By Kenrick Josephs
Aspiring to be one of the best singers in the world,
Anthony Cruz is blending his voice with seductive rhythms
and captivating the women with his physique.
Born Rowan Smith on December 17, 1974 in Mandeville,
Manchester. He grew up he said, as a regular child,
always going to school, going home early without hanging
out on the road. Both his parents were good singers
he said. Though Cruz’s family was heavily involved
in singing, he wanted to be like his father, a mechanic.
His father operated a garage. Before he migrated to
the U.S. Cruz’s biggest inspiration towards a
career in sing was his uncle, Garnet Silk.
At 16, after graduating from Holmwood Technical, Cruz
migrated to the US. He first lived in New York, but
then moved south, to Miami for approximately five years.
While In Miami, he met producer, Willie Lindo who
helped him hone his musical skill and educated him
about the business. Under his guidance he produced
his first single ‘Just Call my name’ by
Heavy Beat Records.
Cruz returned to Jamaica in 2000. He had a lot to
say but felt constrained by record industry in the
US. So he came home hoping for a ‘different vibe’.
His first song, ‘Maria Maria’ a cover
version of Santana, became an instant hit and fuelled
his desire to release more songs such as the popular ‘Them
Boy Deh Nuh Really Know We’ for CJ Records.
He is most pleased with his song ’You’ve
Got It Bad’ produced by Mixing Fingers, which
he thinks is one of his biggest hits. “That one
really put me out there,”.
Under the management of recording label Fifth Element
Records, Cruz is now working on completing his album;
one he said was long overdue. “People always
ah seh dem like mi songs and ask if mi have an album,” he
said.
The album, which has not yet been named, will feature
14 to 16 tracks, the best he said of 30 songs he did.
It will definitely include the collaboration with Beenie
Man, ‘Never Too much’, the video of which
includes dance sensation, John Hype. This song he said
wasn’t pushed too much because he was saving
it for his album.
Cruz was quick to express his confidence in this album. “This
album is going to do well, fans in England, Sweden
and the US are waiting on it,” he told. There
is a host of good producers working on this album including
Fifth Element, King Jammy’s, Bobby Digital and
Mixing Fingers. We keep our fingers crossed as we await
its launch.
Cruz, a one of a kind balladeer.
