Don Omar
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William Omar Landrón Rivera (born February 10, 1978), better known by his stage name Don Omar, is a Puerto Rican
reggaeton Reggaeton (, ), also known as reggaetón and reguetón (), is a music style that originated in Panama during the late 1980s. It was later popularized in Puerto Rico. It has evolved from dancehall and has been influenced by American hip hop, ...
singer, songwriter, rapper, record producer and actor. On September 1, 2017, he announced that he would retire after a series of concerts at the
José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum The Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot (English: ''José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum of Puerto Rico'') is the biggest indoor arena in Puerto Rico dedicated to entertainment. It is located at the Golden Mile of San Juan, the island capital ...
in Puerto Rico, scheduled to be held on December 15, 16 and 17. He returned to music on April 20, 2019 with his song single "Ramayama" featuring
Farruko Carlos Efrén Reyes Rosado (born May 2, 1991), better known by his stage name Farruko, is a retired Puerto Rican singer and rapper. He rose to fame collaborating with Daddy Yankee, J Balvin, Don Omar, and J Álvarez. He came to prominence in 2 ...
. Omar has also portrayed Rico Santos in four films in the ''
Fast & Furious ''Fast & Furious'' (also known as ''The Fast and the Furious'') is a media franchise centered on a series of action films that are largely concerned with street racing, heists, spies, and family. The franchise also includes short films, ...
'' franchise. He first played the character in 2009's ''
Fast & Furious ''Fast & Furious'' (also known as ''The Fast and the Furious'') is a media franchise centered on a series of action films that are largely concerned with street racing, heists, spies, and family. The franchise also includes short films, ...
'' and then returned for ''
Fast Five ''Fast Five'' (also known as ''Fast & Furious 5'' or ''Fast & Furious 5: Rio Heist'') is a 2011 American action film directed by Justin Lin and written by Chris Morgan. It is the sequel to ''Fast & Furious'' (2009) and the fifth i ...
'' (2011), ''
The Fate of the Furious ''The Fate of the Furious'' (alternatively known as ''F8'' and titled on-screen as ''Fast & Furious 8'' internationally) is a 2017 American action film directed by F. Gary Gray and written by Chris Morgan. It is the sequel to '' Furious 7'' ...
'' (2017) and '' F9'' (2021). He sold over 70 million albums.


Early life

Don Omar was born in Santurce, a barrio of San Juan, Puerto Rico, where he was raised, the oldest son of William Landrón and Luz Antonia Rivera. From an early age, he showed interest in the music of Vico C and Brewley MC. During his youth, he became an active member of a Protestant church, Iglesia Evangélica Restauración en Cristo in Bayamón where he occasionally offered
sermon A sermon is a religious discourse or oration by a preacher, usually a member of clergy. Sermons address a scriptural, theological, or moral topic, usually expounding on a type of belief, law, or behavior within both past and present contexts. ...
s. However, after four years, he left the church to dedicate himself to singing.Biografías
, Prpop.org. Retrieved January 29, 2012.


Career

His first public performance in a night club was accompanied by disc jockey Eliel Lind Osorio. Afterwards, he appeared regularly on compilation albums from popular DJs and producers including Luny Tunes, Noriega, and DJ Eric. He also worked as a backup singer for the duo
Héctor & Tito Héctor & Tito, were a Puerto Rican reggaeton duo famous for their song "Ay Amor", featuring salsa singer Víctor Manuelle, which was the group's only charting song in the United States. They are widely regarded as one of the most influential an ...
. One of the members,
Héctor Delgado Hector () is an English, French, Scottish, and Spanish given name. The name is derived from the name of Hektor, a legendary Trojan champion who was killed by the Greek Achilles. The name ''Hektor'' is probably derived from the Greek ''ékhein'', m ...
, helped him produce his first solo álbum. Omar's career rose to stardom with the release of his first studio album, ''
The Last Don ''The Last Don'' is a 1996 novel by American author Mario Puzo, best known as the author of the 1969 novel ''The Godfather''. The story follows an aging Mafia Don and his family as they try to retain power. The story alternates between the fil ...
'' with Frankie Needles. Both the studio version and its live edition have been certified
platinum Platinum is a chemical element with the symbol Pt and atomic number 78. It is a dense, malleable, ductile, highly unreactive, precious, silverish-white transition metal. Its name originates from Spanish , a diminutive of "silver". Pla ...
by the
Recording Industry Association of America The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the music recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors that the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and/o ...
. Worldwide, ''The Last Don: Live D & DVD' has sold over one million copies, according to his official website. He earned awards for Latin Pop Album of the Year and New Artist & Latin Rap/Hip-Hop Album of the Year by the
Billboard Latin Music Awards The ''Billboard'' Latin Music Awards grew out of the ''Billboard'' Music Awards program from ''Billboard'' magazine, an industry publication charting the sales and radio airplay success of musical recordings. The ''Billboard'' awards are the La ...
in 2003. ''The Last Don: Live D & DVD' was also nominated for Urban Music Album at the 2005 Latin Grammy Awards. Omar's May 2006 album '' King of Kings'', became history's highest ranking reggaeton LP in the top 10 US charts, with its debut at #1 on the Latin sales charts and the #1 spot on the Billboard Latin Rhythm Radio Chart with his single " Angelito"."Don Omar On Top of Charts with 'King of Kings' Debut"
Latinrapper.com. Retrieved January 29, 2012.
Omar was also able to beat the in-store appearance sales record at Disney World's Virgin Megastore previously set by pop star Britney Spears. With the highest charting debut by a reggaeton artist, Omar's ''King of Kings'' entered at No. 7 with 74,000 beating. In April 2007, Don Omar received the Billboard Latin Music Award for Reggaeton Album of the Year for ''King of Kings''.Billboard Latin Music Conference & Awards
. April 7–10, 2008.
''Billboard'' recognized that ''King of Kings'' was the most successful album of the decade in Latin America, besides being the most successful in the history of the genre of reggaeton. ''Billboard'' estimated that the album sold over 4.1 million copies by the end of 2009. Omar participated in
Gilberto Santa Rosa Gilberto Santa Rosa Cortés, nicknamed "El Caballero de la Salsa" (The Gentleman of Salsa) (born August 21, 1962), is a Puerto Rican bandleader and singer of salsa and bolero. He is a six time Grammy Award winner and has sold over three million ...
's presentation in an event titled "Concierto del Amor", presented in the
Madison Square Garden Madison Square Garden, colloquially known as The Garden or by its initials MSG, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in New York City. It is located in Midtown Manhattan between Seventh and Eighth avenues from 31st to 33rd Street, above Pennsylva ...
on February 9, 2008. He closed the event and performed reggaeton themes with Frankie Needles. Omar's third studio album, ''
iDon ''iDon'' (also stylized as ''iDON'' and ''idon'') is the third studio album by Puerto Rican reggaeton performer Don Omar released worldwide on April 28, 2009, through Universal Music Group and Machete Music. The album was assumed to be named ''Ic ...
'', was released on April 28, 2009. This album is of Sold over 2.5 million. "Virtual Diva" became the most requested song on Latin radio stations. The second official single, titled "
Sexy Robotica Sexy is an adjective to describe a sexually appealing person (or thing), primarily referring to physical attractiveness. It may also refer to: * Sexual arousal, the arousal of sexual desire, during or in anticipation of sexual activity * Sexual a ...
", was released on July 6, 2009. The album ''Don Omar Presents: Meet The Orphans'' was released on November 16, 2010. The album features the artists under Don Omar's Orfanato Music Group label and other reggaeton artists. The album includes the promotional single " Hasta Abajo" and the album's lead single "
Danza Kuduro "Danza Kuduro" (English: Dance Kuduro) is a Spanish/Portuguese song by Puerto Rican recording artist Don Omar featuring Portuguese–French singer Lucenzo from Don Omar's collaborative album '' Meet the Orphans''. The song is an adaptation of Luce ...
" featuring Portuguese-French singer
Lucenzo Luís Filipe Fraga Oliveira (; born 27 May 1983), better known by his stage name Lucenzo (), is a Portuguese–French reggaeton recording artist and record producer. His parents emigrated to France, from Portugal. Lucenzo, when began his singing ...
, as well as collaborations from Orfanato Music Group artists including Kendo Kaponi, Syko,
Plan B Plan B typically refers to a contingency plan, a plan devised for an outcome other than in the expected plan. Plan B may also refer to: * Plan B, a brand name of levonorgestrel, an emergency contraception drug Film and television * Plan B En ...
,
Zion & Lennox Zion & Lennox are a reggaeton music duo from Carolina, Puerto Rico. In 2004, Zion & Lennox released their first studio album titled '' Motivando A La Yal'' under White Lion Records. After their first album, Zion & Lennox decided to start their ow ...
,
Yaga & Mackie Yaga & Mackie are a reggaeton duo from Puerto Rico. They are signed to Los Mackieavelikos Inc. Discography Studio albums * 2002: ''Sonando Diferente'' * 2004: ''Clase Aparte'' * 2005: '' La Moda'' * 2007: ''La Reunión'' * 2008: ''Los Mackiea ...
and Danny Fornaris. "Danza Kuduro" appears on the ''
Fast Five ''Fast Five'' (also known as ''Fast & Furious 5'' or ''Fast & Furious 5: Rio Heist'') is a 2011 American action film directed by Justin Lin and written by Chris Morgan. It is the sequel to ''Fast & Furious'' (2009) and the fifth i ...
'' soundtrack and is the song played at the conclusion of the movie. He is signed to
VI Music VI Music is a Puerto Rican record label specializing in the reggaeton genre, founded by reggaeton producers Mario VI, Alex Gargolas and Juan Vidal. The record label came to prominence after securing a joint venture with Universal Latino and M ...
and
Machete Music Machete Music is an urban music label owned by Universal Music Group. The record label had been largely associated with reggaeton music, but in recent years, it has been also been signing non-reggaeton artists such as Malverde, Mala Rodriguez ...
through
Universal Music Latino Universal Music Latin Entertainment, a division of Universal Music Group, is a record company specialized in producing and distributing Latin music in Mexico, the United States, and Puerto Rico. UMLE includes famous Latin music labels such as Un ...
. The album sold over 3 million. The album ''Don Omar Presents MTO2: The New Generation'' was released on May 1, 2012. The album features newly signed to Orfanato Music Group
Natti Natasha Natalia Alexandra Gutiérrez Batista (born December 10, 1986), better known by her stage name Natti Natasha, is a Dominican singer. She was signed to Don Omar's label Orfanato Music Group. Her debut EP, ''All About Me'', was released on March ...
as well as many other signed artists and other reggaeton artists like
Zion Y Lennox Zion & Lennox are a reggaeton music duo from Carolina, Puerto Rico. In 2004, Zion & Lennox released their first studio album titled ''Motivando A La Yal'' under White Lion Records. After their first album, Zion & Lennox decided to start their ow ...
. The album includes the singles "Hasta Que Salga El Sol", which won the award for Best Urban Song at the 2012 Latin Grammy Awards, and "Dutty Love" featuring Natti Natasha, which was also nominated. The album also features collaborations with
Juan Magan ''Juan'' is a given name, the Spanish and Manx versions of ''John''. It is very common in Spain and in other Spanish-speaking communities around the world and in the Philippines, and also (pronounced differently) in the Isle of Man. In Spanish, t ...
, Mims, Syko, Vinny el Vendito, and Yunel Cruz. The album has been well received as it won the award for Best Urban Music Album at the 2012 Latin Grammy Awards. After a decade-long rivalry feud with fellow artist
Daddy Yankee Ramón Luis Ayala Rodríguez (born February 3, 1976), known professionally as Daddy Yankee, is a Puerto Rican rapper, singer, composer, and actor. Known as the " King of Reggaetón" by music critics and fans alike, he is the artist who coined ...
for the "King of Reggaeton" title, in early 2016 Daddy Yankee and Don Omar announced in a Billboard press conference that they would perform together on stage in a concert series called ''The Kingdom World Tour''. The tour announcement left many fans in disbelief, while selling out in minutes in cities like Las Vegas, Orlando, Los Angeles, New York. Discussing the tour and his rivalry with Daddy Yankee, Don Omar said "Let me clarify: I am not his best friend, and he is not my best friend, but we respect each other. That desire to be the best is what has pushed us to be better." In September 2021, Omar signed a multi-year partnership with Saban Music Group. In February 2022, Omar was announced as a headliner of the 2022 Los Della Festival in San Bernardino, California.


Personal life

In 2003, Omar had his first son, Nicolas Valle Gomez. Omar married forecaster/journalist
Jackie Guerrido Jackie Guerrido (born September 24, 1972), is a Puerto Rican television weather forecaster and journalist for Primer Impacto on Univision. She also is a TV host for "Despierta America en Domingo" Early years Guerrido was born and raised in San J ...
on April 19, 2008. In March 2011, it was revealed they had divorced.


Legal issues

On September 18, 2007, Omar was briefly detained in
Santa Cruz de la Sierra Santa Cruz de la Sierra (; "Holy Cross of the Mountain Range"), commonly known as Santa Cruz, is the largest city in Bolivia and the capital of the Santa Cruz Department (Bolivia), Santa Cruz department. Situated on the Pirai River (Bolivia), P ...
,
Bolivia , image_flag = Bandera de Bolivia (Estado).svg , flag_alt = Horizontal tricolor (red, yellow, and green from top to bottom) with the coat of arms of Bolivia in the center , flag_alt2 = 7 × 7 square p ...
due to a legal dispute. A Bolivian concert promoter sued him and some of his management after he canceled a concert scheduled for earlier that year in La Paz as part of the international tour Up Close. The organization claimed that he had defrauded US$70,000 due to the cancellation. Omar responded that he canceled the concert because the company did not provide air tickets in time. After the case was presented before a local judge, both parties reached an agreement. Omar was allowed to leave the country in order to comply with a previously scheduled appearance in
Buenos Aires Buenos Aires ( or ; ), officially the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires ( es, link=no, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires), is the capital and primate city of Argentina. The city is located on the western shore of the Río de la Plata, on South ...
on Argentine television and returned the next day to hold his concert in Santa Cruz's Tahuichi Aguilera football stadium.


Awards and nominations


Discography


Studio albums

* ''
The Last Don ''The Last Don'' is a 1996 novel by American author Mario Puzo, best known as the author of the 1969 novel ''The Godfather''. The story follows an aging Mafia Don and his family as they try to retain power. The story alternates between the fil ...
'' (2003) * '' King of Kings'' (2006) * ''
iDon ''iDon'' (also stylized as ''iDON'' and ''idon'') is the third studio album by Puerto Rican reggaeton performer Don Omar released worldwide on April 28, 2009, through Universal Music Group and Machete Music. The album was assumed to be named ''Ic ...
'' (2009) * ''
Meet The Orphans ''Meet the Orphans'' is the fourth studio album by reggaeton artist, Don Omar, released on November 16, 2010.MTO²: New Generation'' (2012) * ''
The Last Don 2 ''The Last Don II'' is the sixth studio album by Don Omar, released on June 16, 2015, through Pina Records and Machete Music. It is the sequel of Don Omar's first album, ''The Last Don (album), The Last Don'', released in 2003, and includes twelv ...
'' (2015) * ''The Last Album'' (2019) * ''Sociedad Secreta'' (TDA)


Live albums

* ''
The Last Don Live ''The Last Don Live'' is a live album by Don Omar. The second CD contains 3 studio tracks: Pobre Diabla and the 2 versions of Carta A Un Amigo. The album sold over 1,000,000 copies worldwide. It was nominated for a Latin Grammy Award for Best Urb ...
'' (2004) * ''
King of Kings Live King of Kings: Live is the second live album of Puerto Rican singer Don Omar, released on October 13, 2007 through Machete Music. It was nominated for a Lo Nuestro Award for Urban Album of the Year on the Premio Lo Nuestro 2009 Premio Lo Nu ...
'' (2007)


Compilation & Greatest Hits albums

* '' Los Bandoleros'' (2005) * ''
Da Hitman Presents Reggaetón Latino ''Da Hitman Presents Reggaetón Latino'' is a 2005 compilation album by Don Omar. It was nominated for ''Billboard'' Latin Music Award for Reggaeton Album of the Year. The album sold 32,000 copies in its first week. and the album sold over 200 00 ...
'' (2005) * ''
Los Bandoleros Reloaded ''Los Bandoleros Reloaded'' is two-CD best-of album presented by Don Omar, released on November 21, 2006. The album includes five tracks performed by Omar, where other performers include Cosculluela, Wisin & Yandel, Naldo, Yaga & Mackie, Baby Ran ...
'' (2006) * '' El Pentágono'' (2007) * '' El Pentágono: The Return'' (2008)


Concert tours

* King of Kings World Tour * The Last World Tour * IDon World Tour * Meet the Orphans World Tour * MTO2 New Generatión World Tour * Hecho En Puerto Rico * Retro Evolucion World Tour *
The Kingdom Tour The Kingdom Tour was a co-headlining concert tour by reggaeton superstars Daddy Yankee and Don Omar William Omar Landrón Rivera (born February 10, 1978), better known by his stage name Don Omar, is a Puerto Rican reggaeton singer, songwrit ...


Filmography


See also

* List of Puerto Ricans


References


External links


Official website

Official website for ''iDon'' albumOfficial page
at MySpace
Official page
at
Facebook Facebook is an online social media and social networking service owned by American company Meta Platforms. Founded in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg with fellow Harvard College students and roommates Eduardo Saverin, Andrew McCollum, Dustin M ...
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Omar, Don Living people Latin Grammy Award winners Machete Music artists People from Carolina, Puerto Rico 21st-century Puerto Rican male singers Puerto Rican pop singers Puerto Rican rappers Puerto Rican reggaeton musicians Universal Music Latin Entertainment artists 21st-century American rappers Puerto Rican people of African descent 1978 births Latin music songwriters