Romeo Santos

"Anthony Santos" redirects here. For the Dominican bachata singer with a similar name, see Antony Santos.
Romeo Santos

Santos in 2013
Background information
Birth name Anthony Santos
Born (1981-07-21) July 21, 1981
The Bronx, New York, U.S.
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • record producer
  • actor
Years active

1995–present

Musical career

Genres
Instruments
Labels
Associated acts
Website romeosantosonline.com

Anthony Santos (born July 21, 1981),[1] known professionally as Romeo Santos, is an American[2] singer, songwriter, record producer, actor, featured composer and former lead singer of the Bachata group Aventura. Due to his quick and recent rise to stardom, and his worldwide commercial success both as a member of Aventura and as a solo artist, he is considered by many[3][4] to be The King of Bachata Music. As a member of Aventura, Santos was 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.[5] After releasing several albums with Aventura, the group went its separate ways. Since then, Romeo has embarked on a solo career which in three years has spawned seven number one songs on the Hot Latin Songs chart and eight number ones on the Tropical Songs chart.

Early life and career

Santos was born on July 21, 1981, in The Bronx, New York City, to a Dominican father and a Puerto Rican mother.[6] He had a humble upbringing, with his father working construction and his mother staying at home to take care of the family. He joined his church’s choir at age 12. At the same time, he developed a great passion for bachata music (a typical Dominican style with great draw among the working class), long before it became popular around the world, when he was 15.

Romeo Santos and Juan Luis Guerra.

Before the success of Aventura, Santos founded a group called “Los Tinellers” ("The Teenagers" written phonetically in a Dominican pronunciation), with his cousin Henry and two friends in the early 1990s. The group released an album called Trampa De Amor, and by the end of the decade, they changed the name of the band to Aventura.

Music career

Aventura

The group, for which Romeo was the main songwriter and producer, released 5 studio albums in a decade, spawning many top 10 hits like "Un Beso", “Los Infieles”, “El Perdedor”, “Por Un Segundo”, “Dile Al Amor” and probably their most popular song, “Obsesión”.

Solo career

In 2007 while still with Aventura, he performed a solo show on the popular music TV show, "Pasión De Sábado." In 2009, he was invited to the White House to sing for President Barack Obama.

In April 2011, after his success as a songwriter and the lead singer for Aventura, Romeo announced he was leaving the band to pursue a solo career. On May 9, he released the first single off his debut album Formula, Vol. 1, called “You”.[7] The song went #1 on the Hot Latin Songs and Tropical Songs charts.[8] The second single “Promise”, featured a collaboration with R&B singer Usher.[9] As with the previous single, “Promise” topped the Hot Latin Songs and Tropical Songs charts.[10]

In 2012, he sold out New York City’s famous Madison Square Garden three nights in a row. The performance was then turned into a CD/DVD package and subsequently released as a live album, The King Stays King: Sold Out at Madison Square Garden.

In 2013, Formula, Vol. 1 received a Grammy nomination for Best Tropical Latin Album.

In 2014, he conquered another New York landmark, Yankee Stadium, selling out an entire double-header show.[11] Those concerts made history for Santos, becoming the first Latin artist to headline at the Stadium. The Fania All-Stars last did so, one block south at the old Yankee Stadium on August 24, 1973.

His sophomore album Formula, Vol. 2 was released February 25, 2014. Featuring collaborations with Drake, Nicki Minaj, Marc Anthony, Carlos Santana, Tego Calderón, and Kevin Hart.[12] “Formula Vol.2” became the best selling Latin album of 2014.[13]

Santos was one of the most frequently played artists on jukeboxes across New York City neighborhoods, second only to The Rolling Stones. The analysis, by digital jukebox company TouchTunes and the Wall Street Journal, covered listening patterns in from March 2014 to February 2015.[14]

Acting career

Santos made his Hollywood debut in the film Furious 7, released April 2015, alongside Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson, and Paul Walker.[15][16]

Romeo Santos was nervous about acting in Furious 7 but the cast made him feel welcome.[17]

Romeo Santos' second acting role will be in the film adaptation of the Angry Birds video game, expected to reach theaters in July 2016, according to the artist's agent.

Personal life

Santos has a son named Alex Damian Santos.

Discography

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
2015 Furious 7[15][16] Armando (Mando) Cameo role

See also

References

  1. ↑ Birchmeier, Jason. "Romeo Santos - Biography". Allmusic. Rovi. Retrieved January 23, 2015.
  2. ↑ http://www.npr.org/2011/11/19/142514062/romeo-santos-taking-bachata-mainstream
  3. ↑ http://www.today.com/video/meet-the-king-of-bachata-romeo-santos-435029059712
  4. ↑ http://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/crowds-welcome-king-bachata-romeo-santos-today-show-concert-n348946
  5. ↑ Rosen 2009
  6. ↑ Cobo, Leila (October 21, 2011). "Romeo Santos Finds His Own 'Formula' After Aventura Success". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Billboard Bits: Charlie Sheen Releases 'Winning' Single, Bruno Mars Responds to Tyler Dis". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2011-05-10. Retrieved 2011-05-16.
  8. ↑ "Chart Highlights: Pop, Dance/Club Play Songs & More". 2011-05-16. Retrieved 2011-05-16.
  9. ↑ "Romeo Santos junto a Usher en "Promise"". Terra Networks (in Spanish). 2011-08-30. Retrieved 2011-09-02.
  10. ↑ "Chart Highlights: Rodney Atkins Takes 'Back Road' To No. 1 On Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2011-09-12. Retrieved 2011-09-12.
  11. ↑ "From Corner Delis to Yankee Stadium: Romeo Santos Historic Bronx Gig". Rolling Stone. Rolling Stone. July 11, 2014. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
  12. ↑ "'Fórnula Vol. 2' de Romeo Santos saldrá a la venta el 25 de febrero". Univision (in Spanish). Univision Communications. January 17, 2014. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
  13. ↑ "Romeo Santos, primer lugar en ventas con 'Formula Vol.2'". Univision (in Spanish). Univision Communications. April 7, 2014. Retrieved October 7, 2014.
  14. ↑ http://graphics.wsj.com/nyc-jukebox-map/
  15. 1 2 ""Rápidos y furiosos 7" adelanta su fecha de estreno". El Comercio (in Spanish). Empresa Editora El Comercio. July 4, 2014. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
  16. 1 2 "Fast and Furious 7 Spoilers, Update: 7 Things Fans Need to Know About Paul Walker and Vin Diesel Starrer Movie". International Business Times. International Business Times AU. July 10, 2014. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
  17. ↑ Latin Post Staff (March 30, 2015). "Furious7 Cast News&Trailer:Romeo Santos". Retrieved 12 April 2015.

Further reading

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