Creative Spaces Podcast: Episode #4 with Tony Succar

In this episode, Kevin and Robb are joined by Tony Succar, who became the youngest person to win a Latin Grammy Award when took home two (for Best Salsa Album and Producer of the Year) last year.

While music may have seemed like the obvious destination for the 34-year-old percussionist, composer, arranger, bandleader and producer, it wasn't always so. In fact, Succar grew up aspiring to be a professional soccer player. "That was my passion for most of my life," he said. "I played for so many traveling teams. During my senior year of high school, we were state and national champions."

Succar was offered a scholarship to play for a college in Wisconsin, but the prospect of northern winters unnerved the Miami native. "I'm going to freeze to death," he recalls thinking. Succar then turned to his "fallback," which was music. Needless to say, it turned out pretty well for him.

Winning the Producer of the Year award yielded unexpected benefits to Succar during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has prevented the touring he is used to doing. "That was like an explosion for me," he said. "Everybody was like, 'Yo, who is this guy?' So they started looking me up and calling me for production work."

Succar talks about artists and producers who he grew up admiring, including Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, Dr. Dre, and Tito Puente. He recommends aspiring producers and arrangers learn as many instruments as they can. "You don't have to learn how to play them, but really dissert them and understand what their capabilities are," Succar said.

Give the episode a listen and learn more about one of the most exciting up-and-coming musical talents in the world. "Auralex Creative Spaces" is available wherever you listen to podcasts.