Luis Fonsi achieved global prominence with the 2017 release of the song Despacito, a recording that secured multiple Billboard Music Awards and spent 16 consecutive weeks at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100. This milestone marked the start of a new phase in his career, which originated in San Juan and expanded through extensive education and recording efforts in the United States.
Early Development and Relocation
Born in San Juan in 1978, the artist spent his childhood in Puerto Rico before his family moved to Orlando, Florida, when he was 10 years old. He attended Dr. Phillips High School, where he gained early performing experience in an a cappella ensemble titled The Big Guys. He later attended Florida State University on a scholarship to study music, singing with the university choir and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra before choosing to depart the institution to sign a contract with Universal Music Latin.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Initial Recording Career
His debut studio album, Comenzaré, arrived in 1998 and reached number 11 on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart. Subsequent releases during the early 2000s, such as Eterno and Abrazar la vida, expanded his audience across Latin America and Europe. During this period, he performed at the Great Jubilee Concert in Rome and served as an opening act for Britney Spears during her 2002 Dream Within a Dream Tour. He also explored crossover potential with the 2002 English-language release Fight The Feeling.
Commercial Peak and Accolades
The release of the track No Me Doy por Vencido in 2008 represented a major shift, as it became a staple on the Billboard Hot Latin Tracks chart and entered the US Billboard Hot 100. By 2009, he earned a Latin Grammy Award for Song of the Year for his composition Aquí Estoy Yo. Following this, he released the albums Tierra Firme and 8. In 2017, the global success of Despacito, which featured Daddy Yankee and later a remix with Justin Bieber, led to six Guinness World Records and over 11 million records sold.
Fast facts
- Born: 1978, San Juan
- Citizenship: United States
- Education: Florida State University, Dr. Phillips High School
- Breakthrough Song: Despacito (2017)
- Record Label: Universal Music Latin
- Tourism Ambassador: Puerto Rico (appointed 2017)
- Languages: English, Spanish
Questions readers ask
What record did Despacito set on the Billboard Hot 100?
It remained at number one for 16 consecutive weeks, tying the record for the longest-reigning top song in the chart's history.
Which awards did Fonsi receive for his music in 2017?
He won the Latin Grammy Award for Song of the Year, the Latin Grammy Award for Best Urban Fusion/Performance, and the Billboard Spirit of Hope Award.
Achievements
- Latin Grammy Award for Song of the Year — 2017
- Latin Grammy Award for Record of the Year — 2017
- Latin Grammy Award for Best Urban Fusion/Performance — 2017
- Instruments: guitar, piano and voice
- Genres: pop music, Latin pop and ballad
