Tafari Anthony is a Canadian rhythm and blues singer and songwriter.Mitch Mosk, ""Open, Passionate, & Smooth": Tafari Anthony Stuns & Soars on 'The Way You See Me' EP". Atwood Magazine, December 2, 2020.
Originally from Toronto, Ontario, Anthony studied graphic design at Cambrian College in Sudbury."Award-winning designers". Sudbury.com, November 17, 2010. While living there, he was involved in the city's YES Theatre collective,Brian Uluocha, "Preserving the arts with Tafari Anthony". Jejune Magazine, April 3, 2020. and submitted his original song "Maybe When I Get Older" to CBC Radio 2's Searchlight competition in 2016.Bianca Sutton, "QUEER VOICES: TORONTO SINGER-SONGWRITER TAFARI ANTHONY TALKS THE MUSIC INDUSTRY, GATE-KEEPING AND TAYLOR SWIFT". OutTV, July 11, 2019. Although he did not win the competition, he finished in the Top 25;Selene San Felice, "Tafari Anthony - Die for You". Rawckus, January 19, 2017. when he released his debut EP Die for You later in the year, the network placed his single "Know Better" into high rotationOlga Kwak, "Rise and Grind: Tafari Anthony". Urbanicity Hamilton, September 2017. and named it as one of the top Canadian songs of the year. His second EP, Remember When, followed in 2017.
After taking some time to refine his sound, he returned in 2020 with the singles "Live in a Dream"Daniel Megarry, "Premiere: Tafari Anthony shares inspirational new single Live In A Dream". Gay Times, July 18, 2020. and "No Good",Matt Wallock, "Tafari Anthony Delivers a Soaring Goodbye to a Bad Relationship in 'No Good'". American Songwriter, October 2020. leading up to the release of his third EP The Way You See Me. 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."Full sked out for Queerantine, the virtual Sudbury Pride festival". Sudbury.com, July 2, 2020.
The Way You See Me received a Juno Award nomination for Adult Contemporary Album of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2022."2022 Juno nominees: snubs and surprises". CBC Music, March 1, 2022.
In addition to his solo recordings, Anthony has also performed as a member of the bands Eh440Ken Kelley, "Group creates full band using just their voices". Times & Transcript, April 29, 2017. and Samantha Martin & Delta Sugar,Mike Devlin, "Delta Sugar's Martin finds the sweet spot". Victoria Times-Colonist, February 20, 2020. and has had musical theatre roles in touring national productions of Love TrainDan St. Yves, "Stage West on track with Love Train; Songs, costumes, choreography: a complete package". Calgary Herald, December 2, 2013. and Red Rock Diner.Dana Gee, "Red rock diner's rocking; Nostalgia: Play takes a look back at 1950s music". The Province, June 18, 2014. 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.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.
In 2024, he played the role of Mona in the Sudbury Theatre Centre's production of Chicago.
He is out as gay.
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