Luis Fonsi | |
|---|---|
.JPG) Fonsi in 2015 | |
| Born | Luis Alfonso Rodríguez López-Cepero (1978-04-15)April 15, 1978 (age 46) |
| Citizenship | United States |
| Education | Dr. Phillips High School |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1997–present |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Jean Rodríguez (brother) |
| Musical career | |
| Origin | Orlando, Florida, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Labels | Universal Latin |
| Website | www |
Musical artist | |
Luis Alfonso Rodríguez López-Cepero (born April 15, 1978), known by his stage nameLuis Fonsi (Spanish pronunciation:[ˈlwisˈfonsi]), is a Puerto Rican singer. He is known for his soulful and dance oriented songs, most notably 2017's "Despacito".
Fonsi received his firstLatin Grammy Award nominations in theRecord of the Year category and wonSong of the Year thanks to the song "Aquí Estoy Yo". The song also won threeBillboard Latin Music Awards. "Despacito" became Fonsi's biggest success, winning four Latin Grammy Awards, sevenBillboard Latin Music Awards, fiveBillboard Music Awards and threeGrammy Awards nominations. He also won oneLatin American Music Award for "Échame la Culpa" withDemi Lovato.
As of 2018, Fonsi has broken sixGuinness World Records and sold more than 11 million records with "Despacito",[1] whosemusic video was themost-watched YouTube video of all time until November 2020, with over 8 billion views.[2]
Fonsi was born on April 15, 1978, inSan Juan, Puerto Rico, the oldest child of Alfonso Rodríguez and Delia López-Cepero. He has two younger siblings:Jean Rodríguez, who also is a singer, and Tatiana Rodríguez.
Growing up, Fonsi idolized the stars of the popular groupMenudo,[3] and theSan Juan Children's Choir.[4]
At the age of 10, his family decided to move from Puerto Rico and relocated toOrlando, Florida.[5] He attended Westridge Middle School andDr. Phillips High School, both in Orlando. During his high school years, he participated in ana cappella group called "The Big Guys".[6] They sang at school parties and local festivals. One of the members of the group,Joey Fatone, later joined*NSYNC.
In 1995, Fonsi enrolled atFlorida State University School of Music on a full scholarship,[7][8] He also joined the school'schoir, the Florida State University Singers, and sang with theCity of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.[9] Eventually, he dropped out in order to pursue a career in music.[10] Soon after, he was offered a recording contract byUniversal Music Latin.[11]
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In 1997, Fonsi recorded his debut album,Comenzaré (I Will Begin), released in 1998. The record peaked at number 11 onBillboard's Top Latin Albums chart and contained the singles "Si Tú Quisieras", "Perdóname", "Dime Como", and "Me Iré".[12]Comenzaré became a hit in Puerto Rico and across Latin America, with Fonsi doing well in markets like Colombia, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Mexico, and Venezuela. His 2000 follow-up,Eterno, was even more successful. Around this time, Fonsi also recorded a duet withChristina Aguilera for her 2000 Spanish-language album,Mi Reflejo. On May 1, 2000, Fonsi performed at theGreat Jubilee Concert for a Debt-Free World, an outdoor concert in Rome, attended byPope John Paul II. That same year,Ednita Nazario won aLatin Grammy Award for a song composed by Fonsi. He also performed, with other artists, at the White House in honor of the victims of theSeptember 11 attacks.
In 2002, Fonsi was the opening act forBritney Spears'Dream Within a Dream Tour in the US and Mexico. In the same year he debuted his English album "Fight The Feeling" trying to do a crossover with the first single "Secret" featuringJoey Fatone in the video. In 2003, Luis Fonsi performed to billions of viewers across the globe atMiss World 2003 in China.
His fifth CD,Abrazar la vida, sold very well, which opened new markets in Europe. "¿Quién Te Dijo Eso?" reached number one on theBillboard Latin charts. During his time in the studio for the next album, Fonsi recorded "Amazing", a duet withSpice GirlEmma Bunton for her 2004 albumFree Me. His sixth CD,Paso a Paso, debuted at number one and sent him into international markets. "Nada Es Para Siempre" also reached number one on the music charts, and was a nominee for the Latin Grammy Awards. In 2006, he contributed toEl Piruli, a tribute album honoringVíctor Yturbe, singing a classicbolero, "Historia de un Amor".
In 2007, Luis Fonsi was selected to be part of the jury of the new version of the Latino boy bandMenudo.[13] The band would be a fusion of urban, pop and rock music in English and Spanish to produce several albums with the label ofSony BMGEpic Records. Several auditions were held in different cities such asLos Angeles,Dallas,Miami,New York, among others. Fonsi was a part of theDallas competition where along the side of radio announcerDaniel Luna they chose various contestants and in their pickings, rising starJC Gonzalez was 1 of the 25 selected. His sound producer was named Mariano Zunino from Argentina but moved to Florida.
His seventh CD,Palabras del Silencio, debuted and stayed in the number one position for many weeks. Luis Fonsi entered the USBillboard Hot 100 for the first time in September 2008 with his song "No Me Doy por Vencido", debuting at number 98 and peaking at number 92. It reached number one on theBillboard Hot Latin Tracks chart, one of his biggest hits to date. "No Me Doy por Vencido" becameBillboard's "Latin Pop Song of the Decade", and spent 21 weeks at number one on the Hot Latin Songs chart.
In November 2009, Luis Fonsi was awarded aLatin Grammy Award for "Song of the Year" for his composition "Aquí Estoy Yo".[14]
On December 11, 2009, Fonsi performed at theNobel Peace Prize Concert inOslo, honoring recipient PresidentBarack Obama.[15]
In 2011, Fonsi released the albumTierra Firme, and went on tour to promote it throughout Latin America.[16]
On July 9, 2011, Billboard named Fonsi "Leader of Latin Music's New Generation".[17]
In 2014, Fonsi released his album8, a reference to his eighth career album. He then did a tour named "Somos Uno" in 2014–15. He also mentioned that acting would be on his career path and that he wouldn't mind acting with Mexican actors and actresses.
In January 2017, "Despacito" featuringDaddy Yankee was promoted and released. On April 5, 2018, the music video reached five billion views onYouTube, with the song becoming number one in nearly every LatinBillboard chart, and the most viewed video in the world. In April 2017, the song was given an English remix featuring Canadian singerJustin Bieber. The remix featuring Bieber reached number one on the USBillboard Hot 100 for the week ending May 27, 2017, becoming both Fonsi and Yankee's first number one on the chart, and Bieber's fifth. Bieber promoted the remix at one of his shows in Puerto Rico, inviting Fonsi onto stage to perform the duet with him. The song remained number one for 16 consecutive weeks, tying One Sweet Day, by Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men as the longest reigning top song in the chart's history.
On August 15, 2017, Fonsi was named the tourism ambassador of Puerto Rico.[18]
In November 2017, he released the song "Échame la Culpa", featuringDemi Lovato, which debuted at number three on the Hot Latin chart.[19] The song won Song of the Year at theLatin American Music Awards of 2018 and received one nomination for Best Latin at theMTV Video Music Awards.[20][21] As of 2018, the song had sold more than 1 million copies worldwide.
In June 2018, Fonsi released the single "Calypso", withStefflon Don.[22] The song peaked at number 11 on the Hot Latin chart. On November 2, 2018, he collaborated on the track "Baby" byClean Bandit from theirsecond studio album.[23] The song peaked at number 13 on theBillboard Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart and at number 15 on theUK Singles Chart.
In October 2018, he collaborated with Italian singerEros Ramazzotti for the song "Per le strade una canzone", from the albumVita ce n'è.[24]
On January 13, 2019, the singer joined withWisin,Alejandra Guzmán andCarlos Vives as coaches of the first Spanish season ofLa Voz byTelemundo.[25]
After five years since8, on February 1, 2019, his 10th studio album,Vida was released. The track list contains "Despacito (Remix) ", "Échame la Culpa" and "Sola".[26] The album topped theBillboard Top Latin Albums chart andSpanish albums chart, and entered at number 18 on theBillboard 200.[27][28]
In 2019, Fonsi performed "Right Where I'm Supposed to Be" as the official song of the2019 Special Olympics World Summer Games inAbu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates in collaboration withRyan Tedder,Avril Lavigne,Hussain Al Jassmi,Assala Nasri andTamer Hosny.[29]
On July 26, 2019, Fonsi performed at the opening ceremony of the2019 Pan American Games inLima, Peru.[30] He sang his songs including his worldwide hit "Despacito" at the ceremony.[31] In November 2023, Fonsi was a guest narrator atDisney's Candlelight Processional atWalt Disney World.[32]
In 1992, Fonsi made a brief cameo in the romance filmComo Agua Para Chocolate in which he played the friend of the male lead, Pedro Múzquiz.
In 2004, Fonsi made his second acting appearance on the Mexicantelenovela namedCorazones al límite in which he played Roy. He also had a special appearance in 2001 on theNickelodeon television seriesTaina. Fonsi joined the cast of Broadway'sForever Tango for a two-week engagement in August 2013
In 2003, Fonsi started to become romantically interested in actressAdamari López, who, as aUnivision artist and fellow Puerto Rican, constantly found herself near Fonsi.[33] That same year, Fonsi released the song "Abrazar la vida" ("To Embrace the Life"), off the eponymous album. The song would later become one of López's favorites.[33]
During 2005, Fonsi was in the middle of an international tour that was abruptly cancelled when López was diagnosed withcancer. Fonsi promised to stay by her side, and traveled with her to Mexico, Miami, and Puerto Rico for various treatment and work-related trips.[33] She had been in remission since 2006.
On June 3, 2006, Fonsi and Adamari López were married in a religious ceremony inGuaynabo, Puerto Rico, attended by many celebrities includingJoey Fatone,Charytín Goyco,Ednita Nazario andCarlos Ponce, as well as his brother Jean Rodríguez. On November 8, 2010, they officially divorced.[34]
Fonsi and Spanishmodel Águeda López were married on September 10, 2014, after three years of living together.[35] They had their first child together, a daughter, in December 2011 inMiami.[36] On December 20, 2016, they welcomed their second child, a son.[37]
Since 2008, Luis Fonsi has been an ambassador ofSt. Jude Children's Research Hospital, which fights againstchildhood cancer.[38] In 2017, theBillboard Latin Music Awards honored him with theSpirit of Hope Award for his humanitarian work.[39]
AfterHurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic in 2017, the singer became one of the major helpers to raise the islands from the devastation.[40] For his contribution, he was honored with the Global Gift Philanthropy Award.[41]
He is also a supporter of spreading Latin culture around the world.[42]
Studio albums
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Luis Fonsi | Favorite Latin Artist | Nominated |
| 2017[43] | Nominated | ||
| "Despacito" | Collaboration of the Year | Won | |
| Favorite Pop/Rock Song | Won | ||
| Video of the Year | Nominated |
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019[44] | "Échame la Culpa" | Award Winning Songs | Won |
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Luis Fonsi | Top Latin Artist | Nominated |
| "Despacito"(withDaddy Yankee andJustin Bieber) | Top Hot 100 Song | Won | |
| Top Selling Song | Won | ||
| Top Streaming Song (Audio) | Nominated | ||
| Top Streaming Song (Video) | Won | ||
| Top Collaborate | Won | ||
| Top Latin Song | Won |
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | "Nada Es Para Siempre" | Latin Pop Airplay Song of the Year – Male | Nominated |
| "Paso A Paso" | Latin Pop Album of the Year – Male | Nominated | |
| 2009 | Luis Fonsi | Your World Award (Premio Tu Mundo) | Won |
| "No Me Doy Por Vencido" | Hot Latin Song of the Year | Nominated | |
| Hot Latin Song of the Year- Male | Nominated | ||
| Latin Pop Airplay Song of the Year, Male | Nominated | ||
| "Palabras del Silencio" | Latin Pop Album of the Year, Solo | Nominated | |
| 2010[45][46] | Luis Fonsi | Artist of the Year | Nominated |
| Latin Pop Airplay Artist of the Year, Male | Won | ||
| Latin Pop Albums Artist of the Year, Solo | Won | ||
| "Aqui Estoy Yo" | Latin Pop Airplay Song of the Year | Won | |
| 2018 | Luis Fonsi | Artist of the Year | Nominated |
| Hot Latin Songs Artist of the Year, Male | Won | ||
| Latin Pop Artist of the Year, Solo | Nominated | ||
| Songwriter of the Year | Nominated | ||
| "Despacito"(withDaddy Yankee andJustin Bieber) | Hot Latin Song of the Year | Won | |
| Hot Latin Song of the Year, Vocal Event | Won | ||
| Airplay Song of the Year | Won | ||
| Digital Song of the Year | Won | ||
| Streaming Song of the Year | Won | ||
| Latin Pop Song of the Year | Won | ||
| 2019 | "Echáme La Culpa"(withDemi Lovato) | Latin Pop Song of the Year | Nominated |
| 2020[47] | Luis Fonsi | Latin Pop Artist of the Year, Solo | Won |
| "Date La Vuelta"(withSebastián Yatra &Nicky Jam) | Latin Pop Song of the Year | Nominated | |
| "Vida" | Top Latin Album of the Year | Nominated | |
| Latin Pop Album of the Year | Won |
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018[48] | Luis Fonsi | President's Award | Won |
| "Despacito (Remix)" | Contemporary Latin Song of the Year | Won | |
| Award Winning Songs | Won | ||
| "Despacito" | Won |
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009[49] | Palabras del Silencio | Best Latin Pop Album | Nominated |
| 2018 | "Despacito (Remix)" | Record of the Year | Nominated |
| Song of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Best Pop Duo/Group Performance | Nominated | ||
| 2020 | Vida | Best Latin Pop Album | Nominated |
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019[50] | Luis Fonsi | Best Male Artist | Nominated |
| "Échame La Culpa"(withDemi Lovato) | Best Video | Nominated |
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018[51] | "Despacito (Remix)" | Song of the Year | Nominated |
| Best Collaboration | Nominated | ||
| Best Remix | Nominated | ||
| Luis Fonsi | Latin Artist of the Year | Won | |
| "Despacito" | Latin Song of the Year | Won | |
| Best Lyrics | Nominated | ||
| 2019[52] | "Échame la Culpa"(withDemi Lovato) | Latin Song of the Year | Nominated |
| Year | Nominee/Work | Result | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | "Despacito" (with Daddy Yankee & Justin Bieber) | 1 Billion Total Audience Spins on iHeartRadio Stations” | Won | [53] |
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Luis Fonsi | Artist of the Year | Nominated |
| Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist | Nominated | ||
| "Despacito"(withDaddy Yankee andJustin Bieber) | Song of the Year | Nominated | |
| Favorite Pop/Rock Song | Nominated | ||
| Favorite Collaboration | Nominated | ||
| 2018 | Luis Fonsi | Artist of the Year | Nominated |
| Favorite Pop Artist | Nominated | ||
| "Échame La Culpa"(withDemi Lovato) | Song of the Year | Won | |
| Favorite Pop Song | Nominated | ||
| 2019 | Luis Fonsi | Favorite Pop Artist | Nominated |
| "Vida" | Album of the Year | Nominated | |
| Favorite Pop Album | Nominated | ||
| "Imposible"(withOzuna) | Favorite Pop Song | Nominated | |
| 2021 | Luis Fonsi | Favorite Pop Artist | Nominated |
| 2022 | Nominated | ||
| 2022 | Nominated |
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | "Aquí Estoy Yo"(withClaudia Brant and Gen Rubin) | Song of the Year[54] | Won |
| 2017 | "Despacito"(withDaddy Yankee) | Record of the Year | Won |
| Best Short Form Music Video | Won | ||
| "Despacito"(with Daddy Yankee andErika Ender) | Song of the Year | Won | |
| "Despacito"(withDaddy Yankee featuringJustin Bieber) | Best Urban/Fusion Performance | Won | |
| 2019 | Vida | Album of the Year | Nominated |
| 2024 | El Viaje | Best Pop Vocal Album | Won |
| 2009 | "Aqui Estoy Yo" | Song of the Year | Won |
| 2017 | "Despacito"(withDaddy Yankee) | Record of the Year | Won |
| Song of the Year | Won | ||
| Best Short Form Music Video | Won | ||
| "Despacito"(with Daddy Yankee ft.Justin Bieber) | Best Urban Fusion/Performance | Won | |
| 2019 | Vida | Album of the Year | Nominated |
| 2024 | El Viaje | Best Pop Vocal Album | Won |
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Luis Fonsi | Best Latin Artist | Nominated |
| "Despacito" | International Song of the Year | Won | |
| International Video of the Year | Nominated | ||
| LOS40 Global Show Award | Nominated | ||
| Golden Music Awards | Won |
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | "Despacito"(withDaddy Yankee) | Best Song | Nominated |
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | "Despacito"(withDaddy Yankee andJustin Bieber) | Collaboration of the Year | Nominated |
| Best Party Anthem | Won | ||
| 2018[55] | "Échame La Culpa"(withDemi Lovato) | Hit of the Year | Nominated |
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | "Despacito"(withDaddy Yankee andJustin Bieber) | Summer Song | Nominated |
| 2018 | "Échame La Culpa"(withDemi Lovato) | Best Latin | Nominated |
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Luis Fonsi | Male Artist of the Year – Pop | Nominated |
| "Abrazar la Vida" | Album of the Year – Pop | Nominated | |
| 2006 | Luis Fonsi | Male Artist of the Year – Pop | Won |
| "Nada Es Para Siempre" | Song of the Year – Pop | Nominated | |
| Video of the Year | Won | ||
| "Paso a Paso" | Album of the Year – Pop | Nominated | |
| 2007 | Luis Fonsi | Male Artist of the Year – Pop | Nominated |
| "Por Una Mujer" | Song of the Year – Pop | Nominated | |
| 2009 | Luis Fonsi | Male Artist of the Year – Pop | Won |
| 2010 | Artist of the Year | Nominated | |
| Male Artist of the Year – Pop | Won | ||
| "Aquí Estoy Yo" | Collaboration of the Year | Won | |
| Song of the Year – Pop | Won | ||
| 2012 | "Respira" | Video of the Year | Nominated |
| 2013 | Luis Fonsi | Male Artist of the Year – Pop | Nominated |
| 2016 | "Llegaste Tú" withJuan Luis Guerra | Pop Song of the Year | Nominated |
| 2019 | "Calypso" with Stefflon Don | Crossover Collaboration of the Year | Nominated |
| 2020 | Luis Fonsi | Pop/Rock Artist of the Year | Nominated |
| Pop/Ballad Artist of the Year | Won | ||
| "Imposible" withOzuna | Pop/Rock Collaboration of the Year | Nominated | |
| Urban/Pop Song of the Year | Nominated | ||
| "Date La Vuelta" withSebastián Yatra andNicky Jam | Nominated | ||
| 2021 | "Tanto" with Jesse & Joy | Pop Collaboration of the Year | Nominated |
| Pop Song of the Year | Nominated | ||
| "Girasoles" | Video of the Year | Nominated | |
| 2022 | Luis Fonsi | Pop Artist of the Year | Nominated |
| "Vacío" with Rauw Alejandro | Pop Collaboration of the Year | Nominated | |
| "Se Nos Fue La Mano" | Pop Song of the Year | Nominated | |
| Pop/Ballad Song of the Year | Nominated | ||
| 2023 | Luis Fonsi | Male Pop Artist of the Year | Nominated |
| "Vacaciones" with Manuel Turizo | Pop Collaboration of the Year | Nominated | |
| "Nuestra Balada" | Pop/Ballad Song of the Year | Nominated | |
| Ley de Gravedad | Pop Album of the Year | Nominated | |
| 2024 | Luis Fonsi | Male Pop Artist of the Year | Nominated |
| 2025 | Luis Fonsi | Male Pop Artist of the Year | Nominated |
| "Santa Marta" with Carlos Vives | Pop Song of The Year | Nominated | |
| "Roma" with Laura Pausini | Pop/Ballad Song of the Year | Nominated | |
| El Viaje | Pop-Urban Album Of The Year | Nominated |
The Swiss Music Awards are presented the Press Play Association in conjunction with Media Control Switzerland to national and international musicians in over ten categories.[56]
| Year | Award | Nomination | Result | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Best Hit - International | "Échame la culpa"(Demi Lovato) | Won | [57] |
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Luis Fonsi | Choice Latin Artist | Nominated |
| "Despacito"(withDaddy Yankee andJustin Bieber) | Choice Music Single – Male Artist | Nominated | |
| Choice Latin Song | Won | ||
| Choice Summer Song | Won | ||
| 2018 | Luis Fonsi | Choice Latin Artist | Nominated |
| "Échame La Culpa"(withDemi Lovato) | Choice Latin Song | Nominated |
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Luis Fonsi | Favorite Pop Star | Nominated |
| He's Got Style Award | Nominated | ||
| Luis Fonsi & Adamari López | Hottest Romance | Won | |
| 2007 | Luis Fonsi | Favorite Pop Star | Nominated |
| He's Got Style Award | Won | ||
| 2009 | Luis Fonsi | Voice of the Moment | Won |
| Favorite Pop Artist | Won | ||
| My Idol Is | Won | ||
| What a Hottie! | Nominated | ||
| He's Got Style Award | Won | ||
| Adamari López and Luis Fonsi | Hottest Romance | Won | |
| "Aquí Estoy Yo" | The Perfect Combination | Won | |
| My favorite Video | Won | ||
| Catchiest Tune | Won | ||
| Best Ballad | Nominated | ||
| "No Me Doy Por Vencido" | Won | ||
| The Perfect Combination | Won | ||
| My Ringtone | Nominated | ||
| "Palabras del Silencio" | CD To Die For | Won | |
| 2010 | Luis Fonsi | Voice of the Moment | Nominated |
| My Favorite Concert | Nominated | ||
| Favorite Pop Artist | Nominated | ||
| What a Hottie! | Nominated | ||
| Adamari López and Luis Fonsi | Hottest Romance | Won | |
| 2012 | Luis Fonsi | Follow me The Good | Nominated |
| My Favorite Concert | Nominated | ||
| Favorite Pop Artist | Nominated | ||
| Best Moves | Nominated | ||
| "Tierra Firme" | Everything I touch it | Nominated | |
| My Favorite Concert | Nominated | ||
| "Respira" | Best Ballad | Nominated | |
| 2017 | "Despacito" | The Perfect Combination | Won |
| Best Song For Singing | Won | ||
| Best Song For perfection | Won | ||
| 2019 | "Imposible" | Best Song: Singing in the Shower | Nominated |
| 2021 | "Girasoles" | Video with the Best Social Message | Nominated |
| 2023 | "Vacaciones" | Best Pop/Urban Collaboration | Nominated |
| Ley De Gravedad | Best Pop/Urban Album | Nominated |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
