Anthony "Romeo" Santos (born July 21, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. He first rose to prominence as the lead vocalist and frontman of the bachata group Aventura, one of the most influential Latin music bands of the 2000s. Santos later established a successful solo career, achieving seven number-one songs on Billboard's Hot Latin Songs chart and eighteen number-one hits on the Tropical Airplay chart. He has sold over 24 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling Latin music artists of all time.
Anthony Santos was born and raised in the New York City borough of the Bronx, on July 21, 1981, to a Dominican father and a Puerto Rican mother. He had a humble upbringing, with his father, who worked in construction, being underpaid but being able to make ends meet for his family. His mother was a stay-at-home mom who took care of him and his siblings. Santos attended public school in the Bronx and began his career by singing in a church choir at a young age. He was exposed to various Latin genres of music including salsa, merengue, and bachata, listening to them at a young age due to his parents' love for them.
Early career and Aventura (1994–2011)
Santos was the lead singer, songwriter, and co-producer of Aventura. He formed the group in 1994 with his cousin Henry Santos "Hustle Hard", and friends Lenny Santos "Len Melody", and Max Santos "Mikey a.k.a. Max Agende". Romeo and Henry met Lenny and Max in 1993. The following year, they formed a band and called themselves Los Tinellers. In 1995 they met a man by the name of Elvin Polanco who would eventually manage and help them record their first album titled Trampa de Amor (1996). Polanco went through some health problems, which ended things between him and the group. Later on they met Julio César García, who would become their manager and would re-invent them as Aventura. In 1998, they signed with Premium Latin Music with Franklin Romero.
Aventura released their debut album in 1999 titled Generation Next with the hopes of bringing bachata into the mainstream from its traditional base and fusing it with hip hop and R&B. The album included the single "Cuándo Volverás", which is one of their popular songs. In 2002, the song "Obsesión" achieved huge success in many countries, topping charts in France, Germany and Italy. It was part of their second album, We Broke the Rules. Aventura released three more studio albums and three live albums in a decade, spawning many top 10 internationally famous hits like "Hermanita", "Ella y Yo" featuring Don Omar, which elevated the group's success in 2005, "Un Beso", "Los Infieles", "El Perdedor", "Por un Segundo", and "Dile al Amor". They were the first bachata act to sell out Madison Square Garden in 2007. They broke multiple records in arenas and stadiums worldwide.
In February 2007, they made their first cameo appearance in the Dominican comedy film Sanky Panky, starring Fausto Mata and directed by José Enrique Pintor (Pinky), which became the highest-grossing film in Dominican cinema.
In 2009, Aventura was invited to perform for President Barack Obama at the White House. In 2011, Aventura took a hiatus. According to Romeo, the group was "on pause to do individual projects".
Solo career and Formula, Vol. 1 (2011–2013)
In April 2011, after his success as a songwriter and lead singer for Aventura, Romeo announced he was leaving the band to pursue a solo career. Romeo Santos signed with Sony Music Latin on April 7, 2011. On May 9, 2011, Santos released his first single off his debut album Formula, Vol. 1, called "You". The song peaked at 97 on the Billboard 100 and at number 1 on the Hot Latin and Tropical Songs Billboard charts. The music video was released on May 9, 2011.
The second single, "Promise" was released on September 1, 2011, and featured a collaboration with R&B singer Usher. The single peaked at number 83 on the Billboard 100 and at number 1 on Hot Latin, Latin Pop and Tropical Songs Billboard charts. The song was certified Diamond, 34× Platinum as of August 31, 2022, in the United States by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The music video was released on October 4, 2011, and it was directed by Anthony Mandler. A full English version in which Romeo is singing in English was also made. He released Formula, Vol. 1 on November 8, 2011. The album featured collaborations with Usher, La Mala Rodríguez, Mario Domm from the trio Camila, Tomatito, Lil Wayne and George Lopez. It also featured bachata legends Antony "El Mayimbe" Santos, Luis Vargas, and Raulin Rodriguez as they united for the song "Debate de 4".
In February 2012, he sold out New York City's Madison Square Garden for three nights. The first night kicked off The King Stays King tour, which was the tour of his first solo album. The tour featured artists like Antony "El Mayimbe" Santos, Luis Vargas, Wisin & Yandel, P. Diddy, and Usher. On August 20, 2012, a live version of the song "Llévame Contigo" was released as a single to promote Santos' first live album as a solo artist. On November 6, 2012, Santos' released The King Stays King: Sold Out at Madison Square Garden. It is a CD and DVD based on the three nights at MSG. This is his first live album and concert film as a solo artist. The live album peaked at number 65 on the Billboard 200 and at number 1 on both the Top Latin and Tropical Albums Billboard charts.
In December 2012, he sold out twice in a row at the Félix Sánchez Olympic Stadium in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic on the 15th and 22nd of that month. Santos made history selling out two nights at a stadium with a capacity of over 50,000 for concerts. This was the end of the 2012 portion of the tour. In February 2013. He started the 2013 portion of the tour with two nights at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico on the 14th and 15th of that month. The tour would continue until July 2013.
Formula, Vol. 2 and Aventura reunion (2013–2016)
On July 30, 2013, he released the first single off his second album, "Propuesta Indecente". It peaked at number 79 on the Billboard 100 and at number 1 on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart. As of 2021, it is the second best-performing Latin song of all-time on that chart. It lasted on the chart for 125 weeks in which 4 of those weeks were positioned at number 1. It also peaked at number 1 on the Latin and Tropical Airplay Billboard charts. The song was certified 51× Platinum in the United States by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), making it his most certified song to this day. It received a Lo Nuestro Award for Tropical Song of the Year in 2014. The music video for this single reach over 2 billion views on YouTube as of 2023.
On January 28, 2014, second single, "Odio", was released. It featured Canadian rapper Drake. It peaked at number 45 on the Billboard 100, making it Romeo's best single in that chart to this day. It peaked at number 1 on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart as well and lasted 13 weeks on that position. It also peaked at number 1 on the Latin and Tropical Airplay Billboard charts. This song was the first time Drake sang in Spanish. It was certified Diamond, 34× Platinum as of August 31, 2022, in the United States by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
His second album, Formula, Vol. 2, was released on February 25, 2014. It featured collaborations with Drake, Nicki Minaj, Marc Anthony, Carlos Santana, Tego Calderón, and Kevin Hart. Formula, Vol. 2 became the best-selling Latin album of 2014. In 2020, the album was awarded Billboard Top Latin Album of the decade at the 2020 Billboard Latin Music Awards. It is his most certified album to this day as it was certified 27× Platinum in the United States by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
In July 2014, he sold out an entire double-header show at Yankee Stadium on the 11th and 12th of that month. Santos was the first Latin artist to headline at the stadium. The Fania All-Stars last did so, one block south at the old Yankee Stadium on August 24, 1973. This show featured a special Aventura reunion to close out night two. On November 6, 2014, Santos would perform for a second time at the White House to co-headline an event in honor Veterans Day for war veterans. This was his first performance as a solo artist. He would perform the song "Jose", which is a song from Aventura. This event was hosted by 44th President of the United States Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama. The event aired the next day on PBS in a special titled A Salute to the Troops: In Performance at the White House.