Antonio Michael Downing is a Trinidadian-Canadian writer, musician and broadcaster, best known as the host of CBC Radio One's weekly literary talk show The Next Chapter since 2024."Writer and musician Antonio Michael Downing hosting CBC Radio's The Next Chapter this fall". CBC Radio, September 3, 2024.
Growing up in Trinidad and Tobago, Downing was initially raised by his grandmother after his parents were unable to take care of him and his brother.Carol Mitchell, "Saga Boy by Antonio Michael Downing Review by Carol Mitchell". The Los Angeles Review, January 12, 2021. When his grandmother died, he moved to Sioux Lookout, Ontario to live with his aunt, where they were one of the only Black Canadian families in a town whose residents were predominantly white or indigenous; his aunt worked as a social worker in indigenous communities in the region, so Downing often also lived with billeted indigenous students.Su Chang, "Black Cherokee: An Interview with Antonio Michael Downing". The Miramichi Reader, April 3, 2026.
Music In his early adulthood moved to Waterloo Region, where he worked in sales for BlackBerry while trying to establish himself as a musician. He performed music under a variety of pseudonyms, including Mic Dainjah and John Orpheus, exploring a wide variety of styles including hip-hop, soul, blues and punk rock,Deborah Dundas, "From a Trinidadian childhood in the rainforest to, hours later, a new home in a Northern Ontario blizzard: Antonio Michael Downing's powerful new book 'Saga Boy'". Toronto Star, February 25, 2021. and performed with various bands in the Kitchener-Waterloo area, including Stone Prophets and Jen Militia.Joel Rubinoff, "Author of 'Saga Boy' has deep roots in Waterloo Region". Waterloo Region Record, March 28, 2021.
As John Orpheus, he released the EPs Goatchain Hennessey and Goatlife in 2018 before releasing his debut album, Wey Ya Call Dat Ting?, in 2019.
Writing He published the novella Molasses in 2011.Heather Craig, "Power play poetry". Telegraph-Journal, January 29, 2011.
In 2018 he received a mentorship from writer Max Wallace, under the auspices of the RBC Taylor Prize's mentorship program for emerging writers.Becky Toyne, "What does the loss of the RBC Taylor Prize mean for Canadian non-fiction?: While industry insiders are expressing unanimous sadness at the loss, they also share a common frustration with incremental losses to the industry that began before the prize started". The Globe and Mail, November 27, 2019.
He published the childhood memoir Saga Boy: My Life of Blackness and Becoming in 2021. The book was released concurrently with Saga King, his second full-length John Orpheus album.Errol Nazareth, "John Orpheus: Saga Boy finds his identity". Words & Music, July 14, 2021.
In 2024 he published Stars in My Crown, a children's book with illustration by Richy Sanchez Ayala.
His debut novel, Black Cherokee, was published in 2025, and was shortlisted for the 2026 Amazon Canada First Novel Award.Cassandra Drudi, "Kate Cayley, Antonio Michael Downing, Maria Reva among finalists for Amazon Canada First Novel Award". Quill & Quire, May 6, 2026.
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