Capsicum’s Sal Anthony Set to Explode in 2012 With Reggae Cover of James Otto’s "Just Got Started"

Ever since the release of Capsicum’s inaugural Reggae-In-Fusion Album #1, recording artist and writer-producer-arranger Sal Anthony has been steadily building momentum among fans of his creative mix of rockabilly, modern country and blue-eyed soul with Caribbean rhythms.

And his upcoming remake of the James Otto hit “Just Got Started” figures to build an indestructible bridge between the fans of all those genres in the U.S., Jamaica and all over the world in a demonstration of his crossover appeal. Capsicum CEO and Director of A&R Roger Meltzer described it as “James Otto and Ronnie Milsap meet Kenny Chesney and take a trip to Jamaica.”

Renowned Nashville musician-producer-engineer Terry Wendt heard the pre-release cut, and wrote: “Well, if that ain't the groovin'-ist tune I've heard in forever!! This is a HIT! I can so clearly see and hear the message and vocal - it’s simply awesome :)” tkw And Wendt should know a hit when he hears one. He’s the author of The Early Days, an autobiographical book about the inner workings of Nashville's music business for the last 25+ years, having worked on stage, in bands or in recording studios with many of the greats, including Roy Acuff, Minnie Pearl, Jimmy C Newman (Grand Ole Opry), Tom T Hall, Carl Perkins, Mac Wiseman, Wanda Jackson, The Glaser Brothers, Johnny Lee, Tanya Tucker, Paul Gregg and Greg Jennings (members of Restless Heart), Becky Hobbs, Randy Barlow, Merle Haggard, Brent Mason, Jeanne Pruitt (Grand Ole Opry), Jeannie C Riley, Jimmy Olander and Dana Williams (members of Diamond Rio), Becky Hobbs, Wade Hayes, Ken Mellons, Ty Hearndon, Jo Dee Messina, Loretta Lynn, Kenny Chesney, and Tim McGraw.

In 1993 Shania Twain hired Wendt as her band leader/pedal steel guitar player and road manager. Wendt was also the first to record Peggy and Patsy Lynn (the Lynns, daughters of Loretta Lynn), and bring them to Martha Sharp who signed them to Warner Brothers- Nashville.

Sal recently signed a non-exclusive music licensing deal with Munchkin Studios, who represent various music libraries, and provide comprehensive music services for film and network productions, including NBC, Fox, MTV, Warner Brothers as well as for background music supplier Muzak. Songs initially included “Born on Third Base”, a song Sal co-penned with Capsicum CEO Roger Meltzer and recorded for the label by the red hot Cuban Cohiba, and “Just As I Am”, another co-write with Meltzer, as well as with Osborne “Ifield” Josephs, and Misteree, who also performed the song, and for which she received a nomination for the "2011 Excellence in Music and Entertainment (EME) Best New Female Artist". Meltzer and Josephs co-produced both of the reggae crossover hits.

That offer was then expanded to include four other Sal Anthony titles from the inaugural “Reggae In Fusion” CD: a reggae cover of “Life’s Too Short,” which Sal co-penned with Meltzer and guitar wizard George Zeigler and recorded by Mayyah Stuart, plus “No Better Than I” recorded by Sledge, as well as“Exactly” and “If You Really Wanna Know” which Sal co-wrote with Meltzer and were recorded by Anthony for the album.

For the fifth straight year, Sal entertainied summer crowds Tuesday and Wednesday nights at Harpoon Henry’s on the bay in North Cape May, NJ.

"Sal’s performance is always heartfelt, and seems as though sung directly to you, as though the songs are about you,” says Meltzer, a close friend and colleague for over 30 years. “His sound is simple, traditional, melodic, acoustic and relaxed, with a lazy vocal sensuality. He seeks to touch the everyday lives of people - maybe on a musical level to be 'the guy next door' - someone who through a vocal or a song can help them cope with their problems or can identify with on a very personal level. For Sal, it all comes together in a good song. Sal takes his life experience and pours them into his music, expressing all of life's feelings in song.”

While in the Marines, Sal was assigned to Special Services, performing for soldiers in Vietnam where he toured and became good friends with country singer-songwriter Dennis Robbins (who co-wrote Garth Brooks' mega hit "Two Of A Kind, Workin' On A Full House"). The two wrote songs together for six years; their Green Machine band appeared on the Ed Sullivan show, and they’re still close to this day. Sal also spent time penning songs for Volt-Stax Records in East Memphis, the legendary home of Otis Redding, and early proving grounds for composer-artists Isaac Hayes and Jerry Butler.

In recent years, Sal has parlayed his Vietnam experience into a new identity as “The Voice of the Veteran” with tens of thousands of You-Tube hits on his greeting card ballads to the troops in Iraq “Another Time, Another Place” and “Thank God For You This Christmas” bringing new visitors and fans to his artist website, www.salanthony.com.

Sal has also entertained in 26 states, Canada and Mexico. Recording as Sonny Scarbuck, he enjoyed great indie success throughout the 90s, both here and abroad, and as the music scene continues to change, Sal's style has shown the ability to stand up to the test of time.

Sal Anthony Returns to Jersey Shore Resort, Inks Song Licensing Deal with Munchkin Studios

For the fifth straight year, Capsicum Records artist and songwriter Sal Anthony will be entertaining summer crowds Tuesday and Wednesday nights beginning June 14 at Harpoon Henry's on the bay in North Cape May, NJ. Also this summer look for Sal's new CD entitled "Just Got Started" to be released on the CQK Label.

Sal Recently signed a non-exclusive music licensing deal with various music libraries represented by Munchkin Studios in California. Songs include "Born on Third Base," a song he co-penned with Capsicum CEO Roger Meltzer that was recorded by the label by the red hot Cuban Cohiba, and "Just As I Am," a song he co-penned with Meltzer, Excellence in Music Entertainment (EME) Best New Female Artist nominee Misteree, and Osborne "Ifield" Josephs, who co-produced those two reggae crossover hits with Meltzer.

Munchkin Studios provides comprehensive music services for film and network productions, including NBC, Fox, MTV, Warner Brothers as well as for background music supplier Muzak. The offer was then expanded to include four other Sal Anthony titles from the inaugural "Reggae In Fusion" CD: a reggae cover of "Life's Too Short," which Sal co-penned with Meltzer and guitar wizard George Zeigler and recorded by Mayyah Stuart, plus "No Better Than I" recorded by Lsedge, as well as "Exactly" and "If You Really Wanna Know" which Sal co-wrote with Meltzer and were recorded by Anthony for the album.

"If You Really Wanna Know" is currently available for free download at Capsicum Records Website as Capsicum's Featured Song.

"Sal's performance is always heartfelt, and seems as though sung directly to you, as though the songs are about you," says Meltzer, a close friend and colleague for over 30 years. "His sound is simple, traditional, melodic, acoustic and relaxed, with a lazy vocal sensuality."

"He seeks to touch the everyday lives of people - maybe on a musical level to be 'the guy next door' - someone who through a vocal or a song can help them cope with their problems or can identify with on a very personal level. For Sal, it all comes together in a good song. Sal takes his life experiences and pours them into his music, expressing all of life's feelings in song."