Tony DeNiro Tony DeNiro ( birth name Anthony D . Smith ) is an American record producer and Internet entrepreneur . He has produced pop , rock , hip - hop , and R & B music . Known for producing and consulting career artists such as Mark Wahlberg , Missy Elliott , Usher , Fonzworth Bentley , Blu Cantrell , Terrence Howard & new female artist signed to Island Def Jam that he discovered , " Smokey " . He is also well known for his football career as All - American wide receiver of the University of Notre Dame ' s undefeated championship football team coached by Lou Holtz ( 1988 – 1992 ) . Formerly the Senior Vice - President of A & R at Priority Records and personally hired by the companies owner Bryan Turner , DeNiro was the first minority music executive at the record label in 1996 . DeNiro is also acknowledged for his work consulting and branding career artists such as Brandy , Missy Elliott , Ritchie Kotzen , Heavy D , Terrence Howard , Ben Harper , Sean Combs , and most recently Evan Ross , Jessica Simpson , Ashlee Simpson , Brandon Howard , Stacy Barthe , Sonyae Elise , Tah Mac , Aria from the group Paradiso Girls , Shwayze , Lindsay Lohan , Jackie Long , Aaron Carter & a new 3 girl group from Iceland called The Charlies . As a social media expert , working with start - ups from the Los Angeles are from 2005 . He is today employed at Pheed . Early life . Born October 2 in Indianapolis , Indiana to his mother Gloria ( middle school teacher ) , and father Ernest ( Dean of students at Indiana University ) . Raised in a humble home in Gary , Indiana . He attended Roosevelt High School which was located across the street from the famed Jackson 5 household . Roosevelt High was renowned for producing Indiana ’ s top athletes , where he played football , track , and the alto sax in the school band . He starred on the state championship track team 4 years in a row . Theodore Roosevelt High School ( Gary ) Tony ’ s high school achievements include ; President of National Junior ' s Honor Society ; State Champion in track 4 years in a row ( 110 high hurdles , 300m low hurdles , 4X100 relay ) ; All - American wide receiver & punter . College Football . All major Division 1 colleges recruited DeNiro to play football . He committed to the University of Michigan under the helm of Bo Schembechler and changed his mind the day before signing to attend the University of Notre Dame on a full - football scholarship under head coach Lou Holtz . Freshman year Tony & the Fighting Irish had an undefeated season and won the 1988 College Football National Championships with their win over West Virginia at the Fiesta Bowl . During the off - season freshman year , Tony hosted pre - frosh Jerome Bettis and toured him around Notre Dame campus . His efforts successfully recruited the senior in high school , Jerome Bettis , to attend the University of Notre Dame and play football for the Fighting Irish . Determined to over - achieve , DeNiro was named All - American Wide Receiver both his Junior and Senior years at Notre Dame while he simultaneously made the dean ’ s list every semester and graduated in 3 . 5 years . DeNiro broke his wrist during the 1991 Notre dame vs . Naval Academy game played in the snow . Coach , Lou Holtz , insisted that he taped his wrist and continued to play . Tony comments on Holtz , " He told me there was a difference between being hurt and being injured , and that I was just hurt . " That week DeNiro had surgery on his wrist and played two weeks later in the Notre Dame Vs . University of Hawaii game in Hawaii . He continued to play in the " Sugar Bowl " at New Orleans vs . The University of Florida and flew to Japan the following day to play in the Japan bowl ( All - Star game for seniors ) . Although his wrist was still broken , team doctors advised DeNiro that his wrist was fine . DeNiro spent his last semester at The University of Notre dame volunteering to work at the local Safeway Station , where he counseled & mentored underprivileged , abused , runaway children and waited for the NFL draft . In spring of 1992 DeNiro was drafted to the Kansas City Chiefs . He graduated in May 1992 with a degree in marketing and minor in psychology and sociology . Upon graduation DeNiro set the University of Notre dame Record for " Longest Touchdown Pass " from quarterback Rick Mirer . While at Notre Dame he was roommates and close friends with NFL stars , Todd Lyght & Ricky Watters . NFL career . Once in Kansas City , the Chief ' s doctor informed DeNiro that his wrist was still broken . During his NFL career DeNiro endured two more surgeries until finally the bone was removed and he was told that he could not play indefinitely . DeNiro ' s last season in the NFL was Joe Montana ' s 1st season with the KC Chiefs . He retired from the NFL to his residence in Los Angeles where he lived and rehabilitated his injury during off - season . During this time , to ease his mind off football , DeNiro focused on music while owning and running an exotic car dealership specializing in custom luxury cars for stars of Hollywood at the young age of 24 . Music . Tony DeNiro formerly known as T - Smoov started to play music for physical and emotional therapy after his career ending injury in the NFL . His talents prove to go beyond producing music ( guitar , bass , keyboards ) , song writing , and engineering sound . He signed a production deal with Priority Records ( 1995 ) and soon after became the first minority music executive at Priority Records ( 1996 ) . Formerly the Senior Vice - President of A & R at Priority Records ( 1996 – 1997 ) , DeNiro resigned from his position of VP after having consulted Priority during Master P ' s - No Limit Records heyday . He was offered a label deal with Priority and started " Redeye Records " ( 1997 ) . He later had a production deal with Capital Records ( 1999 ) and a production deal with Universal Records ( 2004 ) . DeNiro started North - star Brigade Entertainment co . based out of London ( 2002 ) where he worked the American music industry overseas . Tony DeNiro is owner of The Royal T ’ s Inc , an entertainment company , where he serves as music producer , talent manager and consultant to the music and entertainment industries . DeNiro is a diverse producer / musician / songwriter playing multiple instruments & has worked with iconic artist in multiple genres like Jessica Simpson , Ashlee Simpson , Dr . Dre , Jay - Z , Evan Ross , Usher , P Diddy , Macy Gray , The Game , Redman , Keith Murray , The Liks , The Roots , Lil Cease , Lil ' Kim , Bone Thugs in Harmony , Taryn Manning , Mario , Blu Cantrell , Ice Cube , WestSide Connection , CandleBox , Tevin Campbell , Tamia , Jenna Andrews , Mario Winans , Fonzworth Bentley , Dallas Austin , Aaron Carter , Carl Thomas , CrazyTown & Ben Harper . DeNiro ' s production can be heard on new artists Evan Ross , Smokey , Stacey Barthe , The Charlies , Calicove , Sonyae Elise , Kaitlyn Olson , SammieJay & Ashley Roberts from the Pussycat Dolls . Fashion . DeNiro has appeared in multiple fashion campaigns and fashion stories for Versace and Dolce & Gabbana with photographers Mario Testino , Ellen Von Unwerth & Paulo Roversi and the 2001 Sean Jean fashion show launch . . He is also documented for appearing in GQ ’ s Dolce & Gabbana story with Ophélie Winter . His company " The Royal T ' s " serve as consultant to many major couture fashion houses as well as up and coming new designers & brands .