Romeo Santos

Anthony “Romeo” Santos was born on July 21, 1981, in the Bronx, New York City, to a Dominican father and a Puerto Rican mother. He began his musical journey singing in a church choir at a young age, where he was exposed to Latin music genres such as salsa, merengue, and bachata. In 1994, he formed the group Los Tinellers, which later re-invented themselves as Aventura in 1998. With Aventura, Santos aimed to bring bachata into the mainstream by fusing it with hip hop and R&B. The group achieved significant international success with their 2002 hit “Obsesión,” which topped charts in multiple countries for 16 consecutive weeks in Italy. Aventura sold out Madison Square Garden in 2007, a notable milestone for a bachata act, and performed for President Barack Obama at the White House in 2009. The group released several critically acclaimed albums, including “Generation Next,” “We Broke the Rules,” “Love & Hate,” “God’s Project,” and “The Last,” generating numerous top 10 hits before going on hiatus in 2011.

In April 2011, Romeo Santos embarked on a solo career, signing with Sony Music Latin. His debut solo album, “Formula, Vol. 1,” released in November 2011, featured collaborations with artists including Usher and Lil Wayne. The album produced hits like “You” and “Promise” (with Usher), both reaching number one on the Hot Latin and Tropical Songs Billboard charts. “Promise” was certified Diamond and 34x Platinum by the RIAA. Following the album’s success, Santos sold out Madison Square Garden for three consecutive nights in February 2012, kicking off his “The King Stays King” tour. This tour notably featured appearances by influential artists such as Antony “El Mayimbe” Santos, Luis Vargas, Wisin & Yandel, P. Diddy, and Usher. His live album and concert film, “The King Stays King: Sold Out at Madison Square Garden,” released in November 2012, further cemented his status as a leading bachata artist. The album peaked at number 65 on the Billboard 200 and number 1 on both the Top Latin and Tropical Albums charts.

Santos continued to achieve significant milestones with his subsequent albums. “Formula, Vol. 2,” released in February 2014, featured collaborations with Drake, Nicki Minaj, Marc Anthony, and Carlos Santana, becoming the best-selling Latin album of 2014 and earning 27x Platinum certification from the RIAA. His single “Propuesta Indecente” became his most certified song, achieving 51x Platinum status. In July 2014, he made history as the first Latin artist to headline Yankee Stadium, selling out a double-header show where he was joined by Aventura for a reunion. Santos’s career includes appearances in films such as “Furious 7” (2015) and providing the voice for “Early Bird” in “The Angry Birds Movie” (2016). His 2019 album “Utopía” brought together pioneers of traditional bachata and featured Aventura for the track “Inmortal.” In 2022, he released “Formula, Vol. 3,” which won Best Merengue/Bachata Album at the 2023 Latin Grammys, marking his first win in this category. His tours consistently sell out major venues worldwide, reaffirming his title as the “King of Modern Bachata.”