Tony DeNiro

Tony DeNiro (birth name Anthony D. Smith) is an American record producer and Internet entrepreneur.

He has produced pop, rock, hip-hop, and R&B music. Known for producing and consulting career artists such as Mark Wahlberg, Missy Elliott, Usher, Fonzworth Bentley, Blu Cantrell, Terrence Howard & new female artist signed to Island Def Jam that he discovered, "Smokey".

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, DeNiro was the first minority music executive at the record label in 1996. DeNiro is also acknowledged for his work consulting and branding career artists such as Brandy, Missy Elliott, Ritchie Kotzen, Heavy D, Terrence Howard, Ben Harper, Sean Combs, and most recently Evan Ross, Jessica Simpson, Ashlee Simpson, Brandon Howard, Stacy Barthe, Sonyae Elise, Tah Mac, Aria from the group Paradiso Girls, Shwayze, Lindsay Lohan, Jackie Long, Aaron Carter & a new 3 girl group from Iceland called The Charlies.

As a social media expert, working with start-ups from the Los Angeles are from 2005. He is today employed at Pheed.

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 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. Theodore Roosevelt High School (Gary) 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.

College Football
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 DeNiro 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 DeNiro that his wrist was fine.

DeNiro 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 DeNiro was drafted to the Kansas City Chiefs. He graduated in May 1992 with a degree in marketing and minor in psychology and sociology. Upon graduation DeNiro set the University of Notre dame Record for "Longest Touchdown Pass" from quarterback Rick Mirer. While at Notre Dame he was roommates and close friends with NFL stars, Todd Lyght & Ricky Watters.

NFL career
Once in Kansas City, the Chief's doctor informed DeNiro that his wrist was still broken. During his NFL career DeNiro endured two more surgeries until finally the bone was removed and he was told that he could not play indefinitely. DeNiro'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 and rehabilitated his injury during off-season. During this time, to ease his mind off football, DeNiro focused on music while owning and running an exotic car dealership specializing in custom luxury cars for stars of Hollywood at the young age of 24.

Music
Tony DeNiro formerly known as T-Smoov started to play music for physical and 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 Records (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 and consultant to the music and entertainment industries. DeNiro is a diverse producer/musician/songwriter playing multiple instruments & has worked with iconic artist in multiple genres like Jessica Simpson, Ashlee Simpson, Dr. Dre, Jay-Z, Evan Ross, Usher, P Diddy, Macy Gray, The Game, Redman, Keith Murray, The Liks, The Roots, Lil Cease, Lil' Kim, Bone Thugs in Harmony, Taryn Manning, Mario, Blu Cantrell, Ice Cube, WestSide Connection, CandleBox, Tevin Campbell, Tamia, Jenna Andrews, Mario Winans, Fonzworth Bentley, Dallas Austin, Aaron Carter, Carl Thomas, CrazyTown & Ben Harper.

DeNiro's production can be heard on new artists Evan Ross, Smokey, Stacey Barthe, The Charlies, Calicove, Sonyae Elise, Kaitlyn Olson, SammieJay & Ashley Roberts from the Pussycat Dolls.

Fashion
DeNiro has appeared in multiple fashion campaigns and fashion stories for Versace and Dolce & Gabbana with photographers Mario Testino, Ellen Von Unwerth & Paulo Roversi and the 2001 Sean Jean fashion show launch.. He is also documented for appearing in GQ’s Dolce & Gabbana story with Ophélie Winter. His company The Royal T's serve as consultant to many major couture fashion houses as well as up and coming new designers & brands.