Visiting Artist Series: Tony Succar (Virtual Event)

The Berklee Visiting Artist Series is a live, interactive forum featuring some of today's most innovative professional performers and creators. These moderated discussions will focus on the topics of artistry, entrepreneurship, and social justice, and students will have the opportunity to actively participate by posing questions directly to guests. This event features a live interview with Tony Succar, moderated by Rodney Alejandro, associate professor in the Songwriting Department. 

Tony Succar is a two-time Latin Grammy Award–winning artist, producer, composer, and arranger whose talents stem from a passion for music gifted to him early in life. Born in Lima, Peru, and raised in Miami, Florida, Succar is grateful to have come from a family of musicians whose influence is his foundation and set the groundwork for what was to come. 

Succar's path has led him into the worlds of salsa, jazz, pop, and Afro-Latino–inspired music. He possesses a combination of high standards, a devotion to music, and a reverence for those who came before him. His formal musical education began on piano and then segued to percussion. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in jazz performance from Florida International University (FIU) in 2008 and his master’s degree in 2010. His time at FIU fulfilled his personal desire to place himself in an environment that quenched his thirst for excellence.

In 2018, Succar was nominated for the prestigious Latin Grammy Award for Best Tropical Song for “Me enamoro mas de ti.” In 2019, he received four nominations for his album Mas de mi, released through his independent label, Unity Entertainment: Album of the Year, Best Tropical Song, Best Salsa Album, and Producer of the Year. He took home two Latin Grammys that year for Producer of the Year and Best Salsa Album, making history as the youngest winner ever to win both categories. 

Succar's successful debut album, UNITY: The Latin Tribute to Michael Jackson, reached Billboard’s no. 1 Tropical Album Music Chart, iTunes' no. 1 World Latin Chart, and Amazon's no. 1 Latin Pop Music chart, among others. Universal Music Group signed the UNITY project as a joint venture between Universal Classics and Universal Music Latin Entertainment, and the album evolved into a nationally televised, prime time PBS special that kicked off the PBS Fall Arts Festival. Produced by Succar and Oregon Public Broadcasting, the special was recorded in front of a packed house at the historic Olympia Theater in downtown Miami. The nationwide viewing audience numbered more than half a million viewers, and Donald Thomas, PBS's vice president of programming 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.”

Currently, Succar is working on his next album and touring globally with his band. He has performed at the Caribbean Sea Jazz Festival (Aruba), Chicago's Ravinia Festival (U.S.), Auditorio Telmex (Mexico), Vivo Beach (Puerto Rico), and Tempo Latino (France), among others, in addition to his performance at the 2019 Latin Grammy Awards.

How to Participate

RSVP in the Berklee Career Manager. Once you are registered, we will send you a link to access the Zoom webinar 24 hours before the event. 

RSVP

Faculty and staff who wish to attend the event may request access. For questions, please contact Liza Levy, talent relations manager