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Luis Fonsi
Luis Fonsi 2015 (cropped).JPG
Fonsi in 2015.
Born
Luis Alfonso Rodríguez López-Cepero

(1978-04-15) April 15, 1978 (age 46)
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Citizenship United States
Education Dr. Phillips High School
Occupation
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Years active 1997–present
Spouse(s)
Adamari López
(m. 2006; div. 2010)
Águeda López
(m. 2014)
Children 2
Relatives Jean Rodríguez (brother)
Musical career
Origin Orlando, Florida, U.S.
Genres
Labels Universal Latin

Luis Alfonso Rodríguez López-Cepero (born April 15, 1978), known by his stage name Luis Fonsi (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈlwis ˈfonsi]), is a Puerto Rican singer-songwriter. He is known for his soulful and dance oriented songs, most notably 2017's "Despacito".

Fonsi received his first Latin Grammy Award nominations in the Record of the Year category and won Song of the Year thanks to the song "Aquí Estoy Yo". The song also won three Billboard Latin Music Awards. "Despacito" became Fonsi's biggest success, winning four Latin Grammy Awards, seven Billboard Latin Music Awards, five Billboard Music Awards and three Grammy Awards nominations. He also won one Latin American Music Award for "Échame la Culpa" with Demi Lovato.

As of 2018, Fonsi has broken six Guinness World Records and sold more than 11 million records with "Despacito", whose music video was the most-watched YouTube video of all time until November 2020, with over 8 billion views.

Early life

Fonsi was born on April 15, 1978, in San 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 group Menudo, and the San Juan Children's Choir.

At the age of 10, his family decided to move from Puerto Rico and relocated to Orlando, Florida. He attended Westridge Middle School and Dr. Phillips High School, both in Orlando. During his high school years, he participated in an a cappella group called "The Big Guys". They sang at school parties and local festivals. One of the members of the group, Joey Fatone, later joined *NSYNC.

In 1995, Fonsi enrolled at Florida State University School of Music on a full scholarship, He also joined the school's choir, the Florida State University Singers, and sang with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Eventually, he dropped out in order to pursue a career in music. Soon after, he was offered a recording contract by Universal Music Latin.

Career

1997–2006: Early albums

Luis Fonsi (cropped)
Fonsi in 2005

In 1997, Fonsi recorded his debut album, Comenzaré (I Will Begin), released in 1998. The record peaked at number 11 on Billboard's Top Latin Albums chart and contained the singles "Si Tú Quisieras", "Perdóname", "Dime Como", and "Me Iré". 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 with Christina Aguilera for her 2000 Spanish-language album, Mi Reflejo. On May 1, 2000, Fonsi performed at the Great Jubilee Concert for a Debt-Free World, an outdoor concert in Rome, attended by Pope John Paul II. That same year, Ednita Nazario won a Latin Grammy Award for a song composed by Fonsi. He also performed, with other artists, at the White House in honor of the victims of the September 11 attacks.

In 2002, Fonsi was the opening act for Britney 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" featuring Joey Fatone in the video. In 2003, Luis Fonsi performed to billions of viewers across the globe at Miss 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 the Billboard Latin charts. During his time in the studio for the next album, Fonsi recorded "Amazing", a duet with Spice Girl Emma Bunton for her 2004 album Free 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 to El Piruli, a tribute album honoring Víctor Yturbe, singing a classic bolero, "Historia de un Amor".

2007–2015: Palabras del Silencio, Tierra Firme, and 8

In 2007, Luis Fonsi was selected to be part of the jury of the new version of the Latino boy band Menudo. The band would be a fusion of urban, pop and rock music in English and Spanish to produce several albums with the label of Sony BMG Epic Records. Several auditions were held in different cities such as Los Angeles, Dallas, Miami, New York, among others. Fonsi was a part of the Dallas competition where along the side of radio announcer Daniel Luna they chose various contestants and in their pickings, rising star JC Gonzalez was 1 of the 25 selected.

His seventh CD, Palabras del Silencio, debuted and stayed in the number one position for many weeks. Luis Fonsi entered the US Billboard 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 the Billboard Hot Latin Tracks chart, one of his biggest hits to date. "No Me Doy por Vencido" became Billboard'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 a Latin Grammy Award for "Song of the Year" for his composition "Aquí Estoy Yo".

On December 11, 2009, Fonsi performed at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, honoring recipient President Barack Obama.

In 2011, Fonsi released the album Tierra Firme, and went on tour to promote it throughout Latin America.

On July 9, 2011, Billboard named Fonsi "Leader of Latin Music's New Generation".

In 2014, Fonsi released his album 8, 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.

2017–present: "Despacito" and international success

Luis Fonsi in concert
Fonsi in concert

In January 2017, "Despacito" featuring Daddy Yankee was promoted and released. On April 5, 2018, the music video reached five billion views on YouTube, with the song becoming number one in nearly every Latin Billboard chart, and the most viewed video in the world. In April 2017, the song was given an English remix featuring Canadian singer Justin Bieber. The remix featuring Bieber reached number one on the US Billboard 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.

In November 2017, he released the song "Échame la Culpa", featuring Demi Lovato, which debuted at number three on the Hot Latin chart. The song won Song of the Year at the Latin American Music Awards of 2018 and received one nomination for Best Latin at the MTV Video Music Awards. As of 2018, the song had sold more than 1 million copies worldwide.

In June 2018, Fonsi released the single "Calypso", with Stefflon Don. The song peaked at number 11 on the Hot Latin chart. On November 2, 2018, he collaborated on the track "Baby" by Clean Bandit from their second studio album. The song peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart and at number 15 on the UK Singles Chart.

In October 2018, he collaborated with Italian singer Eros Ramazzotti for the song "Per le strade una canzone", from the album Vita ce n'è.

On January 13, 2019, the singer joined with Wisin, Alejandra Guzmán and Carlos Vives as coaches of the first Spanish season of La Voz by Telemundo.

After five years since 8, on February 1, 2019, his 10th studio album, Vida was released. The track list contains "Despacito (Remix) ", "Échame la Culpa" and "Sola". The album topped the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart and Spanish albums chart, and entered at number 18 on the Billboard 200.

In 2019, Fonsi performed "Right Where I'm Supposed to Be" as the official song of the 2019 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates in collaboration with Ryan Tedder, Avril Lavigne, Hussain Al Jassmi, Assala Nasri and Tamer Hosny.

On July 26, 2019, Fonsi performed at the opening ceremony of the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru. He sang his songs including his worldwide hit "Despacito" at the ceremony. In November 2023, Fonsi was a guest narrator at Disney's Candlelight Processional at Walt Disney World.

Film and television appearances

In 1992, Fonsi made a brief cameo in the romance film Como 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 Mexican telenovela named Corazones al límite in which he played Roy. He also had a special appearance in 2001 on the Nickelodeon television series Taina. Fonsi joined the cast of Broadway's Forever Tango for a two-week engagement in August 2013

Personal life

In 2003, Fonsi started to become romantically interested in actress Adamari López, who, as a Univision artist and fellow Puerto Rican, constantly found herself near Fonsi. 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.

During 2005, Fonsi was in the middle of an international tour that was abruptly cancelled when López was diagnosed with cancer. Fonsi promised to stay by her side, and traveled with her to Mexico, Miami, and Puerto Rico for various treatment and work-related trips. She had been in remission since 2006.

On June 3, 2006, Fonsi and Adamari López were married in a religious ceremony in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, attended by many celebrities including Joey Fatone, Charytín Goyco, Ednita Nazario and Carlos Ponce, as well as his brother Jean Rodríguez. On November 8, 2010, they officially divorced.

Fonsi and Spanish model Águeda López were married on September 10, 2014, after three years of living together. They had their first child together, a daughter, in December 2011 in Miami. On December 20, 2016, they welcomed their second child, a son.

Philanthropy

Since 2008, Luis Fonsi has been an ambassador of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, which fights against childhood cancer. In 2017, the Billboard Latin Music Awards honored him with the Spirit of Hope Award for his humanitarian work.

After Hurricane 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. For his contribution, he was honored with the Global Gift Philanthropy Award.

He is also a supporter of spreading Latin culture around the world.

Discography

Nobel Peace Price Concert 2009 Luis Fonsi2
Fonsi performing in 2009

Studio albums

  • Comenzaré (1998)
  • Eterno (2000)
  • Amor Secreto (2002)
  • Fight the Feeling (2002)
  • Abrazar la vida (2003)
  • Paso a Paso (2005)
  • Palabras del Silencio (2008)
  • Tierra Firme (2011)
  • 8 (2014)
  • Vida (2019)
  • Ley de Gravedad (2022)

Tours

  • Comenzaré Tour (1998–99)
  • Eterno Tour (2000–01)
  • Amor Secreto Tour (2002)
  • Abrazar La Vida Tour (2003–04)
  • Paso a Paso Tour (2005–06)
  • Palabras del Silencio Tour (2009–10)
  • Tierra Firme Tour (2011–13)
  • Somos Uno Tour (2014–15)
  • Love + Dance World Tour (2017–18)
  • Vida World Tour (2019)
  • Noche Perfecta (2022)

Awards and nominations

American Music Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2017 Luis Fonsi Favorite Latin Artist Nominated
"Despacito" Collaboration of the Year Won
Favorite Pop/Rock Song Won
Video of the Year Nominated

ASCAP Awards

El Premio ASCAP

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2019 "Échame la Culpa" Award Winning Songs Won

Billboard Music Award

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2018 Luis Fonsi Top Latin Artist Nominated
"Despacito" (with Daddy Yankee and Justin 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

Billboard Latin Music Award

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 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" (with Daddy Yankee and Justin 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" (with Demi Lovato) Latin Pop Song of the Year Nominated
2020 Luis Fonsi Latin Pop Artist of the Year, Solo Won
"Date La Vuelta" (with Sebastián 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

BMI Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2018 Luis Fonsi President's Award Won
"Despacito (Remix)" Contemporary Latin Song of the Year Won
Award Winning Songs Won
"Despacito" Won

Grammy Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2009 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

Heat Latin Music Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2019 Luis Fonsi Best Male Artist Nominated
"Échame La Culpa" (with Demi Lovato) Best Video Nominated

iHeartRadio Music Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2018 "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 "Échame la Culpa" (with Demi Lovato) Latin Song of the Year Nominated

iHeartRadio Titanium Awards

Year Nominee/Work Result
2017 "Despacito" (with Daddy Yankee & Justin Bieber) 1 Billion Total Audience Spins on iHeartRadio Stations” Won

Latin America Music Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2017 Luis Fonsi Artist of the Year Nominated
Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist Nominated
"Despacito" (with Daddy Yankee and Justin 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" (with Demi 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" (with Ozuna) Favorite Pop Song Nominated

Latin Grammy Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2009 "Aquí Estoy Yo" (with Claudia Brant and Gen Rubin) Song of the Year Won
2017 "Despacito" (with Daddy Yankee) Record of the Year Won
Best Short Form Music Video Won
"Despacito" (with Daddy Yankee and Erika Ender) Song of the Year Won
"Despacito" (with Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber) Best Urban/Fusion Performance Won
2019 Vida Album of the Year Nominated

LOS40 Music Awards

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

MTV Europe Music Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2017 "Despacito" (with Daddy Yankee) Best Song Nominated

MTV Millennial Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2017 "Despacito" (with Daddy Yankee and Justin Bieber) Collaboration of the Year Nominated
Best Party Anthem Won
2018 "Échame La Culpa" (with Demi Lovato) Hit of the Year Nominated

MTV Video Music Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2017 "Despacito" (with Daddy Yankee and Justin Bieber) Summer Song Nominated
2018 "Échame La Culpa" (with Demi Lovato) Best Latin Nominated

Premio Lo Nuestro

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" with Juan 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" with Ozuna Pop/Rock Collaboration of the Year Nominated
Urban/Pop Song of the Year Nominated
"Date La Vuelta" with Sebastián Yatra and Nicky Jam Nominated

Swiss Music Awards

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.

Year Award Nomination Result Reference
2019 Best Hit - International "Échame la culpa" (Demi Lovato) Won

Teen Choice Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2017 Luis Fonsi Choice Latin Artist Nominated
"Despacito" (with Daddy Yankee and Justin 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" (with Demi Lovato) Choice Latin Song Nominated

Premios Juventud

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

Television

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Luis Fonsi para niños

  • List of best-selling Latin music artists
  • List of Puerto Ricans
  • List of composers by nationality
  • List of Puerto Rican songwriters
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