Michael "Tunes" Antunes

Obituary for Michael "Tunes" Antunes

Sunrise: August 10, 1940 - Sunset: August 19, 2025

Michael "Tunes" Antunes, beloved musician, actor, star of stage and screen, and proud Dartmouth/New Bedford native, passed away on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, just nine days after celebrating his 85th birthday. Remarkably, his final performance took place only ten days earlier at the Narrows Center in Fall River, where his bandmates and audience joined together to sing him "Happy Birthday."

Michael grew up in South Dartmouth surrounded by music. His father, Peter, was a talented multi-instrumentalist who played upright bass, guitar, and Hammond organ across New England, while his grandfather Joaquim, who immigrated from Cape Verde, played guitar and violin. Following in their footsteps, Michael began performing at just 13 years old while still a student at Dartmouth High School.

In the 1970s, he joined the Narragansett, Rhode Island-based John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band, after more than a decade of performing throughout the New England music scene. With Beaver Brown, Antunes rose to international success. The band's singles "Wild Summer Nights" and "Tender Years" earned them a place in the 1983 cult classic film Eddie and the Cruisers, where their music-and Michael's unforgettable saxophone-helped define the soundtrack of a generation. The soundtrack went quadruple platinum, propelled by heavy rotation on HBO and MTV with chart-topping singles such as "On the Dark Side," which reached No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100. He also appeared on screen as Wendell Newton, the Cruisers' saxophonist.

Affectionately known as "Tunes," Antunes became a symbol of both local pride and national recognition. In 1985, he famously wore a Dartmouth football hat in the music video for Beaver Brown's hit song C-I-T-Y, bringing his hometown spirit to a worldwide audience.

Michael's talent, charisma, and lifelong dedication to music touched countless lives. He remained committed to his craft until the very end, performing passionately on stage and inspiring generations of musicians and fans. He leaves behind a legacy that spans stage, screen, and song-a legacy of joy, resilience, and the unifying power of music and family.

Michael was the proud son of Peter and Mary Antunes

Brother of Jackie, David, and Anthony

Father of

Deborah, Michael, Juanita, Juan, Kevin, Derek, Matthew, Dina & Wendi

20 Grandchildren, 29 Great-Grandchildren,

and 2 Great-Great-Grandchildren.