Tommy Anthony Explained

Tommy Anthony
Birth Date:	17 August 1965
Birth Place:	New York, U.S.
Education:	Christopher Columbus High School, University of Miami
Years Active:	1980–present
Module:	Embed: yes

Tommy Anthony (born August 17, 1965) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, arranger, and producer. He has released three studio albums. His single "I Don't Know You Anymore" charted in the top 40. In 2012, he won an El Premio ASCAP Award for composing the 2011 World Cup theme song. He was a featured performer at the Billboard Latin Music Conference and ASCAP's "Best Kept Secrets".^{[1] [2] [3]} He is perhaps best known for his extensive work as a guitarist and vocalist for Santana, Gloria Estefan, and Jon Secada. He has toured and recorded with Steve Winwood, Shakira, Carole King, Celine Dion, Ricky Martin, and Enrique Iglesias.^[4]

Early life and education

Thomas Anthony Maestu^[5] was born on August 17, 1965 in New York, and was raised in Miami, Florida. He began singing, playing the guitar, drums, piano, and bass as a teenager; he is a self-taught musician.

He attended Christopher Columbus High School where he teamed up with classmates Joe Alonso and Raul Malo to form the musical group The Boys, which later evolved into The Tomboys. Anthony played guitar, sang, and wrote songs for the group. They garnered a large following playing local shows and concerts.

His guitar influences are cited as Carlos Santana, Terry Kath, Jimmy Page, and Eric Clapton (with Cream). As a songwriter, Anthony cites Lennon & McCartney, James Taylor, Stevie Wonder, and Sting as influences.

He received a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Miami.^{[6] [7]}

Career

Anthony is a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist (guitar, piano, bass, percussion, programming), producer, and music arranger. He pursued a solo music career and has been a band member of The Boys, The Tomboys, The Basics, The Beat Poets, Goza, Four O'Clock Balloon, The Miami Sound Machine, and Santana.

In 1993, he became a studio session musician, playing guitar and providing vocals on albums for such artists as Ricky Martin, Shakira, Enrique Iglesias, and Mandy Moore. Anthony toured with Gloria Estefan as a guitarist and vocalist for ten years until she retired.

He was then offered a gig as Santana's guitarist and vocalist with whom he has recorded and toured with extensively from 2005 to the present day. Anthony has received press coverage about his on-stage dual-guitar performances with Carlos Santana.^[8] In an interview with NPR, when speaking about the recording of his album Africa Speaks, Santana said, "The thing that kept the flow happening - because everything's about the flow - was Tommy Anthony."^[9] Anthony has also been a featured singer and performer in Santana's concerts, performing "Roxanne" at the Smart Financial Centre in 2017.^{[10] [11] [12]}

In 1997, during the period that Anthony was touring with Jon Secada, he co-founded the musical group Four O'Clock Balloon, featuring Tommy Anthony, releasing several albums:The Four O'Clock Balloon, More Hot Air, and Up, Up, and Away. The Four O'Clock Balloon received favorable reviews and sold well at Tower Records stores in Chicago and Minneapolis. The Miami New Times voted the group Best Rock Band in 1998.^{[13] [14] [15] [16]}

Solo career

Anthony pursued a solo music career, with his genre being described as "American pop with Afro-Cuban rhythm". His 1995 debut album, Mondial, received favorable reviews with its single release, "I Don't Know You Anymore", charting at #14. In 2012, he won an El Premio ASCAP Award for composing the 2011 World Cup theme song.^{[17] [18] [19]} He has been a featured performer at the Billboard Latin Music Conference (with Sheila E.), ASCAP's "Best Kept Secrets", and the Hispanic Heritage Awards.^{[20] [21]}

Anthony was signed to a publishing deal with Sony Music Publishing (ATV/New York).^{[22] [23]} He has produced music for Disney, Univision, and Comcast, and provided vocals on "A Love Before Time", the closing theme song for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, which was also included on the soundtrack.^[24]

Warner Bros. released a series of Anthony's guitar instruction videos, such as SongXpress's Early Rock & Roll, Vol. 1, California Sound for Guitar, Vol. 1, and Mag Rack's Guitar Xpress.^{[25] [26] [27] [28]}

• Discography
• 1995 – Mondial
• 2001 – Latin Majik (Sony Disco)^[29]
• 2020 – Iguales^[30]

Selected discography

• 2021 – Blessings and Miracles – Santana – guitar, vocals^[31]
• 2020 – Whiter Shade of Pale – Santana (featuring Steve Winwood) – guitar, vocals^[32]
• 2019 – Africa Speaks – Santana – guitar, vocals^[33]
• 2014 – Corazón – Santana – guitar, vocals^[34]
• 2010 – – Santana – guitar^[35]
• 2006 – Rayito – Rayito – vocals
• 2005 – Desde Siempre – Chayanne – vocals
• 2004 – Universal Es Sergio Dalma Sergio Dalma – composer
• 2004 – The Best of Mandy Moore – Mandy Moore – vocals
• 2004 – Así Soy Yo – David Bustamante – arranger, guitar (Acoustic, electric, 12 string), programming, bateria, vocals
• 2003 – Milagro – Jaci Velasquez – vocals
• 2003 – Estrella Guía – Alexandre Pires – vocals
• 2003 – Esencia Natural – Ainhoa Cantalapiedra – guitar, programming, bateria, vocals
• 2003 – Cuarto Sin Puerta – Shalim Ortiz – vocals
• 2003 – Clave De Amor – Raúl Di Blasio / José Luis Rodríguez – vocals
• 2003 – Amar Es – Cristian Castro – vocals
• 2002 – Sensual – Roberto Perera – vocals
• 2002 – En Alma, Cuerpo y Corazon – Gisselle – vocals
• 2002 – Dame de Eso – Carlos Baute – vocals
• 2001 – Nueva Vida – Sergio Dalma – composer
• 2001 – Mandy Moore – Mandy Moore – vocals
• 2001 – Laundry Service – Shakira – vocals
• 2001 – In My Pocket – Mandy Moore – vocals
• 2000 – y Más – Myriam Hernández – vocals
• 2000 – Sound Loaded – Ricky Martin – vocals
• 2000 – Para Estar Contigo – Jaime Camil – vocals
• 2000 – Noche de cuatro lunas – Julio Iglesias – vocals
• 2000 – Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (soundtrack) – Yo-Yo Ma / Tan Dun – vocals
• 2000 – Amén – Azucar Moreno – vocals
• 1999 – Ricky Martin – Ricky Martin – guitar (acoustic/electric)
• 1999 – Llegar a Ti – Jaci Velasquez – vocals
• 1998 – Dónde Están los Ladrones? – Shakira – vocals
• 1997 – Tributo a Queen: Los Grandes del Rock en Espanol – Cachorro López – guitar (electric)
• 1995 – Mondial – Tommy Anthony – primary artist

Notes and References

1. Web site: El Premio ASCAP Awards 2012. Billboard. March 31, 2012. August 24, 2023.
2. Web site: Showcased Artists and Panel Experts Take The Fifth Annual Latin Music Conference Into the Grenre's Golden Age by John Lannert page LM-4. Billboard. May 21, 1994. August 8, 2023.
3. Web site: ASCAP's "Best Kept Secrets" in Miami. Billboard. February 11, 1995. August 8, 2023.
4. Web site: Carlos Santana In Concert in Costa Rica. Inside Costa Rica. April 5, 2005. August 8, 2023.
5. Web site: Thomas Maestu Obituary. Legacy. October 18, 2007. August 25, 2023.
6. Web site: Exclusive: Lost power pop release from The Tomboys. Power Popaholic. March 10, 2017. August 8, 2023.
7. Web site: S3 - EP11: Tommy Anthony '82 - Playing With Santana. Christopher Columbus High School. January 12, 2022. August 8, 2023.
8. "New Members of Santana's Band Add to an Energetic Show", Honolulu Star-Advertiser Page B-2, March 5, 2016
9. Web site: 'Africa Speaks' To Carlos Santana's Past. NPR. June 14, 2019. August 9, 2023.
10. Web site: "Roxanne", "Love, Peace & Happiness", "The Highest Good" & 2 more- SANTANA Live @ Smart Fin. Cntr. GTR ALIVE. July 7, 2017. August 8, 2023.
11. Web site: Tommy Anthony - Guitar and Vocals. Santana. August 8, 2023.
12. Web site: From his early days in the Miami club scene to Carlos Santana, Tommy Anthony has had a great ride and he "gets it right the first time". Seymour Duncan. September 30, 2011. August 8, 2023.
13. "South Florida's Balloon Poised For a Timely Rise", The Miami Herald Page 94, April 18, 1997
14. Web site: Best Pop Band. Miami New Times. August 8, 2023.
15. "Local Bands Jam On South Beach to Benefit Pets", The Miami Herald Page 146, February 13, 1997
16. Web site: "Angeline". Dany LynenDanFab4. June 5, 2022. August 8, 2023.
17. Web site: Miami Guitarist Shows Finesse On Debut Album - Tommy Anthony: Mondial (Celanova Records). Sun Sentinel. May 20, 1995. August 8, 2023.
18. Web site: Now Playing Major Markets - Selected Major Market PPW Reports. Network. March 3, 1995. August 8, 2023.
19. Web site: Shooting for the Pop. Miami News Times. May 11, 1995. August 8, 2023.
20. Web site: Billboard Latin Music Conference Scheduled Events . Billboard. May 21, 1994. August 8, 2023.
21. Web site: Hispanic Heritage Awards . Paley Center. September 20, 2002. August 25, 2023.
22. Web site: Tommy Anthony . Iguitar. August 8, 2023.
23. "Perseverance Pays Off For Tommy Anthony & Goza", The Miami Herald Page 126, May 20, 1994
24. Web site: A Love Before Time - Music from the Soundtrack Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Yo-Yo Ma Official YouTube Channel. July 4, 2011. August 8, 2023.
25. Web site: Epiphone Guitar Basics featuring Tommy Anthony. Amazon. August 8, 2023.
26. Web site: California Sound for Guitar, Vol. 1 - Full Cast & Crew. TV Guide. August 12, 2023.
27. Web site: Mag Rack Launches "School Of Music" September 16. AMC Networks. August 30, 2004. August 8, 2023.
28. Web site: SongXpress®: Early Rock & Roll, Vol. 1. Alfred Music. August 8, 2023.
29. Web site: Tommy Anthony . Second Hand Songs. October 2, 2001. August 8, 2023.
30. Web site: Tommy Anthony - Iguales. Amazon. April 15, 2020. August 8, 2023.
31. Web site: Carlos Santana Releases "Joy" with Chris Stapleton. American Songwriter. 11 October 2021. August 8, 2023.
32. Web site: Santana releases "Whiter Shade of Pale" featuring Steve Winwood. Blues Rock Review. September 21, 2021. August 8, 2023.
33. Web site: Carlos Santana on New Album 'Africa Speaks': 'People Need Rejoicing' . Rolling Stone. June 27, 2019. August 8, 2023.
34. Web site: CORAZÓN -Santana. Prog Archives. August 8, 2023.
35. Web site: Santana: Guitar Heaven Out 9/21 . JamBase. July 15, 2010. August 8, 2023.