Luis Fonsi

Luis Fonsi is a Puerto Rican singer, songwriter, and actor recognized for his influence in Latin music. Fonsi attended Florida State University School of Music on a full scholarship, joining the Florida State University Singers and performing with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. He later left the university to pursue a professional music career and signed a recording contract with Universal Music Latin. His debut album, "Comenzaré," reached number 11 on Billboard's Top Latin Albums chart and gained popularity in Puerto Rico and throughout Latin America, including Colombia, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Mexico, and Venezuela.

Over the following two decades, Fonsi released multiple studio albums and embarked on international tours. His fifth album, "Abrazar la Vida," and sixth album, "Paso a Paso," expanded his reach into European markets. The seventh album, "Palabras de Silencio," debuted at number one and remained on the charts for several weeks. The single "No Me Doy Por Vencido" entered the US Billboard Hot and reached number one on the Hot Latin Tracks chart. Fonsi received a Latin Grammy Award for Song of the Year for his composition "Aquí Estoy Yo." He also performed at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, honoring President Barack Obama. Billboard recognized him as a leader in Latin music's new generation.

Fonsi's career achieved global recognition with the release of "Despacito," featuring Daddy Yankee. The song topped charts in nearly 50 countries and achieved an unprecedented run on the U.S. Top 40 for a Spanish-language song. An English remix featuring Justin Bieber reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, marking the first number one for both Fonsi and Daddy Yankee on the chart. The song spent 16 weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100, tying the record for the longest run at number one in the chart's history. "Despacito" earned four Latin Grammy Awards, seven Billboard Latin Music Awards, and five Billboard Music Awards. Fonsi broke six Guinness World Records and sold more than 11 million records with "Despacito." Its music video became the most-watched YouTube video of all time, surpassing 8 billion views. Fonsi also performed "Despacito" at the Celebrating America special during President Joe Biden's inauguration.

Fonsi has continued to develop his career in Latin pop and international music. His tenth studio album, "Vida," topped the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart and the Spanish albums chart, and entered the Billboard 200. He has collaborated with artists such as Rauw Alejandro and Sebastián Yatra. Fonsi has served as a coach on "La Voz" by Telemundo and made his film debut in the romantic comedy "Say A Little Prayer."

In addition to his artistic work, Fonsi is active in humanitarian efforts. As an ambassador for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, he was honored with the Spirit of Hope Award at the Billboard Latin Music Awards for his philanthropic work. Following Hurricane Maria, Fonsi contributed to recovery efforts in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic and received the Global Gift Philanthropy Award. He was also recognized with the BMI President's Award for his achievements and contributions to Latin and pop music. "Despacito" stands as a landmark release that helped elevate Latin music in the global pop landscape, reinforcing Fonsi's legacy as a global ambassador of Latin culture.