one of the most influential and celebrated figures in Latin music — a Dominican musician, composer, arranger, and producer who brought merengue and bachata to a global audience. Creator of iconic hits like Bachata Rosa, Ojalá Que Llueva Café, and La Bilirrubina, he is a multiple GRAMMY and Latin GRAMMY winner, including the Latin Recording Academy’s Person of the Year. Recent projects include Mambo 23, the EP Radio Güira, and a 2025 collaboration with Sting. Through his foundation in the Dominican Republic, he actively supports social initiatives and music education scholarships.