Today we’d like to introduce you to Manny EnFuego.
Hi Manny , thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Being a kid from Upstate New York, I practically grew up performing from a very early age. Whether it was Christmas plays or the kids church choir, I was involved somehow and grew comfortable being on stage. My parents had a bass guitar and an acoustic guitar in the house that I would mess around with from time to time but I never really had the patience to learn any of them until I was in high school. It wasn’t until I was about 14 when I watched a YouTube video of Metallica performing “Enter Sandman” live in Russia in 1991 that really took to the guitar and bass. I would stay after school to jam with some of my friends in the band room. My friends and I actually got in trouble one time for being too loud because we cranked the amps and I would scream some lyrics I wrote down.
After I graduated high school I went to a music college majoring in Music Audio Tech. It was there that I learned how to record music and it was also where I formed my first band. For almost 3 years we played several shows in our area but the band eventually fell apart during COVID. I had moved away to Florida with my family and put music on the back burner for a bit. During my time in Florida I started training to be a pro wrestler. I was focused on wrestling and didn’t really think about music all that much until 2023 when I ended up going on tour with The Extreme Tour. At that point, I had barely written any new music and didn’t have a band but they gave me a chance so I went. I toured the West Coast with them and it changed my life. Since then, I have been able to tour the US, the UK and parts of Canada and I am currently living in Tennessee as the production manager for The Extreme Tour. I have been releasing music under the name MANNY ENFUEGO.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I believe that anyone who aspires to be a music artist is signing up for a bumpy road. I’ve experienced everything from rejection letters from record labels, touring opportunities that fell apart to industry executives saying that my music “isn’t quite there yet.” The struggle has been more of a mental battle. I am constantly dealing with negative thoughts saying that I’m not good enough, that I have no future in music, no one is going to listen to my songs and that I should just give up. These tough moments often make me search deep within myself and ask the question: What is the reason that I started writing music?
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a multi instrumentalist, singer, producer, session musician, production manager and content creator. I am known for my work with The Extreme Tour and the music that I release. One outlet that I am very proud of has been the opportunity to create entrance music for professional wrestlers. That door was opened when I entered that world and it goes to show that nothing is wasted because I only did wrestling for a total of a year.
Since joining the Extreme Tour I have had the opportunity to be a session musician for multiple bands on the road and at The Objective in Nashville. I am most proud of the music that I have been able to create that were born out of tough experiences. It’s beautiful to see how my music can impact someone’s life in a positive way and that keeps me going.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
First and foremost, I want to say that my faith in Jesus Christ has led me to where I am. Every door was shut in my face until He opened one door and then I chose to walk through it. I’ve had multiple mentors and close friends that have encouraged me, challenged me to grow and have walked with me through the hard times. My family back home in Florida have always supported me in my pursuit of music and following my calling. I have been blessed with a strong community in Tennessee that have played a major role in my growth. I don’t have a group of yes men. I have a group of people who instead ask me tough questions and are not afraid to hit me with the truth when I need to hear it.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/manny_music_official/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Manny-EnFuego/100082595418046/#
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDPqo_6KObi5BGwQqfpWthg
