Such a great feeling to see Latin music becoming more popular leaving us wanting more of Latin music especially from the forefront man of Latin music Luis Fonsi! Luis Fonsi has been a well-known name in Latin music circles for as long as over 2 decades (over 20years).
What breakthrough for Fonsi at 39! Fonsi had gotten quite a number of albums –about 7- before Despacito- the platinum single in January 2017 which actually made him a global star.
Luis Alfonso Rodríguez López-Cepero was born April 15, 1978 (now 40) in San Juan, Puerto Rico. When he was 10 years old he moved with his family to Orlando, Florida where he attended Dr. Phillips High School. Over there started displaying a strong affection for music. He would sing, play the guitar and piano and eventually became a part of a music group called ‘Big Guys. In 1995, he proceeded to the Florida State University School of Music on a scholarship with a major in vocal performance. He joined the school’s choir which then gave him the opportunity to travel to different parts of the world and perform. During that time, he recorded some demo tapes in Miami and soon Universal Music Latin offered him a recording contract.
Three years later in 1998, Luis Fonsi released his debut album, ‘Comenzaré’ (I Will Begin). It was a hit in Puerto Rico and across Latin America. The album which contained 10 singles was certified Platino for selling 100,000 copies. He came through with 2nd studio album ‘Eterno’ in June of 2000. Eterno peaked at number 6 on the Billboard Top Latin Albums as well as lead single , ‘Imaginame Sin Ti’ peaking at number 1 on Billboard Hot Latin Tracks. ( Also in 2000, Luis Fonsi composed a song for Puerto Rican singer Ednita Nazario, which won a Latin Grammy Award).
Luis Fonsi dropped a couple of albums in 2002: i.e 3rd studio album – a 12 track album ‘Amor Secreto’ (Secret Love) in March and 4th album ‘Fight the Feeling’ which happens to be his 1st English album. We took that “Secret” bonus track off this album that houses 11 tracks.
In October 2003, Fonsi released his 5th album ‘Abrazar la Vida’ (embrace life /embrace the life. The album peaked at number 3 on Billboard Top Latin Albums and was certified platinum. No specific album in 2014 but Fonsi got featured in the Mexican television serial drama, ‘Corazones al límite’(Hearts to the Limit) after which launched his 6th album ‘Paso a Paso’ (Step By Step) in 2005. The 11 tracks album was certified in the United States.
His 7th album (sixth in Spanish) Palabras del Silencio (English: Words from the Silence) also recorded such huge success in 2008 being certified Platinum in US & in Spain, Gold in Mexico & Argentina with a Grammy nomination for Best Latin Pop Album in 2009.
Lead single off Paso A Paso peaked at number 1 on the Billboard Hot Latin music charts making the third No1 hit for Luis Fonsi. It peaked at 90 on the Billboard Hot 100 making the first time that Luis Fonsi had crossed over to the US Billboard Hot 100. It was nominated for the Latin Grammy: for Latin Billboard Music Awards in 2006 for Latin Pop Airplay Song of the Year – Male among other nominations. The song was dedicated to Luis Fonsi’s wife then Adamari López (they were officially divorced in 2010 ) who at the time had been diagnosed with breast cancer (Married Spanish model Agueda López in 2014).The song was featured in the soundtrack of Mexican telenovela Rebelde.
Most of Fonsi’s albums were recorded in Spanish/Latin where he appears to thrive more except for a couple that have broke through the US music industry. He’s done a whole lot’s of albums apart from those mentioned earlier. He’s got Tierra Firme in 2011, Romances in 2013, 8 in 2014.
Fonsi finally broke through in 2017 when he featured the Canadian singer Justin Bieber on the English remix of the song (Bieber singing in both English and Spanish) in April 2017. This song was initially released entirely in Spanish featuring Daddy Yankee. He said day three after the song was released they knew it was going to be a rocket. Fonsi also released the single ‘Échame la Culpa’ (Not On You) with Demi Lovato later in November 2017.
Despacito Remix climbed up the charts in the US, the UK, and many other nations becoming Fonsi’s first number 1 on the chart claiming the number 1 spot in almost every Latin Billboard chart. The song remained number 1 for 16 consecutive weeks taken Fonsi to close 30 (24) countries with a diamond record in 14 countries.
Luis Fonsi earned his first U.S. crossover hit with this remix peaking at #1 on 27th May 2017 spending over 16 weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100, matching Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men’s “One Sweet Day” for the longest run at No. 1 in the chart’s history. It became the most viewed video in the world. The video, as of May 2018, had reached five billion views on YouTube. Its video is said to have been shot in a Puerto Rican slum that was struck by Hurricane Maria. A deliberate effort made by Fonsi in wanting to help in rebuilding the area as a relief fund.
Despacito won the three artists on it seven awards each this 2018 apart from earning Fonsi 4 Latin GRAMMY Awards at the 18th Latin GRAMMYs in 2017, including Song and Record Of The Year, Latin Songs Artist of the Year, Male.
We expect his forthcoming album before the end of 2018 as promised. Until then, Much amor Luis Fonsi- We love you Luis Fonsi
