As lead singer of the bachata group Aventura, Romeo Santos helped to push that Dominican sound forward by fusing it with the urban sensibilities of R&B and hip-hop. Yet his solo career transformed the Bronx-born artist into the genre’s rightful king, earning that esteem through stunning singles like “Propuesta Indecente” and “You” which showcased his smooth and seductive vocals. Unafraid to try out different styles, he scored wins via pairings with guitar hero Carlos Santana, Mexican pop star Mario Domm and R&B hitmaker Usher. In 2014, he released the Drake team-up “Odio”, one of the biggest hits of Santos’ career, and became the first Latin artist in four decades to headline Yankee Stadium. Bridging further gaps in the broad Latin music world, he’s proven a reliable collaborator for reggaetoneros and Latin pop stars, lending his pipes to dembow-infused singles like Anuel AA’s “Ella Quiere Beber” and giving Natti Natasha’s ballad “La Mejor Versión de Mí” an epic bachata remix. Yet he still has love for the genre that made him, as demonstrated via songs like “Canalla” and “Payasos” on his 2019 throwback collaborative album Utopía.