards, and three general Billboard Music Awards.

His first Grammy Award came in 1998 for Best Latin Tropical Performance for his album Contra La Corriente, which was directed, arranged, and produced by Ángel "Cucco" Peña. In 2000, he received the first-ever Latin Grammy Award for Song of the Year for "Dímelo" (the Spanish version of "I Need to Know"). Building on the momentum of this hit single, his eponymous English-language debut album, Marc Anthony, achieved triple-platinum status in the US and played a significant role in ushering in the Latin pop explosion of 1999-2000. In 2005, he received two Grammy Awards: Best Latin Pop Album for Amar Sin Mentiras and Best Salsa Album for Valió la Pena.

5.2. Records and Special Recognitions

Marc Anthony holds the Guinness World Records for being the best-selling tropical/salsa artist and for having the most number-one albums on the Billboard Tropical Albums year-end charts. He is also the artist with the most number-one songs on the Billboard Latin Tropical Airplay chart, with 32 songs.

He has achieved 25 Billboard chart hits. His songs "Vivir Mi Vida" and "Flor Pálida" have garnered over 680 million YouTube views and 270 million YouTube views, respectively. In May 2015, he received his second Vevo PL certification for reaching 100 million views for his music video "A Quien Quiero Mentirle". In 2013, "Vivir Mi Vida", the lead single from his album 3.0, spent 18 consecutive weeks at No. 1 on Billboard, making it the longest-running number-one single of all time. It also received the Latin Grammy Award for Record of the Year.

On November 16, 2016, Anthony was honored as the Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year by the Latin Recording Academy in recognition of his extensive musical contributions and philanthropic work. He has also been recognized by New York magazine as one of the Ten Most Influential New Yorkers. In 2012, he was inaugurated into the Billboard Latin Music Hall of Fame. Additionally, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute in Washington, D.C., in September 2009, and a special recognition from the Univisión television network. In 2023, Rolling Stone magazine ranked Anthony at number 167 on its list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.

6.1. Philanthropy

In January 2012, Marc Anthony co-founded the Maestro Cares Foundation with entrepreneur Henry Cárdenas. The foundation is dedicated to improving the quality of life for orphaned and disadvantaged children in Latin America and the United States. In 2014, the Maestro Cares Foundation opened an orphanage in La Romana, Dominican Republic. The following year, in 2015, the foundation expanded its efforts by opening a youth home and school in Barranquilla, Colombia.

In 2017, Anthony collaborated with his ex-wife Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez to host One Voice: Somos Live!, a telethon aimed at supporting recovery efforts in Puerto Rico following the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria. This initiative highlighted his continued commitment to aiding his ancestral homeland during times of crisis.

6.2. Entrepreneurship

Anthony has also made significant strides in the business world. In 2009, he became a minority owner of the Miami Dolphins NFL team, joining a group of celebrity investors that included Gloria Estefan and Emilio Estefan, Venus Williams and Serena Williams, and Fergie.

In 2011, alongside his return to television on the TNT series HawthoRNe and his US tour, he launched his own line of clothes and luxury accessories for the department store chain Kohl's. In 2012, he co-produced the TV series ¡Q'Viva! The Chosen with Jamie King and Jennifer Lopez, which aired simultaneously on Spanish and English television in the US and Latin America. In April 2015, Anthony announced the formation of his entertainment company, Magnus Media. This venture aims to empower Latin music artists and athletes, with Anthony stating it "was born out of frustration" with existing industry structures. More recently, his production company signed a first-look deal with ViacomCBS International Studios, further expanding his influence in media production.

7.1. Marriages and Children

Anthony has been married four times and is a father to seven children.

His first marriage was to former Miss Universe Dayanara Torres. They married on May 9, 2000, in Las Vegas. The couple had two sons: Cristian Marcus Muñiz, born on February 5, 2001, who graduated from Parsons School of Design in May 2023; and Ryan Adrian Muñiz, born on August 16, 2003. Anthony and Torres divorced in 2004.

In June 2004, Anthony married singer and actress Jennifer Lopez. They had previously worked together and dated briefly in the late 1990s. During their marriage, they frequently collaborated on music, performed together, and co-starred in the 2006 film El Cantante. Lopez gave birth to their twins, a son named Max David and a daughter named Emme Maribel Muñiz, in February 2008. People magazine reportedly paid 6.00 M USD for the exclusive first photos of the twins. In 2009, Anthony and Lopez jointly purchased a stake in the Miami Dolphins. They also acquired two houses in Brookville, New York. Anthony and Lopez announced their separation in July 2011, and Anthony filed for divorce on April 9, 2012. Their divorce was finalized on June 16, 2014, with Lopez retaining primary physical custody of their two children.

Anthony married model Shannon De Lima (born January 6, 1989) on November 11, 2014, in La Romana, Dominican Republic. They separated in November 2016 and announced their plans to divorce the following month. Their divorce was finalized on February 13, 2017.

As of February 2022, Marc Anthony was in a relationship with Miss Universe Paraguay Nadia Ferreira. They became engaged on May 13, 2022, and married on January 28, 2023, at the Pérez Art Museum in Miami. Notable guests at their wedding included David Beckham and Carlos Slim, who served as best men. On Valentine's Day, February 14, 2023, the couple announced via Instagram that they were expecting a child. Their son, Anthony's seventh child and Ferreira's first, was born in June 2023.

7.2. Relationships and Family

Prior to his first marriage, Marc Anthony had a daughter named Arianna Muñiz, born on June 29, 1994, with his then-girlfriend Debbie Rosado. While they were dating, they also adopted a son, Chase Muñiz, who was born in 1995. From 1996 to 1998, Anthony dated and was engaged to Dominican-American actress Claudette Lali. Anthony is a practicing Catholic.

9.1. Musical Influence

Anthony's unique salsa style, which heavily borrowed from the African American and urban genres like rhythm and blues and house that he listened to during his upbringing, set him apart from earlier salsa musicians. His early Spanish-language albums, including Otra Nota, Todo a Su Tiempo, and Contra La Corriente, were instrumental in establishing him as the top-selling singer in the history of the salsa genre. These albums enabled him to consistently sell out prestigious international venues, including Madison Square Garden, and solidified his position among the most important new salsa artists of the 1990s.

His successful transition into the English-language market with his self-titled album Marc Anthony in 1999 was a significant event, helping to usher in the broader Latin pop explosion of 1999-2000. Anthony's ability to blend traditional Latin sounds with contemporary pop and R&B elements has influenced numerous subsequent artists, bridging cultural and musical divides and bringing Latin music to a global audience.

9.2. Critical and Public Reception

Throughout his career, Marc Anthony has consistently received strong critical acclaim and maintained immense popularity among the public and fans worldwide. His albums have frequently topped charts, with his 2001 salsa album Libre spending 14 consecutive weeks at the number-one spot on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart.

His crossover success was evident with his 1999 English-language debut, which went triple-platinum in the US. In 2005, he notably received two Grammy Awards for his albums Amar Sin Mentiras (Best Latin Pop Album) and Valió la Pena (Best Tropical Album), showcasing his mastery across different Latin genres. His single "Vivir Mi Vida" from the 2013 album 3.0 became his longest-running number-one single on Billboard, spending 18 consecutive weeks at the top of the charts.

Anthony's consistent ability to sell out major concert venues globally, as demonstrated by the success of tours like the Vivir Mi Vida World Tour, underscores his enduring appeal and strong public reception. His numerous awards, including 29 Lo Nuestro Awards (the most for any male artist), multiple Grammy Awards and Latin Grammy Awards, and his induction into the Billboard Latin Music Hall of Fame, reflect his significant standing and influence within the music industry. His recognition by Rolling Stone as one of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time further solidifies his critical acclaim and lasting legacy.