Biography

Translated by Suzanne Written by Carmen Thanks to Maru for the photos Elmer Figueroa Arce, better known as Chayanne, was born in Puerto Rico on the 29th* of June in 1968 and is the third of five siblings. He recently married the Venezuelan Marilisa Maronese, with whom he had a baby who is almost 3 years of age who was named Lorenzo Valentino. Like any other adolescent, Chayanne was delighted to ride motocycles, play tennis, and enjoy a good book; furthermore he is a tireless fighter and self-disciplined, thanks to which he has become an example for all his generation. Chayanne is indebted for his stage name to his mother and a North American TV series. He debuted as a singer at ten years of age, becoming a part of the group "Los Chicos" (the boys), one of the most acclaimed groups originating in the decade of the 80s, causing a true frenzy among the adolescents. Professionally, he has recorded 14 albums/CDs, 5 of these with Los Chicos and 9 others as a solo performer. In 1987 he recorded for the first time with Sony Music International (CBS Records) an album/CD entitled "Chayanne," among whose songs the major hits were "Tu Pirata Soy Yo" (I am Your Pirate), "Este Ritmo se Baila Asii" (This Rhythm is Danced Like This), and "Fuiste un Trozo de Hielo en la Escarcha" (You Were a Chunk of Ice in the Frost). In 1989 he recorded his second album/CD (for Sony) also entitled "Chayanne," among whose songs the major hits were "Fiesta en America" (Party in America), "Violeta" (Violet), "Te Deseo" (I Wish), and "Para Tenerte Otra Vez" (In Order to Have You Again). This album was also recorded in Portugese and resulted in several hits in the Brazilian market. This recording was found worthy of a nomination for the Grammy awards in 1989 under the category "Best Latin Pop Performance