Fruko Y Sus Tesos (1) 269 views 0 favorites Fruko y sus Tesos is a salsa group from Colombia which enjoys immense popularity throughout Latin America. It was formed in 1970 by Ernesto Fruko Estrada who modeled it after the New York salsa sound of the Fania All-Stars, one of the leading salsa groups at the time. A favorite of Salsa DJ's around the Globe. Some have referred to Fruko y sus Tesos as Colombia's most important export. Among the group's best known hits are Pura Candela, Los Charcos , El Preso, Cali de Rumba, Son de la Loma, El Patillero, Tania, Charanga Campesina, El Arbol and Cachondea. "El Preso" in particular is one of Colombia's most widely recognized and beloved songs. The Cartagenan singer Joe Arroyo joined the group in 1973 and performed with the group for several years before embarking upon a solo career. Wilson "Saoko" Manyoma (of Cali, Colombia), formerly of Los Latin Brothers, and singer of El Preso, was also an important member of the band. He has also embarked on a solo career. Some had said that, without Wilson Manyoma's vocals, Fruko y sus Tesos would not have that flavor of Colombian Charanga. Ernesto Fruko Estrada began his musical career at the age of 15 when he joined the legendary cumbia group, Los Corraleros de Majagual. It was with Los Corraleros back in 1968 that gave Fruko the first opportunity to travel to New York to witness the city's burgeoning salsa scene.
Frankie Ruiz (1) 311 views 0 favorites Born Jose Antonio Torresola Ruiz, he was born and raised in Paterson, New Jersey. His parents moved from Puerto Rico to the United States in search of a better way of life. In Paterson, Ruiz received his primary and secondary education. As a child he enjoyed singing to the tunes of salsa and as a young man joined a local band called The Charlie Lopez Orchestra. With this band he recorded his first song Salsa Buena (Good Salsa). In 1976, Ruiz moved to Mayagüez, Puerto Rico with his mother after his parents divorced. In Puerto Rico, Ruiz became a fan of a salsa band called La Solucion, directed by Roberto Rivera and learned all of their songs. He attended every concert and show. On one occasion, Ruiz's mother asked Rivera to give her son an opportunity to sing in the band, but to no avail. However, as fate would have it, in 1977, Ruiz was present at one of their shows where the lead singer did not show up. Rivera felt that he had no other choice but to give Ruiz a try. He was a success and was hired by Rivera. With La Solucion, Ruiz re-recorded a new version of Salsa Buena. He performed with the band for three years. In 1980, Ruiz joined Tommy Olivencia and his Primerisima Orchestra. His youth and style known as Sensual Salsa helped to bring in a new generation of salsa followers. His first major "hit" was Lo Dudo (I doubt it) which was previously covered by José José. In 1983, Ruiz decided to go "solo" and had hits with No Que No, Mi Libertad (My Liberty) and Desnudate Mujer (Get Undressed Woman). He traveled extensively throughout Latin America, Europe and the United States performing and always used the phrase "Vaya, mi China" (Go, Baby) as his trademark. He was then called "El Papa de la Salsa" (The Father of Salsa). Ruiz began to use illegal drugs and became an alcoholic. During a flight after one of his concerts he attacked a flight attendant. He was arrested and sentenced to three years at the federal prison in Jacksonville, Texas for the incident. Ruiz's last song was Vuelvo a Nacer (Born Again), where he describes his errors in life by taking the wrong way and that he declares himself born again. His voice was heard raspy compared to his earlier career due to the effects of his drug use. Frankie Ruiz became ill and was hospitalized on July 11, 1998, after performing at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Shortly afterwards, on August 9, 1998, Ruiz died from complications from AIDS. Before his burial, his remains were taken to Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, for a memorial service. He was later interred at Fair Lawn Memorial Cemetery in Bergen County, New Jersey.
Eddie Santiago (2) 415 views 0 favorites Eddie Santiago (born Eduardo Santiago Rodríguez, August 18, 1955) is a salsa singer from Puerto Rico.
Early years
At a young age, Santiago demonstrated great love for salsa music. He performed with several groups, including Generación 2000, Orquesta La Potente, Orquesta Opus, and the Orquesta Saragüey.
Wisin (1) 279 views 0 favorites Wisin & Yandel is a Puerto Rican reggaeton duo, composed of Juan Luis Morera Luna (Wisin) and Llandel Veguilla Malavé (Yandel). They started their career in 1998 and have been together since, winning several awards during that time. In late 2013, they announced to take a pause in their careers as a duo, after their Líderes tour. According to Yandel, they have not disbanded.
Music career:
Beginning (1998-2004):
In 1998, Wisin & Yandel participated in the album No Fear 3, produced by DJ Dicky as well as on the compilation album The Mission Vol. 1, edited by Fresh Production label. The success of this collection (which was certified gold) led the label to produce Los Reyes del Nuevo Milenio, the first album by Wisin & Yandel.
From that moment the duo started a successful career. They continued posting new topics in the successive editions of The Mission and recorded three new albums: De Nuevos a Viejos (2001), Mi Vida... My Life (2003) and De Otra Manera (2004), all of which were certified gold. The duo also received the Tu Música Award for Best Rap/Reggaeton Duo in 2002.
In 2004, the duo released two separate solo efforts: El Sobreviviente by Wisin and Quien Contra Mí by Yandel, which sparked speculation about a possible separation. Sales of the albums were unimpressive, and the duo remained together.
Pa'l Mundo and WY Records (2005-06):
The duo started their own label under the name of WY Records. In 2005, they released their first album under it, Pa'l Mundo, which became their most successful album to date. The album reached international status when it reached countries like China, Japan and some European countries. The album also peaked at #1 on Billboard 's Top Latin Albums and was certified gold by RIAA. After the success of Pa'l Mundo, Wisin & Yandel released Los Vaqueros in 2006, which featured appearances of WY Records artists like Franco "El Gorila", Tony Dize, and Yomille Omar, as well as guest artists like Don Omar and Hector el Father.
International consolidation (2007-12):
On November 7, 2007, Wisin & Yandel released the album Los Extraterrestres, which featured collaborations with international artists like Eve and Fat Joe. The album was received positively by the Puerto Rican media, with mainstream newspaper Primera Hora awarding it a score of 4 out of 5. The review praised the fusion of styles found in the album, claiming that the production continued the "musical evolution" found in its predecessors.
Following the release of Los Extraterrestres the duo commenced an international promotional tour. After organizing concerts throughout Latin America and Europe, Wisin & Yandel noted that they would like to expand their markets to Africa and Australia. Wisin & Yandel participated in the closing ceremonies of the 2008 Viña del Mar Festival. The tickets for the event sold out, which the duo described as a "real honor". On June 2, 2008, the duo began a tour to promote Wisin vs. Yandel: Los Extraterrestres, Otra Dimensión, visiting several radio stations in Puerto Rico.
In June 2008, Wisin & Yandel participated in the 2008 edition of New York City's Puerto Rican Day Parade, organized on June 8, 2008. On June 12, 2008, they traveled to Los Angeles to attend the BMI Latin Awards, in which they received a nomination for Writer of the Year. Later they also received four Juventud Awards. They also made a guest appearance in an album titled Caribbean Connection released on June 24, 2008. The production featured several Latin American artists including Daddy Yankee, Don Omar and Hector "El Father" along Jamaican musicians like Inner Circle, Bounty Killer, Elephant Man and Wayne Wonder.
On July 19, 2008, the duo made a presentation before a sold-out crowd in Venezuela. The duet were selected to perform in "KQ Live Concert" on September 27, 2008, organized by KQ 105 FM, which included several Puerto Rican and Latin American artists. On August 12, 2008, the mayor of their hometown of Cayey, Rolando Ortíz Velázquez, recognized Wisin & Yandel as "Ambassadors from Cayey to the world" during the city's annual Fiesta patronal. On April 24, 2009, Wisin & Yandel received the Latin Rhythm Album of the Year, Duo Or Group Latin Billboard Music Award for Los Extraterresres. Besides this recognition, the duo also received nominations for "Ahora Es" and "Síguelo" in the Tropical Airplay Song of the Year, Duo Or Group and Latin Rhythm Airplay Song of the Year, Duo Or Group categories.
In May 2009, Wisin & Yandel released their next album La Revolución, which featured rapper 50 Cent. Like their previous album, it peaked at #1 on Billboard 's Top Latin Albums. On October 15, 2009, Wisin & Yandel won the Latin American MTV Award for "Artist of the Year" and "Video of the Year". In 2011, the duo released Los Vaqueros: El Regreso which peaked at #1 on several charts.
On April 30, 2012, the duo announced that they will be the opening act for Spanish singer Enrique Iglesias and American artist Jennifer Lopez at the Enrique Iglesias and Jennifer Lopez in Concert but later decided to opt out on June 29, 2012. Their album Líderes has a release date of July 3, 2012. Wisin & Yandel have both decided to release solo albums in 2013. Wisin's "El Regreso del Sobreviviente" was released on March 18, 2014. Yandel's "De Lider a Leyenda" was released on November 5, 2013.
Wisin & Yandel were coaches in the 3rd season of La Voz... México.
Their biggest hits are "Rakata", "Llamé Pa' Verte (Bailando Sexy)", "Pam Pam", "Sexy Movimiento", "Pegao", "Síguelo", "Abusadora","Zun Zun Rompiendo Caderas","Gracias a Tí","Tu Olor". Wisin & Yandel have collaborated with internationally known artists such as R. Kelly on "Burn It Up", Paris Hilton on the reggaeton remix to her debut single "Stars Are Blind", Ja Rule on "Rakata (Remix)", Lenny Kravitz on "Breathe" (a promotional song for Absolut Vodka), Mexican Pop group RBD on "Lento (Yandel)", compatriots La Secta AllStar on "Llora Mi Corazón", Fat Joe on "Jangueo", Nelly Furtado on "Sexy Movimiento (Remix)", 50 Cent on "Mujeres In The Club", "No Dejemos Que Se Apague" and "Así Soy" along with G-Unit, Akon on "All Up 2 You" along with Aventura, Enrique Iglesias on "No Me Digas Que No" and "Gracias a Tí", Gloria Estefan on "No Llores (Remix)", Ivy Queen on "Acércate" T-Pain on "Imaginate", "No Dejemos Que Se Apague," and in a remix for "Reverse Cowgirl", and Jennifer Lopez on "Follow the Leader". Yandel was also featured on "In Your Eyes" by Romanian dance/pop singer Inna.
Hiatus and solo careers (Late 2013-present):
In November 2013, after the duó's Líderes tour, the dúo went into hiatus, but although rumors saying their split was because of differences between them, Yandel denied those rumors and confirmed they're not disbanded. Early April, 2014 Wisin said on Radio Fórmula: "I think that late 2015 or 2016 we're ready with a new album as Wisin & Yandel -- This is just a facet; it's a pause to refresh ourselves to make something different." Late in August 2014, Yandel said: "Wisin & Yandel is a registered trademark, we always work together -- We are now providing separate projects, will soon be seen together again."
Wisin is currently working on his second solo album, El Regreso del Sobreviviente and Yandel completed his first solo tour this year, promoting his second solo album De Líder a Leyenda. In September 2014, they both confirmed to be working in a new track that would premiere and be performed first time on Yandel's De Líder a Leyenda tour on October 4, at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Los Lideres clothing line:
In November 2011, Wisin & Yandel launched the "Los Lideres" clothing line in association with Marc Ecko, founder and Chief Creative Officer of Marc Eckō Enterprises. The collection is inspired by Wisin & Yandel's personal style and high-energy performances. The collection includes a selection of denim jeans, vests, military inspired jackets, T-shirts, headphones and jewelry.
Members:
Juan Luis Morera Luna, born (1978-12-19) 19 December 1978 (age 35), is from Cayey, Puerto Rico. He is married to Yomaira Ortiz Feliciano. They have two children, Yelena and Dylan.,
Llandel Veguilla Malavé, born (1977-01-14) 14 January 1977 (age 37), is from Cayey, Puerto Rico. He is married to Edneris Espada Figueroa. They have two children, Adrian and Dereck.
Drake (1) 298 views 0 favorites Aubrey Drake Graham (born October 24, 1986), who records under the mononym Drake, is a Canadian recording artist and actor. He originally became known for playing Jimmy Brooks on the television series Degrassi: The Next Generation.
In June 2009, Drake signed a recording contract with Lil Wayne's Young Money Entertainment. In November 2009, Lil Wayne released a statement announcing that Drake's first studio album, Thank Me Later, had been completed. The album was released on June 15, 2010, and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. The album has since gone platinum. He released his second studio album on November 15, 2011 titled Take Care. Drake was set to release an R&B mixtape sometime in the future along with a collaboration album with Lil Wayne, however, both have been postponed for various reasons.
Drake has worked with several other hip-hop artists such as Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, Kanye West, Eminem, Jay-Z, and Nicki Minaj. With the success of his mixtape-turned-EP So Far Gone, Drake has been nominated for several awards including Grammys, even being selected to perform at the 2010 Grammy award ceremony. Drake has also won several awards, including two Juno Awards in 2010 for Best New Artist, and Rap Recording of the Year.
In addition to making his own music, Drake has also written for other artists in the industry such as Alicia Keys, Jamie Foxx and more. He also tends to feature or remix tracks that he has written for other artists such as Unthinkable Remix by Alicia Keys. Drake also claims that he and Lil Wayne have both written for Dr. Dre's Detox album. In the list of the songs written, "Yesterday", of Diddy - Dirty Money featuring Chris Brown, written with Chris Brown, Cristyle, Kevin McCall and Mario Winans, from Diddy's fifth studio album, Last Train to Paris. Drake also wrote the song "Unthinkable", by Alicia Keys, also written with Keys and Kerry Brothers, Jr., Noah "40" Shebib, from her album The Element of Freedom. He is featured in the remix of the song.
Drake was ranked No. 2 on MTV's Hottest MCs In The Game VII list in 2012. He currently has more number-one singles, twelve, on Billboard's Rap Songs Chart than any other artist, and is, other than 50 Cent, the only artist to simultaneously occupy the chart's top three positions.
Aubrey Drake Graham was born on October 24, 1986, in Toronto, Ontario. He is the son of Dennis Graham, a drummer who worked with Jerry Lee Lewis, and Sandi Graham, an educator. Two of his uncles, Larry Graham and Teenie Hodges, are also musicians. Drake's father is an African American from Memphis, Tennessee, and Drake's mother is a Jewish Canadian. He attended a Jewish day school and had a Bar Mitzvah. His parents divorced when he was five years old, and he was raised by his mother in Toronto's wealthy Forest Hill neighborhood. Drake attended high school at Forest Hill Collegiate Institute, where he began acting, but did not graduate. He spent most summers with his father in Memphis. Drake stated that his parents' divorce greatly affected him as a person, saying, “I had to become a man very quickly and be the backbone for a woman who I love with all my heart, my mother."
Dunez (1) 231 views 0 favorites
Romeo Santos (1) 304 views 0 favorites Anthony Santos (born July 21, 1981) known professionally as Romeo Santos is an American singer, featured composer and former lead singer of the Bachata group Aventura. As a member of Aventura, Santos has been a key figure in popularizing Bachata, with hits reaching near the top of the Billboard Latin charts and the top of charts in Europe. In 2002, the band's song "Obsesión" was number one in Italy for sixteen consecutive weeks.
Santos was born in The Bronx, New York City, United States to a Dominican father and a Puerto Rican mother. At twelve years of age, he became a member of the church choir. While the group performs in both English and Spanish, their work was widely ignored by the English-language media during the early part of their career.On May 9, 2011, Santos released his first single, "You", from his solo debut album, Formula, Vol. 1. The song became a number-one debut on the Hot Latin Songs and Tropical Songs chart. The second single revealed from his album was "Promise" which features a duet with Usher.The single has peaked at number #1 on the Hot Latin Songs chart and number one on the Tropical Songs chart
Prince Royce (1) 261 views 0 favorites Geoffrey Royce Rojas (born May 11, 1989), known by his stage name Prince Royce, is an American singer-songwriter and record producer from Bronx, New York. At an early age, Royce took an interest in music and into his teenage years, began experimenting with music and writing poetry. By age nineteen, Royce met Andrés Hidalgo, who became his manager. Hidalgo later introduced Royce to Sergio George, who immediately signed him to his label after hearing three of his demos.
In March 2010, he released his eponymous debut studio album, which generated two commercially successful singles, "Stand by Me" and "Corazón Sin Cara". Both songs reached number-one on the Billboard Tropical Songs chart while "Corazón Sin Cara" reached number-one on the US Hot Latin Songs chart. The album itself reached number-one on the US Billboard Latin Albums and Tropical Albums charts. He also received three awards at the Billboard Latin Music Awards in 2011, which included Tropical Album of the Year for Prince Royce. Prince Royce was listed as one of the 50 Most Beautiful on the People en Español Magazine 2011 issue. On April 10, 2012, Royce released his second studio album, Phase II. In November 2012, Royce released a compilation album entitled "#1's", a collection of his hits thus far.
Nicky Jam (2) 396 views 0 favorites Nick Rivera Caminero better known as Nicky Jam was born to a Puerto Rican father and a Dominican mother in 1980 in Boston Massachussets which he live in until he was six and moved to Barrio Obrero, P.R. He is a reggaeton artist known for hits like: "Me Voy Pa'l Party" "Chambonea" "No Soy Tu Marido" "I'm Not Your Husband" which is a remix in spanglish of "No Soy Tu Marido"
Luis Fonsi (2) 389 views 0 favorites Luis Alfonso Rodríguez López-Cepero, more commonly known as Luis Fonsi, (born April 15, 1978 in San Juan, Puerto Rico) is a Latin Grammy winning Puerto Rican singer, composer and soap opera actor. Fonsi and his family moved to Orlando, Florida, during Fonsi's early childhood. Fonsi's childhood was relatively average for kids his age, beginning to dream about becoming a member of Menudo, arguably Latin America's most famous boy band in history, around the time he was ten years old. Because of the air distance between his home in Orlando and Menudo's base back in Puerto Rico in particular, Fonsi was not able to achieve that particular childhood dream. He did, however, participate in many local boy bands, including one, Big Guys, where he met, and befriended, future *NSYNC member Joey Fatone. On April of that year, Fonsi had a brief return to the singing stage, when former Menudo Ray Reyes invited him and Lopez to a concert which was held at San Juan's Roberto Clemente coliseum. The press widely covered what El Vocero titled as Fonsi's moment as a Menudo, when he took the stage and joined the members of El Reencuentro to sing some of their old hits. Fonsi's popularity has transcended ages and genres in Puerto Rico: industrialist Salvador Vassallo, for example, has told El Vocero that Fonsi is among his favorite singers. Instead of choosing to keep a pattern of trying to find stardom in the United States with a boy band, Fonsi chose to better prepare himself for a future, stable career inside show business. He went to Florida State University to study vocal techniques. Meanwhile, he began to record demo tapes in Miami. While he was at FSU, he was overheard singing by a university music department president, who offered him a contract with a large recording company. In 1999, Fonsi recorded his first CD, Comenzare (I Will Begin). Comenzare became an instant hit in Puerto Rico and across Latin America, with Fonsi conquering such markets as Colombia, the Dominican Republic,El Salvador, Mexico and Venezuela. His 2000 follow-up, Eterno, was equally successful. By then, Fonsi's fame had reached Europe, as he became a celebrity in Spain as well. During 2001, a re-mix of Comenzare and Eterno was launched, while Fonsi worked on his next album, 2002's Amor Secreto. At about the same time, some media outlets such as newspapers and magazines began to comment about an allegued, adulterous romance between him and an also very famous married Puerto Rican singer, who had just happened to separate from her husband recently and bought a home near Fonsi's Orlando property. The scandal did not last too long, however, and Fonsi soon released an album in English, Fight the Feeling, also released in 2002. Fight the Feeling did not sell well among Americans. It is expected, however, that Fonsi will sometime in the future make a second attempt at a crossover: because of the fact he has lived most of his life in Orlando, he is fluent in English as well as in Spanish. His Fourth CD sold very well which opened new markets in Europe. "Quien te Dijo eso?" reached high positions on music charts. His fifth CD "Paso a Paso" could be said to be his disc that launched him into international markets. "Nada es Para Siempre" reached Number one on the music chart beating famous, Shakira. By 2003, Fonsi began to fall in love with actress Adamari Lopez, who, as an Univision artist and fellow Puerto Rican, constantly found herself near Fonsi. That same year, Fonsi released the song Abrazar la Vida (Holding on to Life), of the album also named Abrazar la Vida. The song, perhaps ironically and because of a particular circumstance, would later become one of Lopez's favorite songs. While Fight the Feeling was released by the MCA label, Abrazar la Vida was released by Universal's Spanish music label. Fonsi also recorded Amazing in 2003, a duet with Emma Bunton for her 2004 album Free Me. Fonsi took off 2004, a year when rumors were reported by magazines, television news shows and newspapers that he and Lopez had committed to marry each other. During 2005, Fonsi was in the middle of an international tour that would have had him away from home for many months; the tour was abruptly cancelled when Lopez was diagnosed with cancer. Fonsi promised her to stay by her side, and has travelled with her back and forth between Mexico, Miami and Puerto Rico for various treatment and work related trips. On June 3, 2006, Fonsi and Adamari Lopez were married in a religious ceremony in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico attended by many celebrities including Joey Fatone, Charytin, Ednita Nazario, and Carlos Ponce and his brother, aspiring Spanish-language singer Jean Rodriguez, who goes simply by Jean as his professional name.
Gente De Zona (1) 279 views 0 favorites These Cubatoneros (all around the age of 25) are combining two voices in one DJ: Ale Delgado, Jacob Forever and DJ Nando Pro. From the beginning on, Gente de Zona has always enjoyed a huge acceptance from their audience and within a couple of months they were playing in the trendiest Havanna Clubs such as Casa de la Musica de Galiano, Casa de la Musica de Miramar, Makumba, Johnny Dream and Delirio Habanero. At the moment Gente de Zona is the hottest act in Cuba and their fans are coming from far away to join the gigs. They are the definitely the most expected at any European Latino Festival. A proof of that was their last tour "Tournée Verano Europeo 2009" as they called which finished with a great concert in Italy. But they also went to Copenhagen in Denmark, Koln in Germany, Milano, Rome, Florence and Verona in Italy - among other places in that country, Barcelona, Madrid and Valencia in Spain, Rotterdam and Amsterdam in Holland, Gent in Belgium, Zurich in Switzerland and Tampera in Finland. Their fans follow them from just about anyhere. As they say "it is just imposible to listen to their music and keep your body still. Their music call out for dancing. You just cannot help. You have to move your body to that beat that touches your heart and plays right inside your soul". Alexander Ale takes over the stage with his dynamic, afro-Hispanic blood and rocks off on the dance floor. He began in December 2000 at the rap festival de Alamar. "At that time, we were only a rap-duo", announced Alexis. "As time went by, we became a part of Brigada Hermanos Saiz and attempted our first steps together with Empresa Musical Antonio Maria Romeu where we could rise up to real professionals. But not until July 2005 did we officially appear in the catalogue of the Agencia Cubana de Rap." Jakob Forever Through Jacobs veins flows Spanish blood, however spiced with plenty of salsa. He comes from Camaguey and one calls him the Leader of swing rapero. His career started rather noncommercial - imitating songs from the Back Street Boys and N'Sync but performing on roller-skates. In this formation, Jacob traveled to Spain where he now lives. Returning to Cuba, he launched the group Made in Cuba. Nando Pro Nando is a pianist from Matanzas and has been loving rap and Reggaeton from the beginning. He's working as a composer und producer for different rappers an Cubatoneros like Papa Records, which whom he won first price at the Feria del Cubadisco in 2006. He also helped to establish the musical production of the album "Acento Latino" together with Eddy K The group is back to Cuba after the great success of its latest European Tour and is now ready to go to Mexico, Canada, Argentina, Ecuador and many other countries in South, North and Central Americas. Miami, New York, Los Angeles and Houston are some of the cities in the United States which call for them. But the political situation involving the US and Cuba does not grant them the opportunity to meet their fans in those countries. "We hope we can go to the United States next year - says Alexander - for we understand the importance of meeting our fans and going where they are. We do not wanna go to the US to talk about politics or politicians. Our goal is to go their and make those people who have been hungry for us listen tou our music live and dance." For further information about this group visit: www.myspace.com/mundogdz www.facebook.com/gentedezona Cesar Melo Tour Manager GdZ Europa +41 76 239 3257 caninz@gmail.com .
Enrique Iglesias (1) 222 views 0 favorites Enrique Iglesias (born Enrique Miguel Iglesias Preysler; May 8, 1975) is a Spanish singer, songwriter and occasional actor, popular in both the Latin market and the Hispanic American market in the United States. He is the son of the famous Spanish singer Julio Iglesias. Within five years of beginning his musical career in the 1990s, he became the biggest seller of Spanish-language albums of that decade. He made his crossover into the mainstream English language market before the turn of the millennium, signing a multi-album deal with Universal Music Group for an unprecedented US$50,000,000 with Universal Music Latino to release his Spanish albums and Interscope to release English albums. In 2010, he parted with Interscope and signed with another Universal Music Group label, Universal Republic.
Iglesias has sold over 100 million records worldwide, making him one of the best selling Spanish language artists of all time. He has had five Billboard Hot 100 top five singles, including two number-ones, and holds the record for producing 22 number-one Spanish-language singles on the Billboard's Hot Latin Tracks. He has also had ten number-one songs on Billboard's Dance charts, more than any other single male artist. Altogether, Iglesias has amassed 68 number-one songs on the various Billboard charts. Billboard has called him The King of Latin Pop and The King of Dance. Billboard also named Enrique the number two Latin artist of the years 1986-2011 (Luis Miguel taking the first spot).
Don Omar (4) 556 views 0 favorites Don Omar (born William Omar Landrón Rivera; February 10, 1978), is a Puerto Rican reggaeton singer-songwriter, recording artist and actor. He is sometimes referred to by his nickname El Rey (Spanish: "The King").
Omar is the oldest son of William Landrón and Luz Antonia Rivera. He was born and raised in Carolina, Puerto Rico. From an early age, he showed interest in the music of Vico C and Brewley MC. During his youth, he became an active member of a Protestant church, Iglesia Evangélica Restauración en Cristo in Bayamón where he occasionally offered sermons. However, after four years, he left the church to dedicate himself to singing.
His first public performance in a night club was accompanied by disc jockey Eliel Lind Osorio. Afterwards he appeared regularly on compilation albums from popular DJs and producers including Luny Tunes, Noriega, and DJ Eric. He also worked as a backup singer for the duo Héctor & Tito. One of the members, Héctor Delgado, helped him produce his first solo album.
Omar's career rose to stardom with the release of his first studio album, The Last Don. Both the studio version and its live edition have been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. Worldwide, The Last Don: Live has sold over one million copies, according to his official website. He earned awards for Latin Pop Album of the Year and New Artist & Latin Rap/Hip-Hop Album of the Year by the Billboard Latin Music Awards in 2003. The Last Don: Live was also nominated for Urban Music Album at the 2005 Latin Grammy Awards.
Omar's May 2006 album King of Kings, became history's highest ranking reggaeton LP in the top 10 US charts, with its debut at #1 on the Latin sales charts and the #1 spot on the Billboard Latin Rhythm Radio Chart with his single “Angelito”. Omar was also able to beat the in-store appearance sales record at Disney World's Virgin music store previously set by pop star Britney Spears.
With the highest charting debut by a reggaeton artist, Omar's King of Kings entered at No. 7 with 74,000, beating Daddy Yankee's No. 24 entry with 2005's "Barrio Fino En Directo". In April 2007, Don Omar received the Latin Billboard award for Reggaeton Album Of The Year for King of Kings. Billboard recognized that King of Kings was the most successful album of the decade in Latin America, besides being the most successful in the history of the genre of reggaeton. Billboard estimated that the album sold over 4.1 million copies by the end of 2009.
The album's track "Salió El Sol" is featured in the video game Grand Theft Auto IV, and the track "Virtual Diva" was featured in the expansion pack Grand Theft Auto: The Ballad of Gay Tony. The songs "Los Bandoleros" and "Conteo" were featured in the movie The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift in the ending credits. His song "Danza Kuduro" was featured in the movie the Fast Five.
Omar participated in Gilberto Santa Rosa's presentation in an event titled "Concierto del Amor", presented in the Madison Square Garden on February 9, 2008. He closed the event and performed reggaeton themes.
Omar's third studio album, iDon, was released on April 28, 2009. This album was dedicated to his cousin Cordell Brown. "Virtual Diva" became the most requested song on Latin radio stations. The second official single, titled "Sexy Robotica", was released on July 6, 2009.
The album Don Omar Presents: Meet The Orphans was released on November 16, 2010. The album features the artists under Don Omar's Orfanato Music Group label and other reggaeton artists. The album includes the promotional single Hasta Abajo and the album's lead single Danza Kuduro featuring Portuguese-French singer Lucenzo, as well as collaborations from Orfanato Music Group artists including Kendo Kaponi, Syko, Plan B, Zion & Lennox, Yaga & Mackie and Danny Fornaris. Danza Kuduro appears on the Fast Five soundtrack and is the song played at the conclusion of the movie. He is signed to VI Music and Machete Music through Universal Music Latino.
The album Don Omar Presents MTO2: The New Generation was released on May 1, 2012. The album features newly signed to Orfanato Music Group Natti Natasha as well as many other signed artists and other reggaeton artists like Zion Y Lennox. The album includes the singles Hasta Que Salga El Sol, which won the award for Best Urban Song at the 2012 Latin Grammy Awards, and Dutty Love featuring Natti Natasha, which was also nominated. The album also features collaborations with Juan Magan, Mims, Syko, Vinny el Vendito, and Yunel Cruz. The album has been well received as it won the award for Best Urban Music Album at the 2012 Latin Grammy Awards and is a top seller on iTunes.
Paco De Lucia (1) 344 views 0 favorites Paco de Lucía (born Francisco Sánchez Gómez on 21 December 1947) is a Spanish flamenco guitarist, composer and producer. A leading proponent of the New Flamenco style, he is one of the first flamenco guitarists who has also successfully crossed over into other genres of music such as classical and jazz. Richard Chapman and Eric Clapton, authors of Guitar: Music, History, Players, describe de Lucía as a "titanic figure in the world of flamenco guitar", and Dennis Koster, author of Guitar Atlas, Flamenco, has referred to de Lucía as "one of history's greatest guitarists".
De Lucía is noted for his innovation and colour in harmony and his remarkable dexterity, technique, strength and fluidity in his right hand, capable of executing extremely fast and fluent picados. A master of contrast, he often juxtaposes picados with rasgueados and other techniques and often adds abstract chords and scale tones to his compositions with jazz influences. These innovations saw him play a key role in the development of traditional Flamenco and the evolution of New Flamenco and Latin jazz fusion from the 1970s.
De Lucía achieved acclaim for his recordings with flamenco singer Camarón de la Isla in the 1970s, recording 10 albums together. Some of his best known recordings include "Río Ancho" (later fused with Al Di Meola's "Mediterranean Sundance"), "Entre dos aguas", "La Barrosa", "Ímpetu", "Cepa Andaluza" and "Gloria al Niño Ricardo". His collaborations with guitarists John McLaughlin, Al Di Meola and Larry Coryell in the late 1970s saw him gain wider popularity outside his native Spain.
De Lucia formed the Paco de Lucía Sextet in 1981 with his brothers, singer Pepe de Lucía and guitarist Ramón de Algeciras, and collaborated with jazz pianist Chick Corea on their 1990 album, Zyryab. In 1983 he appeared in Carlos Saura's film Carmen, for which he was also nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Film Score. In 1992, he performed live at Expo '92 in Seville and a year later on the Plaza Mayor in Madrid.
In 2004, he won the Prince of Asturias Awards in Arts and in 2010, was awarded an honorary doctorate by Berklee College of Music in Boston. Since 2004 he has greatly reduced his live performances in public, has retired from full touring, and now typically only gives several concerts a year, usually in Spain and Germany and at European festivals during the summer months. In 2005, he was nominated for producer of the year by the Latin Grammy Award for La Tana's Tu, Ven a Mi album.
Los Romeros (1) 248 views 0 favorites The quartet was founded in 1960 by Celedonio Romero, who grew up in Franco's Spain. All three of his sons, Angel, Celin and Pepe, had made their performing debuts by the time they were seven. In 1957, the Romeros moved to the United States, where they continue to reside. In 1990 Angel left the quartet, and was replaced by Celin's son Celino. Celedonio Romero died in 1996, and was replaced by Angel's son Lito.