"I was completely astonished to hear the lyrics of your songs. The lyrics in your songs tell stories and stories that we can all relate to are exactly what audience members desire to hear in motivational performances."
Ryan – senior student, FGCU, Fort Myers, Florida
Antimo was incorporated into several of Florida Gulf Coast University’s class syllabus for:
Principles of Public Relations Spring 2006
Issues In Culture and Society Spring 2006
Integrated Core Senior Seminar Fall 2006
Public Relations Strategy Fall 2006
Senior Internship Spring 2007
This led to the debut of the music video, When I Last Saw You and the motivational performances entitled, A Dozen Roses held in the Sugden Theater.
Florida Gulf Coast University - Sugden Theater
By Sallie Rickert
September 7, 2006 is a day that will be remembered as the 'rose exchange day' by over one hundred and fifty junior and senior students attending Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, Florida. This was the day that we had the privilege of participating in a focus group entitled, 'A Dozen Roses,' performed by Antimo Onzo.
Antimo is a young, passionate artist with leaps and bounds of natural talent. Onzo's voice serenades his audience and sounds similar to popular artist - John Mayer accompanied by the harmonization skills of famed country artists, Rascal Flatts mixed with the sound of Teddy Geiger.
Antimo's style is what separates him from other up and coming artists. He is a talented man who enjoys expressing life’s vicissitudes’ through his music and who really makes the audience feel as though they are part of his music.
Onzo’s 'unique' sense of style clearly describes his diverse musical abilities. Onzo's strong New York accent really makes him stand out in the crowd since he wore a black cowboy hat, royal blue buttoned down collared shirt, and stone washed jeans. However unique his fashion style is, it is not his style that captivates his audience - it's his voice.
Onzo's real talent becomes evident through his ability to sing a capella. His voice resounds through the hearts of his audience making it seem as though there is no one in the room except you and him as he performs.
He has an unremitting determination to share his musical talents with those around him. Watching Onzo perform, one can only witness the sheer determination he has to impact individual lives. Others' agree that Onzo is not like any other artist that has performed for FGCU students - or anywhere else for that matter.
His voice has the ability to carry one above and beyond the moment you're in into a place that is both inspirational and soothing. He really becomes one with his music and he seems to understand the value of sharing his time with others.
He is one of the few who does not take a 'moment shared' for granted. One of Onzo's highly acclaimed songs, "When I Last Saw You," is accompanied by a profoundly sentimental music video. The music video is a sweet depiction of letting others know to savor life’s most cherished experiences, and to not walk away from the chances that life presents right in front of you. The music and lyrics symbolize the importance of living each experience to its fullest. The meaning of the lyrics is to not let a day go remaining in arguments or holding onto broken bonds.
His most important message is to let your grudges go and open all the doors to life's new experiences, especially with the ones you care about. Through Onzo's voice and music video he aims to reveal the true importance of spending time with those we usually do not, cherishing the moments that are quick to flee, and to keep those people that are special to us - close at heart.
When asking what drives Antimo to plunge into the music world, hoping to be discovered and make an impact in others lives, one can clearly see it is not about the money. With a humble and sincere attitude Onzo hopes to, "Inspire others as he's been inspired through music."
