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Don OmarPuerto Rican singer and composer
Date of Birth: 10.02.1978
Country:  USA |
Content:
Biography of Don Omar
Don Omar is a Puerto Rican singer and composer known for his reggaeton style music. He is a Grammy Award winner in the category of Latin music. Born as William Omar Landrón Rivera, he is the eldest son of William Landrón and Luz Antonia Rivera. He was raised in Santurce, a neighborhood in San Juan, Puerto Rico. From a young age, he showed interest in music influenced by Vico C and Brewley MC, but never pursued it seriously. In his youth, he became an active member of the Protestant church, Iglesia Evangélica Restauración en Cristo, in Bayamón, where he sometimes preached. However, after four years, he left the church to dedicate himself to music.
Beginnings
Don Omar first appeared on the 1999 album "Operación Sandunga" with the song "Déjame cazarlos". A few months later, he had his first performance on stage at a nightclub, accompanied by DJ Eliel Lind Osorio. He later regularly appeared on compilations by popular DJs and producers such as Luny Tunes, Noriega, and DJ Eric. He also started working as a backing vocalist for the duo Héctor & Tito. One of the members, Héctor Delgado, helped him record his first solo album.
2000-2005: The Last Don
Don Omar's career took off with the release of his first studio album, "The Last Don". Both the studio version and the live release were certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. Worldwide, "The Last Don: Live [CD & DVD]" sold over a million copies, according to the official website. In South America, the debut single "Dale Don Dale" sold over 500,000 copies. He earned awards for "Latin Pop Album of the Year" and "New Artist & Latin Rap/Hip-Hop Album of the Year" at the Billboard Latin Music Awards in 2003. "Last Don: Live [CD & DVD]" was also nominated for "Urban Music Album" at the Latin Grammy Awards in 2005.
2006-2008: King of Kings
"King of Kings" received a Latin Grammy in 2006 for Best Urban Music Album. It held the top spot on Billboard's Top Latin Albums for 15 consecutive weeks, debuted at number seven on the Billboard Top 200, and sold over 500,000 copies worldwide. In May 2006, "King of Kings" became the highest-charting reggaeton LP in the top 10 US charts, debuting at number one on the Latin sales charts and number one on the Billboard Latin Rhythm Radio Chart with the single "Angelito". The album's sales debut of over 74,000 copies earned it the title of best-selling debut, surpassing Daddy Yankee's "Barrio Fino En Directo" in 2005. In April 2007, Don Omar received the Latin Billboard Award for "Reggaeton Album Of The Year" for "King of Kings". The songs "Los Bandoleros" and "Conteo" were featured in the film "The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift". Omar also broke the sales record at Disney World's Virgin store, previously held by pop star Britney Spears.
Recent Years
In 2009, Billboard recognized his album "King of Kings" as the most successful of the decade (from 2000) in Latin America. It was also considered the most successful album in the history of the reggaeton and Latin music genre. Don Omar stood out as the best in his genre in 2009. By the end of 2009, according to Billboard, the album had sold over 4.1 million copies. The song "Salió El Sol" also became the soundtrack for the video game Grand Theft Auto IV.
Don Omar is known for his extravagant and visually stunning concerts. He incorporates pyrotechnics, lighting, and decorations into his performances. His concerts attract a large number of fans and he has performed at venues such as Viña del Mar in Chile, El Coliseo and Madison Square Garden in New York, and Luna Park in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He tours extensively in Latin America, the United States, and Europe. He has also had numerous album presentations, especially for his album "iDON," which is considered the most successful in his career. For example, in Chile, around 15,000 spectators attended his concert, filling the main square to see Don Omar perform.
Don Omar has received several awards throughout his career, including a "La Gaviota" award, which is the highest honor. He has also achieved Platinum status for "King of Kings," which was recognized as the best Latin album worldwide. His concerts have high ratings on television, with viewership increasing by 45% when he performs, setting a record of 40%.
Don Omar has been involved in controversies and feuds with other artists. He had disputes with artists such as Hector, Wisin & Yandel, and Daddy Yankee. These feuds played out in diss tracks and public statements.
Don Omar has also faced legal troubles, including charges of drug possession and illegal possession of firearms. He has been arrested in the past for allegedly threatening a waiter with an unlicensed gun and has been involved in other legal issues related to drugs and weapons.
Despite these controversies, Don Omar remains a highly successful and influential artist in the reggaeton genre.
