Tafari Anthony

Canadian rhythm and blues singer and songwriter

Tafari Anthony is a Canadian rhythm and blues singer and songwriter.^[1]

Originally from Toronto, Ontario, Anthony studied graphic design at Cambrian College in Sudbury.^[2] While living there, he was involved in the city's YES Theatre collective,^[3] and submitted his original song "Maybe When I Get Older" to CBC Radio 2's Searchlight competition in 2016.^[4] Although he did not win the competition, he finished in the Top 25;^[5] when he released his debut EP Die for You later in the year, the network placed his single "Know Better" into high rotation^[6] and named it as one of the top Canadian songs of the year.^[4] His second EP, Remember When, followed in 2017.^[6]

After taking some time to refine his sound, he returned in 2020 with the singles "Live in a Dream"^[7] and "No Good",^[8] leading up to the release of his third EP The Way You See Me.^[8] With the COVID-19 pandemic limiting touring in 2020, the new singles were promoted in part with a livestreamed performance as part of Sudbury Pride's digital Queerantine program.^[9]

The Way You See Me received a Juno Award nomination for Adult Contemporary Album of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2022.^[10]

In addition to his solo recordings, Anthony has also performed as a member of the bands Eh440^[11] and Samantha Martin & Delta Sugar,^[12] and has had musical theatre roles in touring national productions of Love Train^[13] and Red Rock Diner.^[14] He was a credited co-writer of Priyanka's single "Bitch I'm Busy", from the Taste Test EP.

In 2023, he participated in an all-star recording of Serena Ryder's single "What I Wouldn't Do", which was released as a charity single to benefit Kids Help Phone's Feel Out Loud campaign for youth mental health.^[15]

He is out as gay.^[4]

References

^ Mitch Mosk, "“Open, Passionate, & Smooth”: Tafari Anthony Stuns & Soars on ‘The Way You See Me’ EP". Atwood Magazine, December 2, 2020.
^ "Award-winning designers". Sudbury.com, November 17, 2010.
^ Brian Uluocha, "Preserving the arts with Tafari Anthony". Jejune Magazine, April 3, 2020.
^ ^a ^b ^c Bianca Sutton, "QUEER VOICES: TORONTO SINGER-SONGWRITER TAFARI ANTHONY TALKS THE MUSIC INDUSTRY, GATE-KEEPING AND TAYLOR SWIFT". OutTV, July 11, 2019.
^ Selene San Felice, "Tafari Anthony - Die for You". Rawckus, January 19, 2017.
^ ^a ^b Olga Kwak, "Rise and Grind: Tafari Anthony". Urbanicity Hamilton, September 2017.
^ Daniel Megarry, "Premiere: Tafari Anthony shares inspirational new single Live In A Dream". Gay Times, July 18, 2020.
^ ^a ^b Matt Wallock, "Tafari Anthony Delivers a Soaring Goodbye to a Bad Relationship in 'No Good'". American Songwriter, October 2020.
^ "Full sked out for Queerantine, the virtual Sudbury Pride festival". Sudbury.com, July 2, 2020.
^ "2022 Juno nominees: snubs and surprises". CBC Music, March 1, 2022.
^ Ken Kelley, "Group creates full band using just their voices". Times & Transcript, April 29, 2017.
^ Mike Devlin, "Delta Sugar's Martin finds the sweet spot". Victoria Times-Colonist, February 20, 2020.
^ Dan St. Yves, "Stage West on track with Love Train; Songs, costumes, choreography: a complete package". Calgary Herald, December 2, 2013.
^ Dana Gee, "Red rock diner's rocking; Nostalgia: Play takes a look back at 1950s music". The Province, June 18, 2014.
^ Brent Furdyk, "Feel Out Loud: Alessia Cara, Serena Ryder & More Canadian Artists Collaborate On New Single Promoting Youth Mental Health Initiative". Entertainment Tonight Canada, March 2, 2023.