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]