Erny Nunez is a self-taught jazz and swing singer, inspired by the elegance and charm of the Rat Pack and beyond. He was born in the Dominican Republic in 2004. Erny and his family made the journey from the Dominican Republic to the United States in 2010. Since that time, he has lived in many places including Florida, New York, and his current location of Ohio. His journey into music began as a complete surprise. At 15, during a high school theater class, he was cast as Amos Hart in the musical Chicago. “I had never sung before, but the moment I opened my mouth to sing, something incredible happened. I discovered a voice I never knew I had,” he said when asked what he thought of the first time he sang. It was like a light switch flipping on, revealing a hidden talent that had been lying dormant all those years.
That day, he rushed home, eager to share his discovery with his family that he could sing, but they were skeptical. To prove it, he chose Sinatra’s classic, "The Way You Look Tonight," and sang it in their living room. The room fell silent, and when he finished, they were stunned. It was in that moment that he knew singing wasn’t just something he could do—it was something he was meant to do.
Despite the disbelief of some family members and friends, one person always stood by him, his dad. He became Erny’s biggest fan, encouraging him to keep singing even when others doubted him. Due to the unshakable belief in Erny from his dad, he gained the confidence to pursue his passion, even when the road ahead seemed uncertain.
In 2021, after years of singing in private and honing his craft, Nunez decided to take a bold step; he posted his first video on TikTok, a cover of "Fly Me to the Moon." The response was overwhelming. In just one day, he gained over 20,000 followers, and people began calling him “the new Sinatra." That moment was a turning point—it proved to Erny that his voice had the power to reach people and to move them, just as the greats before him had done.
The momentum from TikTok led to his first major break: a spot on Fox's Alter Ego, where he performed as Bernie Burns. It was a dream come true, a moment he had longed for since discovering his talent. Erny’s dad had always told him that if he sang every day, he would make it on TV one day. Little did he know, his dad was right. But just as he was celebrating this milestone, life threw a devastating curveball.
Following his return home from the filming of “Alter Ego”, Erny found out that his father had less than a month to live due to battling an aggressive liver cancer. Despite his condition, his father was more concerned about when Erny’s TV appearance would air. He smiled and said, "I think I'll make it by then." Unfortunately, he didn’t make it. Losing him was the hardest thing Erny had ever faced. His father was his anchor, and without him, he felt lost.
After his dad’s passing, he struggled to find the motivation to continue. The grief was overwhelming, and for a while, it silenced the music inside him. But as time passed, he realized that giving up would mean failing not only himself, but also the dreams his father had for him. Erny knew he had to keep singing. The belief his dad had in him, his love for music, and his unwavering support became the fuel that reignited his passion.
His family's journey from the Dominican Republic to the United States in 2010, and their subsequent moves from New York City to Florida, and then to Ohio, taught him resilience. They faced many challenges, from adjusting to a new culture to dealing with the loss of their father. But through it all, music remained his constant companion, a source of strength and solace.
Today, with over 100,000 supporters on TikTok and the lessons of life behind him, Erny is more determined than ever to fulfill his potential. His aim is to revive and elevate jazz and traditional pop music in the 21st century, bringing back the elegance and emotional depth that these genres embody. His journey is far from over, and the road ahead will be filled with challenges, but he is ready to face them, driven by the memory of his father and the love of music they shared.
Erny’s story is one of perseverance, love, and the unshakable belief that no matter how tough life gets, we must keep pursuing our dreams. His hope is to inspire others to do the same, to never give up on what they love, and to always find the strength to keep going, even when the odds are against them.