by Craig HarrisMulti-instrumentalist and vocalist Lorenzo Antonio was born in Albuquerque, NM, but his greatest success has come in Latin America where his albums have sold millions of copies. Antonio hails from a musical family. His father, Amador Sanchez, a musician, songwriter, and record producer is best-known as Tiny Morrie, whose songs were covered by Generacion 2000, Pegasso, Bandido, and Sparx. His mother, Gloria Puhl, is a vocalist who has recorded two albums. His grandmother was a concert producer in Albuquerque who produced shows by Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, and James Brown. An uncle, Albert Sanchez (known as Al Hurricane/the Godfather), was the lead singer and leader of the band Bandido. In April 1982, Antonio launched his musical career by winning a songwriting competition at the festival Juguermos A Cantar. He performed his song "Vamos a Jugar" with his sisters Carolina, Kristyna, Rosamaria, and Veronica, who continued to perform as the vocal group Sparx. The same year, he received a prestigious Amprofon gold award from the Fonographic Industry for the album Juguermos A Cantar. Antonio expanded his following when he performed as the opening act for Menudo at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City in April 1983. The following October, he represented Mexico at a festival, America, Este Es Tu Cancion, in Orlando, FL. After his 1984 album, Busco Un Amor was certified gold, Antonio followed it with the platinum-selling album 12 Rosas, which included the Latino hits, "Dile," "No Llorare," "El Idioma Del Amor," and the title-track. In the mid-'80s, Antonio temporarily retired from performing to concentrate on his studies at the University of New Mexico and to write and co-produce albums for his sisters' group Sparx. He resumed his career in 1993, releasing the first of two tribute CDs to honor the influence of Mexico-born singer/songwriter Juan Gabriel. He released the second volume two years later. Antonio has collaborated with Sparx on two albums: Sparx Y Lorenzo Antonio Cantan Corridos in 1996 and Sparx Y Lorenzo Antonio Cantan Corridos: Vol. 2 in 1998.