Tony DeNiro

Tony DeNiro (birth name Tony Smith) is an American music producer, songwriter, singer & musician. He produces pop, rock, hip-hop, and R&B. He is best known for producing, branding, managing and consulting career artists such as Mark Wahlberg, Missy Elliot, Usher, Fonzworth Bentley, and Terrence Howard.
He is also well known for his football career as All-American wide receiver of the University of Notre Dame's undefeated championship football team coached by Lou Holtz (1988-1992).
Formerly the Senior Vice-President of A&R at Priority Records and personally hired by the companies owner Bryan Turner, Tony DeNiro was the first minority music executive at the record label in 1996. He owns The Royal T’s Inc, an entertainment company that specializes in music production, talent management, image and business consulting & brand building to the entertainment and fashion industries.
DeNiro is also acknowledged for his work consulting, managing, producing and branding career artists such as Brandy, Ritchie Kotzen, Heavy D, Terrence Howard, Ben Harper, Sean Combs, and most recently Evan Ross, Jessica Simpson, Tah Mac, Aria from the group Paradiso Girls, Shwayze, Lindsay Lohan, Jackie Long, Aaron Carter & new artist Keely Julian.
He was part owner of a NYC nightclub named Halo in the mid 90's. He has been acknowledged for his work as a style and image consultant to major entertainment moguls prior to album releases, award shows, concerts and major industry events.
Early life
Born October 2 in Indianapolis, Indiana to his mother Gloria (middle school teacher), and father Ernest (Dean of students at Indiana University). Raised in a humble home in Gary, Indiana. He attended legendary Roosevelt High School which was located across the street from the famed Jackson 5 household. Roosevelt High was renowned for producing Indiana’s top athletes, where he played football, track, and the alto sax in the school band. He starred on the state championship track team 4 years in a row. Tony’s high school achievements include; President of National Junior's Honor Society; State Champion in track 4 years in a row (110 high hurdles, 300m low hurdles, 4X100 relay); All-American wide receiver & punter.
Citing missing.
College
All major Division 1 colleges recruited DeNiro to play football. He committed to the University of Michigan under the helm of Bo Schembechler and changed his mind the day before signing to attend the University of Notre Dame on a full-football scholarship under head coach Lou Holtz. Freshman year Tony & the Fighting Irish had an undefeated season and won the 1988 College Football National Championships with their win over West Virginia at the Fiesta Bowl. During the off-season freshman year, Tony hosted pre-frosh Jerome Bettis and toured him around Notre Dame campus. His efforts successfully recruited the senior in high school, Jerome Bettis, to attend the University of Notre Dame and play football for the Fighting Irish. Determined to over-achieve, DeNiro was named All-American Wide Receiver both his Junior and Senior years at Notre Dame while he simultaneously made the dean’s list every semester and graduated in 3.5 years.
DeNiro broke his wrist during the 1991 Notre dame vs. Naval Academy game played in the snow. Coach, Lou Holtz, insisted that he taped his wrist and continued to play. Tony comments on Holtz, “He told me there was a difference between being hurt and being injured, and that I was just hurt.” That week Tony had surgery on his wrist and played two weeks later in the Notre Dame Vs. University of Hawaii game in Hawaii. He continued to play in the Sugar Bowl at New Orleans vs. The University of Florida and flew to Japan the following day to play in the Japan bowl (All-Star game for seniors). Although his wrist was still broken, team doctors advised Tony that his wrist was fine.
Tony spent his last semester at The University of Notre dame volunteering to work at the local Safeway Station, where he counseled & mentored underprivileged, abused, runaway children and waited for the NFL draft. In spring of 1992 Tony was drafted to the Kansas City Chiefs. He graduated in May 1992 with a degree in marketing and minor in psychology & sociology. Upon graduation Tony set the University of Notre dame Record for "Longest Touchdown Pass" from quarterback Rick Mirer. While at Notre Dame he was roommates & close friends with NFL stars , Todd Lyght & Ricky Watters.
NFL career
NFL Career:
Drafted to the Kansas City Chiefs (1992). Once in Kansas City, the Chief’s doctor informed Tony that his wrist was still broken. During his NFL career Tony endured two more surgeries until finally the bone was removed and he was told that he could not play indefinitely. Tony’s last season in the NFL was Joe Montana’s 1st season with the KC Chiefs. He retired from the NFL to his residence in Los Angeles where he lived & rehabilitated his injury during off-season. During this time, to ease his mind off football, Tony focused on music while owning & running an exotic car dealership specializing in custom luxury cars for stars of Hollywood at the young age of 24.
Music career
Music:
Tony DeNiro started to play music for physical & emotional therapy after his career ending injury in the NFL. His talents prove to go beyond producing music (guitar, bass, keyboards), song writing, and engineering sound. He signed a production deal with Priority Records (1995) and soon after became the first minority music executive at Priority Records(1996). Formerly the Senior Vice-President of A&R at Priority Records (1996-1997), DeNiro resigned from his position of VP after having consulted Priority during Master P’s-No Limit Records heyday. He was offered a label deal with Priority and started Redeye Records (1997). He later had a production deal with Capital Records (1999) and a production deal with Universal (2004). DeNiro started North-star Brigade Entertainment co. based out of London (2002) where he worked the American music industry overseas. Tony DeNiro is owner of The Royal T’s Inc, an entertainment company, where he serves as music producer, talent manager, image & business consultant, brand builder, and spiritual advisor to the music, entertainment, and fashion industries. He produced the #1 UK hit for Gold recording artist Tah Mac & is producing his follow up album. DeNiro is one of the most diverse producers/musician/songwriters in the industry playing multiple instruments & has worked with iconic artist in multiple genres like Wu Tang Clan, Jay Z, Redman, Keith Murray, Snoop Dogg, The Dogg Pound, The Liks, The Roots, Lil Cease, Lil Kim, Bone Thugs in Harmony, Blu Cantrell, Ice Cube, WestSide Connection, CandleBox, Tevin Campbell, Tamia, Mario Winans, Chris Brown, Faith Evans, P Diddy, Richie Kotzen, Kanye West, Mariah, CrazyTown & Ben Harper
He has catalog of self produced & written records being released in 2011 with Evan Ross & Keely Julian being the premiere new artists he is producing.
Fashion
Tony DeNiro has appeared in multiple fashion campaigns and fashion stories for Versace and Dolce & Gabbana with photographers Mario Testino, Ellen Vonnenworth & Paulo Roversi. He is also documented for appearing in GQ’s Dolce & Gabbana story with Naomi Campbell. He was in the 2001 Sean John fashion show that appeared live on tv & stole the show with his charismatic strut down the runway. His company The Royal T's serve as consultant to many major couture fashion houses as well as up and coming new designers & brands.
Presently
His production can be heard on new artist Evan Ross & Keely Julian which he is solely producing. He as also been working with Jessica Simpson on a special project in which industry insiders say will be a re inventation album for Jessica & will not sound like anything else she has ever recorded. He serves as personal Spiritual consultant to Aaron Carter & had a key role in Aarons participation on 2009 season of Dancing With The Stars. He has also branched out in the film/tv world & is producing 2 television shows, a feature film & a documentary about the 1988 Notre Dame National Championship team. His film/tv production company is called LightSpeed productions and projects on the way involve some of the most powerful & influential people of the world.

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