Manny Soundz
NJ
Manny Soundz was born Emmanuel Diaz on February 17, 1992 in Queens, New York. At an early age he began to hint of singing, but it was not until the age of 8 that he truly began to feel delighted to be heard by others. Emmanuel and his family then relocated to the city of New Brunswick, New Jersey, where he enrolled at Woodrow Wilson elementary school.
He decided to join the school choir and his teacher, Ms. Lucy Strauli, was very impressed with his voice. In that first year he earned a solo for the song “Joyful, Joyful”, performed in an annual Christmas concert held every year at the State Theater, captivating all attendees.
Following this event, Ms. Strauli recommended him for a scholarship granted by the Department of Education of the State of New Jersey to for professional voice training. He won this scholarship and proceeds to learn under another great teacher, Ms. Margaret Trzeiack, recognized as one of the best vocal instructors in the state. He would go on to work with her for the next three years. During this time, he learned the basic elements of both singing and reading music. At Woodrow Wilson, he continued to participate in extracurricular activities, such as the Saxophone and Dance Clubs. In both 2005 and 2006, he received the award for Superior Musician.
Upon completing elementary school, his parents decided to relocate again but staying in New Jersey, to the small town of Highland Park, where he went to high school and immediately let his presence be felt. After joining the Choir, he decides to try his luck in theatre, playing stellar roles in the school’s annual musicals all four years, those musicals being Footloose, Crazy for You, The Music Man, and Bye Bye Birdie. Also during those years, he also joined the Vocal Ensemble, the school’s chamber choir, and Accappellics Anonymous, the school’s acappella group. He would go on to win the superlative of “Best Musician” for his class.
After high school he continued his musical career and is currently enrolled at Kean University, where he studies voice in the music program. By the end of 2010, he began reviewing a number of demos that had been previously prepared with his cousin, Isidro Santos, in attempt to get the opportunity to participate in the making of a musical production, followed in agreement with the company Villarq Music & Entertainment, LLC. Together, they began the process of what would eventually become his first album, Poema Natural, wher