Editing Tony Touch

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{short description|American DJ}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name                = Tony Touch
| image               = Tony Touch.jpg
| caption             =
| image_size          = <!-- Only for images narrower than 220 pixels -->
| birth_name          = Joseph Anthony Hernandez
| alias               = 
| birth_place         = [[Brooklyn]], New York, U.S.
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1969|7|2}}
| death_date          =
| origin              =
| genre               = {{hlist|[[Hip hop music|Hip hop]]|[[reggaeton]]| [[House music|house]]
}}
| occupation          = {{hlist|Record producer|singer-songwriter|[[break dancer]]|DJ|rapper
}}
| years_active        = 1980s–present 
| label               = Touch Entertainment
| associated_acts     = [[The Beatnuts]]<br />[[Big Punisher]]<br />[[Fat Joe]]<br />[[Flipmode Squad]]<br />[[Wu-Tang Clan]]<br />[[Statik Selektah]]<br />[[Sean Paul]]<br />[[B-Real]]<br />[[Nina Sky]]<br />D-Stroy<br />[[Big Daddy Kane]]
| website             = {{url|tonytouch.com}}
}}
'''Joseph Anthony Hernandez''' (born July 2, 1969), professionally known as '''Tony Touch''', is an American [[Hip hop music|hip hop]] [[break dancer]], [[rapper]], record producer and DJ of [[Puerto Rico|Puerto Rican]] descent.

==Career==
Tony Touch began as a B-boy during the rap music renaissance era of the early 1980s.<ref name="latinrapper1">{{cite web|url=http://www.latinrapper.com/featurednews49.html |title=DJ Tony Touch Interview &#124; Tony Toca Mixtapes |publisher=Latinrapper.com |access-date=July 23, 2013}}</ref> Heavily influenced by pioneers like [[Crazy Legs (dancer)|Crazy Legs]] and the [[Rock Steady Crew]], [[Grandmaster Flash]], Red Alert, Little Louie Vega and Jam Master Jay, he quickly shifted his interests towards the turntables.<ref name="latinrapper1"/> Tony is known for his mixtapes the 50 MC's. His mixtapes have featured guest appearances from [[Boot Camp Clik]], [[Eminem]], [[KRS-One]], [[Kool G Rap]], [[Big Daddy Kane]], [[Wyclef Jean]], [[M.O.P.]], [[Big L]], and [[Mos Def]].<ref name="latinrapper1"/>

In 2000, Tony released his debut album ''[[The Piece Maker]]'' on Tommy Boy Records.<ref name="allmusic1">{{cite web|author=Michael Gallucci |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-piece-maker-mw0000058335 |title=The Piece Maker – Tony Touch &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards |publisher=AllMusic |date=April 18, 2000 |access-date=July 23, 2013}}</ref> It sold 400,000 units worldwide and featured guest appearances from [[Big Pun]], [[Cypress Hill]], [[Wu-Tang Clan]], [[Busta Rhymes]], Eminem, and [[Gang Starr]].<ref name="allmusic1"/>

In 2000 the single "I Wonder Why" featuring Total was released. The music video featured cameos from [[John Leguizamo]], [[Rock Steady Crew]], Grandmaster Flash, The Awesome 2, Marley Marl, and DJ Premier.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-piece-maker/id405922773 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140125004134/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-piece-maker/id405922773 |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 25, 2014 |title=iTunes – Music – The Piece Maker by Tony Touch |publisher=[[iTunes]] |date=January 1, 2000 |access-date=July 23, 2013}}</ref>

Since then, Tony Touch has released ''The Piece Maker 2'', which featured guest appearances from Puff Daddy, Fat Joe, Sean Paul, Snoop Dogg, and Ruben Blades.<ref>{{cite web|author=David Jeffries |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-piece-maker-vol-2-mw0000325103 |title=The Piece Maker, Vol. 2 – Tony Touch &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards |publisher=AllMusic |date=February 24, 2004 |access-date=July 23, 2013}}</ref>

Tony Touch is also known to represent the urban Latino community with his Spanglish lyrics and Salsa roots.<ref name="allhiphop1">{{cite web|author=Keith Nelson Jr (@JusAire) |url=http://allhiphop.com/2013/06/20/exclusive-dj-tony-touch-on-piece-makers-3-eminems-symphony-in-h-more-video/ |title=EXCLUSIVE: DJ Tony Touch on Piece Makers 3, Eminem's "Symphony In H" + More (VIDEO) |publisher=AllHipHop.com |date=June 20, 2013 |access-date=July 23, 2013}}</ref> This is the result of him growing up with salsa at home and hip-hop influence in his lifestyle.<ref name="allhiphop1"/>

In 2005 Tony signed to EMI records releasing a reggaeton album, ''ReggaeTony''.<ref name="allmusic2">{{cite web|author=David Jeffries |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-reggaetony-album-mw0000251564 |title=The Reggaetony Album – Tony Touch &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards |publisher=AllMusic |date=March 29, 2005 |access-date=July 23, 2013}}</ref> The lead single "[[Play That Song (Tony Touch song)|Play That Song]]" featured [[Nina Sky]] and [[B-Real]] of [[Cypress Hill]].<ref name="allmusic2"/> The CD included collaborations with artists such as Tego Calderon, Zion and Lenox, Pitbull, Ivy Queen, NORE, Voltio, Mexicano, Thirston Howl III, and Soni. The album went gold, and EMI moved quickly to release ''ReggaeTony 2''.<ref name="allmusic3">{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/reggaetony-2-mw0002128369 |title=Reggaetony 2 – Tony Touch &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=July 23, 2013}}</ref> This CD featured [[Lumidee]], Plan B, Joell Ortiz, Tru Life, Don Chezina, and the Beatnuts.<ref name="allmusic3"/> To this date Tony has sold over a million records worldwide.<ref name="allmusic3"/>

On July 16, 2013, his sixth album ''[[The Piece Maker 3: Return of the 50 MC's]]'' was released and featured guest appearances from Busta Rhymes, [[Reek da Villain]], [[Roc Marciano]], [[M.O.P.|Lil' Fame]], [[Too Short]], [[Xzibit]], [[Kurupt]], [[B-Real]], [[Papoose (rapper)|Papoose]], [[Uncle Murda]], [[Black Thought]], [[Styles P]], [[Sheek Louch]], [[Jadakiss]], [[Raekwon]], [[Ghostface Killah]], [[RZA]], Eminem, [[Twista]], [[Bun B]], [[Action Bronson]], [[Prodigy (rapper)|Prodigy]], [[Joell Ortiz]], [[Royce da 5'9"]], KRS-One, [[Crooked I]], [[Redman (rapper)|Redman]], [[Method Man]], [[N.O.R.E.]], and [[Erick Sermon]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Paine |first=Jake |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.23474/title.tony-touch-piece-maker-3-release-date-tracklist-album-stream |title=Tony Touch "Piece Maker 3" Release Date, Tracklist & Album Stream |publisher=HipHop DX |date=July 8, 2013 |access-date=July 17, 2013}}</ref>

In 2016 he paired up with [[Austin Brown]] to collaborate as CaliYork. They released the single "Show Up At My Place" in September.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://youknowigotsoul.com/new-music-caliyork-austin-brown-dj-tony-touch-show-place|title=New Music: CaliYork (Austin Brown & DJ Tony Touch) - Show Up At My Place - YouKnowIGotSoul.com|date=September 16, 2016|access-date=September 29, 2017|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Discography==

===Studio albums===
* 2000: ''[[The Piece Maker]]''
* 2002' ''The Last of the Pro Ricans''
* 2004: ''[[The Piece Maker 2]]''
* 2005: ''The Reggaetony Album
* 2007: ''Reggaetony 2''
* 2013: ''[[The Piece Maker 3: Return of the 50 MC's]]''

===EPs===
* 1998: ''The Rican-Struction''

===Partial mixtape discography===
* 1991: ''Hip Hop Volume 1''
* 1996: ''Power Cypha: 50's MCs''
* 1997: ''Power Cypha 2''
* 1999: ''Power Cypha 3: The Grand Finale''
* 2002: ''B-Boy Breaks 3: James Brown Tribute''
* 2003: ''R&B Volume 30: The Love Session''
* 2010: ''Feel Good''
* 2011: ''Feel Good # 2''

===Collaborations===
* 1997: ''[[5 Deadly Venoms of Brooklyn]]'' (w/ Evil Dee, Mister Cee, PF Cuttin and Premier)
* 1997: ''The Diaz Brother'' (w/ Doo Wop)
* 1998: ''Hip Hop 59&nbsp;ft'' FunkMaster Flex
* 1998: ''Terrorist Activity'' (w/ DJ Khaled)
* 1999: ''The Diaz Brother: 2 for 5'' (w/ Doo Wop)
* 2000: ''The Diaz Brothers: Live In Japan'' (w/ Doo Wop)
* 2002: ''The Diaz Brothers 3'' (hosted by Kay Slay)
* 2003: Mucho Muchacho – ''Chulería''

===Singles===
{{expand section|more singles|date=January 2017}} 

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of singles, with selected chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year
! scope="col" colspan="2"| Peak chart positions
|-
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[ARIA Charts|AUS]]<br /><ref>{{cite Ryan|page=283}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[UK Singles Chart|UK]]<br /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/9716/tony-touch-ft-total/|title=Tony Touch featuring Total {{!}} full Official Chart History|publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]|access-date=October 22, 2022}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| "I Wonder Why (He's the Greatest DJ)"<br />{{small|(featuring Keisha and Pam of [[Total (girl group)|Total]])}}
| 2000
| 95 || 68
|-
! scope="row"| "[[Play That Song (Tony Touch song)|Play That Song]]"<br />{{small|(featuring [[Nina Sky]] and [[B-Real]])}}
| 2005
| — || —
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commonscat}}
*[http://www.tonytouch.com/ Official website]
*[http://www.discogs.com/artist/Tony+Touch Tony Touch] at [[Discogs]]
*{{IMDb name|id=0869481|name=Tony Touch}}
*[http://www.latinrapper.com/featurednews49.html Tony Touch interview]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Touch, Tony}}
[[Category:1969 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American house musicians]]
[[Category:American musicians of Puerto Rican descent]]
[[Category:Record producers from New York (state)]]
[[Category:American breakdancers]]
[[Category:American hip-hop DJs]]
[[Category:Rappers from Brooklyn]]
[[Category:Sirius Satellite Radio]]
[[Category:EMI Latin artists]]
[[Category:21st-century American rappers]]