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Time:

Friday
December, 16, 2016
07:00 PM - 11:30 PM

Location:

Hilton Chicago

Category

70th GALA PERFORMER

Conductor

Tony Succar

Performer Details

Performer Bio Synopsis

Unity: The Latin Tribute To Michael Jackson is a testament to the power of music and one man’s indomitable spirit. The passion project of Peruvian-born, Miami-raised producer/multi-instrumentalist/arranger Tony Succar, Unity features more than 100 musicians, such Latin superstars as Tito Nieves, Jon Secada and Obie Bermúdez, and the mixing magic of Jackson’s legendary engineer Bruce Swedien in the first ever Latin album salute to The King of Pop. Fueled by his relentless commitment, quiet determination and passionate faith in the loving message behind much of Jackson’s music, Succar has spent the last four years carefully creating Unity: The Latin Tribute To Michael Jackson. He overcame seemingly insurmountable obstacles, turning each roadblock into a stepping stone to take the project to new heights. In the process, he married Jackson’s timeless pop and R&B tunes, such as “Thriller,” “Billie Jean,” and “I Want You Back,” to his glorious salsa and tropical rhythms, creating innovative, vibrant arrangements that snap to life with exhilarating energy. “American funk, soul, jazz—all those styles that were influencing Michael— were inspired from African music,” Succar says. “Same with Afro-Peruvian music, Cuban music. These songs were meant to be. Their original flavor lends itself to these Latin rhythms.” Succar, 28, grew up listening to his parents play Jackson’s music, and by 13 had begun his own music career. He started on piano and segued to percussion, graduating with a degree in jazz performance at Florida International University in 2008. But it wasn’t until after the superstar’s untimely passing in 2009 that Succar, who earned his Master’s in jazz performance from FIU in 2010, took a deep dive into the music and the man. “That’s when I became a fanatic, memorizing all his lyrics,” he says. “He was an amazing singer. I started analyzing every single detail.” As Succar pored through Jackson’s material, revisiting songs like “Man In the Mirror,” “Earth Song” and “They Don’t Care About Us”—all of which are reimagined on Unity—he came to a realization: “Michael wasn’t only a musician, he was a spiritual person. He was speaking to people’s hearts through his music. He was a true role model and leader, not only in the music industry, but life in general,” he says. Concurrent with his discovery, Succar arranged a salsa-infused version of “Thriller” for a Halloween party at Miami’s legendary, now closed Van Dyke Cafe. The reaction was so immediate and overwhelmingly positive to the performance of this new arrangement, that Succar recorded a version in his bedroom with his band, posted it online and gave away copies. DJs started playing the track and Succar began getting requests from around the world for a full album of Latin-flavored Jackson songs. “That sparked it,” Succar says. “I was such a fan. I felt like I had to do something.” He launched a Kickstarter campaign and raised more than $10,000, which allowed him to record basic tracks and the idea and harmonious ideal of Unity was born. “The one thing that stood out in Michael’s music was love. The reality was unity,” he says. “I also wanted the title to stand for something: a real marriage between Latin roots and American pop culture, and to help keep Michael’s legacy alive.” Part of keeping Jackson’s legacy alive meant incorporating elements of the original production in each of his fresh renditions for Unity. “Even the horn lines, I would transcribe them from Quincy Jones’ productions and then apply them to the arrangement in a different way,” Succar says. “The essence of every song was respected. I gave it my best to create this very thin line between what Michael did with his production and what I brought to the project.” As Succar proceeded, an astounding number of coincidences buoyed the project. Succar’s initial plan was to record the album with one vocalist, soulful Broadway veteran Kevin Ceballo, but as Succar finalized the arrangements, the idea of a compilation album came to him. The first artist he reached out to was legendary salsa singer Nieves. He heard nothing back for months. Then, one day in the studio someone suggested Nieves for “I Want You Back.” Succar explained he’d had no success contacting Nieves. It turned out a studio visitor knew Nieves, called his manager, sent Nieves an MP3, and, within 10 minutes, Nieves was on the phone asking when he should come in to record his vocals. Nieves became the project’s godfather, bringing in other Latin stars, such as India and Jean Rodriguez. “If it weren’t for Tito, I would never have been able to develop this into what it is,” Succar says. “He really opened the doors for me.” Nieves even brought in his son, Tito Nieves Jr., to duet on the album closer, an emotional take on “You Are Not Alone.” As the project progressed, Succar sought out Secada, but once again, was running into walls. He had switched to a different studio and the recording engineer just happened to have worked with Secada, and upon hearing Succar’s story, gave Succar the singer’s direct email. Secada immediately replied that he wanted to record “Human Nature,” his favorite Jackson track. But there was more to come. Succar contacted Swedien about mixing some tracks, but failed to get a yes after more than a year’s effort. He met his engineer Nick Valentin through a mutual friend, who piped up that he’d been Swedien’s assistant. He volunteered to send Swedien some music, and next thing Succar knew, he’s sitting beside his hero at Swedien’s ranch as Swedien mixed “Earth Song” and “Smooth Criminal.” “He was the cherry on top,” Succar says. “When we were mixing, he would put up the original Michael songs and put on our remixes to compare and contrast. He mixed the tracks on the same Harrison 32C model console he mixed ‘Thriller’ on.” The groundbreaking album, a joint project between Universal Music Classics, Universal Music Latin Entertainment and Universal Music Mexico, embodies Jackson’s spirit of harmony and bringing diverse cultures together through music. Where there once was nothing but a dream, Succar now sees unlimited possibilities. Not only will there be a tour to support Unity: The Latin Tribute to Michael Jackson, but he is considering future Unity projects that could salute the music of other timeless artists, such as the Beatles or the Bee Gees, filtered through a Latin musical lens. “Unity is going to become a movement,” he says. And given how far Succar’s come already, who could possibly doubt him?

Tony Succar and "Unity: The Latin Tribute to Michael Jackson"

Conductor's Bio

Born into a family of talented musicians in Lima, Peru on May 18, 1986, Tony Succar’s very DNA must be imbued with cadence and rhythm. The Succar family moved to Miami, Florida when Tony was just two; at the ripe old age of 13, Tony’s own music career began. He says, “I was privileged to be brought up in a family of musicians: I couldn’t be more grateful.” Succar’s music education began on piano 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. Succar has worked with artists Arturo Sandoval, Néstor Torres, Ed Calle, Tito Nieves, La India, Obie Bermudez, Jennifer Peña, and Tito Puente Jr., among others. Growing up in Miami—a multi-cultural “Melting Pot”—molded him into a versatile musician, prompting him to make the most of his prodigious talent. President of his own entertainment company, Mixtura Productions, Tony Succar is well-versed in a number of professional roles: bandleader, percussionist, musician, producer, composer, and arranger. He is currently endorsed by Gon Bops, a top percussion brand, and Sabian, one of the leading cymbal manufactures in the world. Whether in a timbales solo, an orchestration, or an explosive groove, Succar’s sound is gripping and distinctive and accommodates the energies and interests of musicians and dancers. Notably, at every performance, Tony focuses on the integrity of his music. Succar’s compositions emphasize combinations of syncopation, harmonic curiosity, rhythmic uniformity, and tasteful melodies. With his unique arrangements and personal charisma, Succar breaks the mold to create enticing masterpieces for all. Tony’s debut album (CD/DVD) “Live at the Wertheim Performing Arts Center” is a prime example. The album received excellent reviews from mainstream media, including this one: “An exciting fusion of South America, Cuba, Jazz and South Beach flavor from an up-and-coming artist who will almost certainly be heard from more in the future.” - Jazz Chicago Reviews. Assembling an exceptional production team and featured artists, Tony Succar has created The UNITY Project, a unique endeavor aimed at the minds, ears and hearts of a global audience. Pop legend Michael Jackson’s music and life philosophies heavily influenced Tony as a youngster and teenager, truly igniting his musical ideas and passion. The UNITY Project is the result: an innovative sound that interconnects elements of American Pop, Jazz, Tropical, and World Music with the enduring foundations of the King of Pop. The UNITY album will explode beyond mainstream media to appeal indefinitely to markets around the world. Unity features more than 100 musicians, such Latin superstars as Tito Nieves, Jon Secada, and India, and the mixing magic of Jackson’s legendary engineer Bruce Swedien. The mission of the UNITY Project is to honor the legacy of Michael Jackson, King of Pop, by remaining true to his artistic essence, excellence, and music. The UNITY Project seeks to unify all human beings’ hearts, talents, peoples and cultures to ensure that the imaginary barriers between people and countries shrink until—just as Michael Jackson envisioned—we all live harmoniously together.

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