Tony Succar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tony Succar
|
|
|---|---|
Succar in 2020
|
|
| Born |
Antonio Guillermo Succar Tayrako
18 May 1986 Lima, Peru
|
| Nationality | Peruvian and American |
| Occupation | Musician, composer, arranger, producer |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | Salsa, jazz, latin jazz, tropical |
| Years active | 1999-present |
Antonio Guillermo "Tony" Succar (born May 18, 1986) is a talented Peruvian-American musician. He is known for playing percussion, writing music, arranging songs, leading bands, and producing albums.
Contents
Tony Succar's Early Life
Tony Succar was born in Lima, Peru. His father, Antonio F. Succar, was a Peruvian pianist. His mother, Mimy Succar Tayrako Sakaguchi, was a Peruvian-American singer with Japanese roots. Tony has a brother named Kenyi, who is also an artist and producer.
When Tony was two years old, his family moved to the United States. They settled in Miami, Florida. Many of his relatives were musicians. They encouraged Tony to explore his own musical interests. His family's musical journey started with his great-grandparents. His great-grandfather was a Mexican composer, and his great-grandmother was a Spanish flamenco dancer.
Tony started playing the Peruvian cajón when he was just three years old. By the time he was 13, he began playing drums. He joined his parents' band for weddings and other events, mostly in Miami.
Tony's Education and Choices
Tony Succar went to Miami Sunset Senior High School in Miami-Dade County. Back then, his big dream was to become a professional soccer player. He played on several teams, including his high school team. They even won the state championships in 2004!
Later, he tried to get a soccer scholarship for Florida International University (FIU). When he couldn't get one, he asked his dad for advice about what to study. His dad told him to apply to FIU's School of Music. Tony wanted to meet the drum teacher. Instead, he ended up trying out for the Latin Jazz group and was quickly accepted.
Tony earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Jazz Performance in 2008. He then continued his studies and received a master's degree in 2010.
Tony's Musical Journey
Tony Succar was already very active in music while he was still in college. When he was a junior, he became the music director for his family's band. He gave the band a new name: Mixtura.
On September 21, 2010, Tony released an album. It was recorded live at his graduate concert with Mixtura. This CD/DVD featured a mix of classic Jazz songs with Latin influences. It also included his own original music. Many music critics gave it great reviews.
After finishing his studies at FIU, Tony became an artist-in-residence there in 2012. This meant he continued to work with the school's music students on different projects. Tony is the youngest artist ever to have this special role at FIU.
Tony has worked with many famous Latin music artists. Some of these include Tito Nieves, La India, Jon Secada, and Jennifer Peña. They all worked with him on a special project called Unity: The Latin Tribute to Michael Jackson.
In 2019, Tony Succar was nominated for four Latin Grammy Awards. He won two of them! He won for Best Salsa Album and also as Producer of the Year.
In 2023, Tony released an album called MIMY & TONY with his mother, Mimy Succar. This album features other great artists like José Alberto "El Canario" and La India. Tony shared that the album combines years of experience with new ideas. Mimy & Tony celebrates classic Latin American songs and introduces new songs by Mimy. This album was nominated for a Grammy in 2024 for Best Tropical Latin Album.
The Unity Project
Unity: The Latin Tribute to Michael Jackson is a big project Tony created. It's a musical tribute to the famous singer Michael Jackson. The project includes live shows and an album. The album has 14 of Michael Jackson's songs. They were rewritten to include Latin music styles, especially salsa and other Latin American rhythms. Tony Succar was a big fan of Michael Jackson's music. He is the founder and producer of this exciting project.
Unity started in 2015 with a concert in Miami. PBS TV broadcasted the concert to many stations. Universal Music Classic also supported it. The Unity project features over 100 musicians. It includes Latin superstars like Tito Nieves, Jon Secada, La India, and Sheila E.. Gloria Estefan presented the project on PBS TV. The sound was mixed by the famous engineer Bruce Swedien.
In 2024, Tony Succar's company, Unity Entertainment, released a documentary film. It's called Mimy & Tony: The Creation of a Dream. This film tells the story of Mimy Succar's life. It also shows her return to music after being on La Voz Perú and getting a Grammy Award nomination.
See also
In Spanish: Tony Succar para niños
