Singing Can Change Your Life

Here's an article that speaks to the benefits of singing even if you're not a professional. It shows how singing can really improve your life's functions and your disposition. No wonder I'm so Happy all the time!!

Check it out by clicking on the title above.

How to make it ''there''. And how to be succcessful ''there''

Hey Fam, This is a question I just got from a young lady from youtube:

"Heeyy Robert, i always had this Q in my head for a while. One of the singers that i look up to is beyonce,but i don't know how to actually start off to make it ''there'' if you know what i mean, Anyways how did beyonce get so successful and gets paid well for what she loves best? Someone told me that if i want to be in the music biz as a singer then i'm going to be broke for a while. I'm only 14 but i don't know what age i'm going to actually make it into the music industry but i want to start young so i can have more experience."

and here is my answer:

Well, A story like Beyonce's started when she was just a young girl. She had a lot of luck mixed with a lot of hard work. Remember she started a girl group with her friends and cousin? They practiced hard and performed wherever possible and finally caught the eye of someone who could move them along. Michael Jackson went through the same kind of thing by being in a group with his brothers.

How do you get there? Well, It should be a journey NOT a destination. You should be trying to be the best singer/songwriter/dancer/personality that you can be and finding as many opportunities as you can to perform and letting people know how much you enjoy it.

I started studying when I was in high school but was singing in church since I was very young. Am I there? well, my there is different from Beyonce's 'there'; but I'm doing what I love to do for a living and very happy every day to be in this position...so I guess I'm at the 'there' where I'm supposed to be.

I hope this helps. Keep checking out my 'Singer' videos, studying your voice and singing, take an instrument or two and dancing classes if you can, and do a lot lot lot of performing. Then maybe you'll get 'there'.

Be Blessed.


I hope this also helps you also.

My feelings are mixed on Youtube Idol

I made it through to the next round (round 4) in this Idol search competition on youtube; and though I tell myself that I'm just having fun, it's nerve-racking in the eliminations. lol. I don't know how ppl do it on American Idol!!

Ok, so that's not totally true. I did Showtime at the Apollo and wasn't as nervous. Why is that? this is just youtube idol, right?
Who knows, but I'ma get more serious about it, I think, though it's still fun to learn the new songs and be a part of a community. I hear that I'm creating some controversy with a few of the judges, but I figure that's a good thing for the contest and for me. Good to have your name on people's lips whether it's good or bad (according to Madonna).

I figure they'll vote me off before it gets crucial and it will have been fun for all. Life is so interesting. Sometimes you can surprise yourself.

Tax help for performers

I posted this video the beginning of last year because of some questions I had from performers about what they might be able to deduct in their taxes. What in good health and ask questions if you have any. Thanks. I'm at www.youtube.com/robertantonnyc.

Happy 2009

Top 10 Wedding Reception songs of 2008

10. Dancin' In The Street - Martha & The Vandellas
9. Livin' On A Prayer - Bon Jovi
8. Let's Get It Started - Blackeyed Peas
7. In The Mood - Glenn Miller Orchestra
6. The Way You Look Tonight - Frank Sinatra
5. Unchained Melody - The Righteous Brothers
4. Crazy In Love - Beyonce Knowles/ Jay Z
3. September - Earth, Wind, and Fire
2. I Will Survive - Donna Summer
1. At Last - Etta James



This list is comprised from a cross-section of songs requested by brides/grooms, songs band leaders favor to get the crowd on the dancefloor, and songs actually performed consistently by 3 of the busiest wedding agencies in New York City.

'At Last', Cadillac Records

Today I went to see Cadillac Records with a friend. I'm not sure how much I should say, but this friend is fighting cancer, and I just found out. We went to Dallas BBQ in Times Square and then went to the AMC for a 4 o'clock show. We'd both had a cocktail with lunch (I had a strawberry margarita, Texas size); it was delicious, and I thought I might fall asleep during the movie.

Well, that wasn't happening. I was riveted to the screen the whole time. Such a great story and the cast didn't overplay anything. They told the story instead of being stars in the story. I thought it was very well done.

Now I'm home and have been singing 'At Last', from the movie, all day. rofl. I literally hear this song every single week at my wedding gigs and never get tired of it. I'd say it's THE most popular wedding song and is done at about 99% of receptions. Listen to a little; I hope I did it justice.

Tribute IS NOT theft: Is this the solution?

Tribute IS NOT theft: Is this the solution?#links#links

Josiah Leming is back with a Vengeance

I just read a little story on yahoo news about Josiah Leming. Remember him? The spoiled little kid who got kicked off American Idol during one of the Hollywood challenges? Well, he's at it again.

It seems that he got lucky and signed a deal with Warner Bros. Records (one of only 4 contestants to get a deal this year). The problem is that he signed a contract with American Idol (19E) that says he can't sign with anyone else until he gives Sony/BMG first refusal.

What is first refusal? It means that Sony/BMG had to be told about the Warner Bros. interest to sign Josiah and that Sony/BMG had the right to sign Josiah first or turn him down.

Why does it matter? Well, now AI is seeking to block the release of Josiah's debut CD, because he didn't go through the proper channels. Didn't Warner Bros. know of the contract with AI and 19E entertainment? Didn't they have the sense and foresight to seek compromise?

Now Josiah's lawyers are saying that Josiah Leming has 'personal reasons' for wanting to get out his CD soon: his mom is dying of cancer and he wants it on the shelves before she goes, so she can be proud of him. Great story. Maybe it's true. BUT this is business...nothing personal.

19E has every right to block the CD and is probably seeking monetary damages (money, payoff) for making Josiah a household name. Yes, they suck for blocking the boy after all he's gone through. Yes, He should be allowed to go forward. BUT he signed a contract and without that exposure no one might have ever know his name. 19E wants to be paid for their marketing and so they should be paid.

We wish you the best Josiah, but the victim act gets old pretty quickly.

What do you think? Should Josiah be allowed to release his album without paying AI?
Are they jerks for keeping him down? Do you think the CD will be any good? Could it challenge David Archuleta on the charts?

Be the FIRST to get a Robert Anton Ringtone

They're INSANE!!!

You've Got To Give Back

Hey Fam, Well here I am vegging out from a weekend of work (on a Monday, of course) and starting to get together my things and post information about the upcoming weekend. Why? I'm doing a gig on Saturday night and a worthy fundraising event on Sunday.

Here's the info:
"Come out and enjoy the welcoming party for the riders of 'Braking The Cycle'. This is the yearly fundraising event for the GLBT Center's HIV/AIDS outreach programs.

Robert Anton, Jason Walker, Ari Gold, Michael Lynch, and many other performers will be showing their support by donating their talents. You don't wanna miss this one.
And make sure to bring your cameras."

From what I understand, this event is the main fundraiser for the GLBT Center's HIV/AIDS outreach programs and dozens (maybe even hundreds) of riders have had money pledged for their ride from Gettysburg to Manhattan. You can cull more information from the website: http://www.brakingthecycle.org

COME OUT AND SUPPORT. The show starts at 5 p.m.

911 I Can't Breathe

I heard that Deepa Soul a.k.a. Diedre Meredith was releasing a video on 9-11 called "911 I Can't Breath". It was supposed to launch on Logo, and I looked on the website and couldn't find it.

Now there are many ways to go about finding something on the internet, so my next stop was to Google the video. It came up but the link didn't work. So now I went to the website where the video was supposed to be listed and found another link there on the front page. Whew!!! You have to be persistent sometimes to find what you want on the net.

The video is great! and a break from the usual House music releases of this wonderful artist who hails from New Orleans and is now the Director of OutMusic.

I just wish that people would remember how lazy the 'click through' generation can be. The post I first read about the video should have had the link right there so I'd only have to click on it and...voila. Instant gratification.

Sometimes you have to think of your audience, especially on the internet, as wanting to be fed things directly. If I were just passing by the post and did not know Deepa personally, I probably would not have bothered to take the 5 minutes it took for me to go on a full-out search mission to find it.

Oh! In case you wanted to check it out, here's the link.

http://www.afterellen.com/blog/trishbendix/deepa-soul-video-911-i-cant-breathe