Born in Puerto Rico, Antonio Torres, also known as Anthony T, moved from Puerto Rico to California in 1991 when his family immigrated to the US to find a better life. At a young age Anthony began to show a brilliance for music, and by the age of 14 he could play 6 instruments which included the saxophone, clarinet, french horn, trumpet, tuba and keyboard. Around that same time he also began to sing with his father in a Latin band, and by the time he was 16 he had his mind set on becoming a singer professionally. In 2004, at the age of 18, he became a freestyle artist and “Anthony T” was born.
In 2005, Anthony moved to Houston, TX, where he currently resides, to pursue different ventures. After his debut freestyle album was shelved, he joined Kingz One. Anthony quickly began getting recognition for his strong and powerful voice as well as his charisma on stage. Later, he joined Jesse Fonseca as co-lead vocalist for the group 24Kilatez. The two quickly began gaining recognition for their incredible voices and ability to mix Tejano and Caribbean sounds.
In 2012, Anthony announced he would go back to his roots, and began work on his first complete Salsa Album as a soloist. With the help of Producer Pachangara and some of the biggest names in the Salsa, Anthony hopes to score his first ever Latin Grammy Nomination in 2014. His first single, a cover of an Obie Bermudez’ hit “Antes,” has already been getting radio airplay on several radio stations across the U.S. as well as several TV and magazine interviews. He is currently in the studio working on his album which is expected to be released this March.
“This is not about fame… This is not about money… This is about a passion and a love for music. A passion for the one thing that makes a difference in this lifetime. Music cures the soul. That’s what is all about. If we look past this and lose our humble beginnings we are nothing!”
We had a chance to sit down with this superstar, so stay tuned for the next big thing. It’s coming at you…
é: Thank you for taking the time to do an interview with Latin é! What was it like growing up in Puerto Rico, Texas and California? Do you have a favorite place that you’ve lived?
Anthony T: Thank you for the opportunity. Growing up in different parts of the world gave me a chance to see different ways of living and gave me the ability to relate to a much larger fan base. It’s something I am truly grateful for. Although I was raised in Southern California and I miss it, I was born in Puerto Rico I am proud of being Boricua! We are such a small island, but we have so much talent and culture to share with the world!
é: We’re excited that you are releasing a Salsa album next year. Tell us about the process that went into creating this album. Is this a dream come true for you?
Anthony T: I’m excited as well! This is truly something that as a young boy I dreamt of. But it is a lot harder than people think. Making an album takes a lot of time, money, patience and dedication. It’s a lot of studio time and singing parts over and over until you get them right. But when it’s all finished you have a beautiful project in front of you, and then you have to work even harder to get it heard. That’s why I am so thankful for all the love and support my fans have shown me thus far. Hopefully we can ride that support all the way to the Latin Grammys!
é: We know you are great singer, but what is your favorite instrument to play?
Anthony T: I love to sit down on my piano and just play. It is so soothing to me. I could sit on my piano for hours at a time and forget everything around me.
é: Describe your song “Antes.” What does this song mean to you?
Anthony T: Antes was a song that had a lot of meaning for me at the time. I was going through a hard time with a breakup and this song just stuck with me. When I walked into the studio and heard my producer Erio Jansi working on the arrangement, it immediately brought back memories, and I just had to do it.
é:What other projects do you have planned for your fans?
Anthony T: We are working toward finishing this album and releasing the second single. We are also planning a worldwide tour for 2014. And there are many more things ahead!
é: Are you doing anything special for the New Year?
For New Years I will be doing a special guest performance in Houston, TX. So stay linked to my Twitter and Facebook to find out more about that!
By Adrienne Oliveira
You can follow Adrienne on Twitter: ChinaLatinaXO
