Tony grew up in Queens, NYC where he discovered his love for words, video games, dance, and science. Abandoning his city roots to study mechanical engineering and sculpture at Dartmouth, Tony found his voice in the hills of New Hampshire and later, put his critical and creative thinking skills to the test in the Marshall Islands as a teacher and school leader, in Boston as a high school math teacher then in graduate school where he studied business, education and design. In his career since, Tony has helped build businesses and develop strategic alliances from startups to big tech and non-profits.

His artistic voice has been shaped by a rich tapestry of influences – from the measured contemplation of Robert Frost to the raw energy of early hip-hop, from Langston Hughes's profound cultural resonance to his daughter’s unflinching truth-telling. Tony’s words have found their way from private pages to New York's most storied venues, including the legendary Nuyorican Poets Cafe and on stage with icons like Saul Williams.