I am very picky when it comes to my gear and how I case everything up. I like efficiency, innovation, and most important, QUALITY. I think that’s exactly what Gruv Gear has to offer, and it’s why I connect with the brand so much… not only for my percussion and drum gear, but for all of tech gadgets as well!
Tony proudly endorses:
Tony Succar is a two-time Latin Grammy award-winning artist, producer, and composer/arranger whose talents stem from a passion for music gifted to him early on in life. Born in Lima, Peru and raised in Miami, Florida, Succar is grateful to have come from a family of musicians. That early musical influence is his foundation and set the groundwork for what was to come. “I was privileged to be brought up in a family of musicians; I couldn’t be more grateful,” Succar explained. His gratitude goes beyond those in his family who have supported and encouraged him; it extends to his fans, fellow musicians, teachers, and other musical influences.
Tony’s path has led him into the world of salsa, jazz, pop, and afro-latino-inspired music. He possesses a rare combination of high standards, a devotion to music, and a reverent respect for those who came before him. His formal musical education began on piano and then segued to percussion. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Jazz Performance from Florida International University in 2008 and his Master’s degree in 2010. It was FIU that fulfilled Tony’s personal desire to surround himself in an environment that quenched his thirst for excellence.
In 2018, Tony was nominated for the prestigious Latin Grammy Awards for Best Tropical Song, “Me Enamoro Mas De Ti.” He received four nominations in 2019 for Album of the Year, Best Tropical Song, Best Salsa Album, and Producer of the Year for his most recent album, Mas de Mi. Tony took home two Latin Grammys for Producer of the Year and Best Salsa Album, making history as the youngest winner to ever win both categories.
Mas de Mi was released by Succar through his independent label, Unity Entertainment. Tony describes his award-winning album as “a fresh approach to salsa music.” His inspiration for the album was to write and produce non-traditional songs that will appeal to younger generations. His musical diversity is well-known in the industry, having worked with an impressive array of talented artists, including Tito Nieves, India, Jon Secada, Marc Anthony, Sheila E., Arturo Sandoval, Judith Hill, and Obie Bermudez, among others.
Tony’s debut album, UNITY: The Latin Tribute to Michael Jackson, had tremendous success, reaching Billboard’s #1 Tropical Album Music Chart, iTunes’ #1 World Latin Chart, and Amazon’s #1 Latin Pop Music chart, among others. The UNITY project was signed with the Universal Music Group as a joint venture between Universal Classics and Universal Music Latin Entertainment. The album was the brainchild of Succar and evolved into a nationally-televised primetime PBS special that kicked off the PBS Fall Arts Festival. The special was produced by Succar and OPB (Oregon Public Broadcast) and recorded in front of a packed house at the historic Olympia Theater in downtown Miami. The nationwide viewing audience was impressive, numbering more than half a million PBS viewers. Donald Thomas, Vice President of Programming for PBS and festival curator, called it “a marvelous testament to the diversity of art and performances being created in the U.S. We are delighted to showcase that diversity on PBS.”
Succar’s sound is refined and distinctive. His up-tempo songs have unmatched explosive energy while his slower arrangements are soulful and captivate the listener with the intricate nuances that are signatures of his sound.
Tony is currently working on his next album and touring globally with his band. He has performed at the Caribbean Sea Jazz Festival (Aruba), the Ravinia Festival (Chicago), Auditorio Telmex (Mexico), Vivo Beach (Puerto Rico), Tempo Latino (France), and the 2019 Latin Grammy Awards (MGM Grand Las Vegas), among others.
