Olga Tañón
Encyclopedia
Olga Tañón is a two-time Grammy Award
and three-time Latin Grammy-winning Merengue
and Latin Pop
artist. Tañón has earned 5 Latin Grammy Awards and 19 Premios Lo Nuestro
awards during her career.
, Toa Baja, where she received her primary and secondary education.
called "Chantelle
" noticed her mezzo soprano voice and recruited her. They saw in her what they needed for their merengue style of music. When Tañón was a member of Chantelle, they scored their biggest hit, "Aunque Tú no Quieras" (Even If You Don't Want It). The song was popular in Latin America.
In 1994, Tañón earned her first double platinum record and in 1995, she earned three more platinum records with her album, "Siente el Amor" (Feel the Love). This album also included another of her compositions, "Unicornio" (Unicorn), which was written to the rhythm of Salsa
and also included the Unforgettable Merengue song, "Es Mentiroso" (He's a Liar). Tañón had gained fame and recognition throughout Latin America.
Tañón recorded a Tex-Mex
CD with Mexican
singer Marco Antonio Solís
called "Nuevos Senderos". She was now being heard internationally, and with that recording she became the first Puerto Rican musician to be certified by the RIAA to sell over half a million records. The album lead single, the ballad, "Basta Ya!" topped the U.S. Billboard Top Latin Tracks for several weeks, and became Tañón's first #1.
In 1997, Tañón debuted as an actress in the Puerto Rican version of the popular production of "Jesus Christ Superstar
", produced by Rafo Muñiz
. She played the part of Mary Magdalene
. This version had a tropical feel to it and included some of Tañón's songs. In 1998, Tañón married Juan González a Puerto Rican major league baseball
star. In 1999, the marriage ended in divorce. The couple had a daughter, Gabriella Marie.
in Orlando, Florida
. This production was named by the National Foundation of Popular Culture as one the top 20 productions of the year. The record went platinum and Tañón earned her first Grammy Award
. On August 2000, Tañón sold out 12 shows in the Antonio Paoli Hall
at the Luis A. Ferre
Center of the Fine Arts in San Juan. Later that same month, she debuted in the Bass Performance Hall
in Fort Worth, Texas
. Her performances received rave reviews in the Fort Worth Star Telegram and the Dallas Morning News. At the end of 2000, Tañón presented her musical spectacular at the Anayansi Theater in Panama
, and toured the southeastern United States with Mexican singer Alejandro Fernández
.
In 2001, Tañón recorded a CD titled, "Yo por Ti" (Me for You), which won both American and Latin Grammys. The first single, Como Olvidar, topped the U.S. Billboard Top Latin Tracks. The CD became a best-seller in Puerto Rico, Latin America, and among the Hispanic population in the United States. In 2002, Tañón toured many countries, including Venezuela
, Panama
and the United States. That year she became the first merengue artist to successfully score a chart topper in the Middle East when her partnership with Egypt
ian music singer Hakim
yielded the highly successful Arabian hit, Ah Ya Albi. In 2003, Tañón toured Europe and made a total of ten recordings for WEA Latina. In 2003 she released Sobrevivir and won her fourth Grammy. She also married Billy Denizard, with whom she had two sons, Indiana Noa and Ian Nahir.
As part of a international tour called, "Evolution Tour 2008", Tañón traveled to Italy where she made a presentation at the Festival Latinoamericano on July 5, 2008. In 2005, Tañón released her hit album, "Una Nueva Mujer", which won Best Contemporary Tropical Album at the 2006 Latin Grammys.
In support of Latin American immigrants in the U.S., in 2006 Tañón recorded, "Nuestro Himno
" in collaboration with Pitbull
, Carlos Ponce
, and Wyclef Jean
. On May 2, 2010, Tañón first performed in Iquitos
a concert where presented her classic songs. The concert was part of her tour, which started in Peru
.
On June 2009, Tañón released a new hit single called "Amor Entre Tres" which is the theme song for the new soap opera in Venezuela called "La Vida Entera." That same month, WEA Latina will be releasing "25 Exitos de Fuego Vol. 1 & Vol. 2." Each CD has a set of greatest hits through her entire career of merengue and Latin pop. In September 2009 participated, next to Juanes and other internationally acclaimed artists, in "Concierto por la Paz" at Plaza de la Revolucion in La Habana, Cuba.
EPs
Compilations
Live albums
DVDs
Concerts
Singles
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
and three-time Latin Grammy-winning Merengue
Merengue music
Merengue is a type of music and dance from the Dominican Republic. It is popular in the Dominican Republic and all over Latin America. Its name is Spanish, taken from the name of the meringue, a dessert made from whipped egg whites and sugar...
and Latin Pop
Latin pop
Latin pop generally refers to pop music that has what may be perceived a Latin American influence...
artist. Tañón has earned 5 Latin Grammy Awards and 19 Premios Lo Nuestro
Lo Nuestro Awards
Lo Nuestro is an awards show honoring the best of Latin music, presented by television network Univision. The awards began in 1989. Notable recipients include Selena, Gloria Estefan, Juan Gabriel, Olga Tañón, Marc Anthony, Ricky Martin, Juanes, Laura Pausini, Luis Miguel, Maná, Juan Luis Guerra, ...
awards during her career.
Early years
Tañón (birth name: "Olga Teresa Tañón Ortíz") is the youngest of four children born to José Tañón and Carmen Gloria Ortíz born in Santurce, Puerto Rico. She was raised in Levittown, Puerto RicoLevittown, Puerto Rico
Levittown, Puerto Rico, a suburb of the San Juan MSA and part of the municipality of Toa Baja, is one of the largest planned communities in Puerto Rico. It was developed by Levitt and Sons in 1963....
, Toa Baja, where she received her primary and secondary education.
Singing career
Tañón's singing career began when she joined a group called "Las Nenas de Ringo y Jossie" (Ringo and Jossie's Girls) in the 1980s. A short time later a very popular group in Puerto RicoPuerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
called "Chantelle
Chantelle
Chantelle was a popular merengue musical group from Puerto Rico, which performed from the late 1980s to the early 1990s. The group's name comes from the popular French feminine given name ....
" noticed her mezzo soprano voice and recruited her. They saw in her what they needed for their merengue style of music. When Tañón was a member of Chantelle, they scored their biggest hit, "Aunque Tú no Quieras" (Even If You Don't Want It). The song was popular in Latin America.
1990s
In 1992, Tañón signed a contract with the WEA Latina record label to record a solo album. Her first recorded album was titled, "Sola" (Alone). Among the songs in the album were, "Me Cambio por Ella" (I'll Trade Myself For Her), and "Quiero estar Contigo" (I Want To Be With You). In 1993, she recorded her second album for WEA Latina, "Mujer de Fuego" (Woman of Fire). Tañón also debuted as a composer with the song, "Presencié tu Amor" (I Witnessed Your Love).In 1994, Tañón earned her first double platinum record and in 1995, she earned three more platinum records with her album, "Siente el Amor" (Feel the Love). This album also included another of her compositions, "Unicornio" (Unicorn), which was written to the rhythm of Salsa
Salsa music
Salsa music is a genre of music, generally defined as a modern style of playing Cuban Son, Son Montuno, and Guaracha with touches from other genres of music...
and also included the Unforgettable Merengue song, "Es Mentiroso" (He's a Liar). Tañón had gained fame and recognition throughout Latin America.
Tañón recorded a Tex-Mex
Tejano music
Tejano music or Tex-Mex music is the name given to various forms of folk and popular music originating among the Mexican-American populations of Central and Southern Texas...
CD with Mexican
Mexican people
Mexican people refers to all persons from Mexico, a multiethnic country in North America, and/or who identify with the Mexican cultural and/or national identity....
singer Marco Antonio Solís
Marco Antonio Solís
Marco Antonio Solís is a Mexican musician, composer, and record producer. Throughout his career, he has sold over 80 million records and written over 300 songs, arguably making him one of the most successful singer-songwriters in Latin America.-Early life and career:Marco Antonio Solís started his...
called "Nuevos Senderos". She was now being heard internationally, and with that recording she became the first Puerto Rican musician to be certified by the RIAA to sell over half a million records. The album lead single, the ballad, "Basta Ya!" topped the U.S. Billboard Top Latin Tracks for several weeks, and became Tañón's first #1.
In 1997, Tañón debuted as an actress in the Puerto Rican version of the popular production of "Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with lyrics by Tim Rice. The musical started off as a rock opera concept recording before its first staging on Broadway in 1971...
", produced by Rafo Muñiz
Rafo Muñiz
Rafo Muñiz is a Puerto Rican actor, comedian, director and, more notably, producer of television shows and concerts.The son of legendary comic actor and producer Tommy Muñiz and brother of Pedro Muñiz; who is also a producer and actor, Rafo began acting as the young neighbor of M\"Miguel" in ...
. She played the part of Mary Magdalene
Mary Magdalene
Mary Magdalene was one of Jesus' most celebrated disciples, and the most important woman disciple in the movement of Jesus. Jesus cleansed her of "seven demons", conventionally interpreted as referring to complex illnesses...
. This version had a tropical feel to it and included some of Tañón's songs. In 1998, Tañón married Juan González a Puerto Rican major league baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
star. In 1999, the marriage ended in divorce. The couple had a daughter, Gabriella Marie.
2000s
In 2000, Tañón, who was now known as the "Woman of Fire" or "Mujer de Fuego" by her fans, recorded her first concert, titled, "Olga Viva...Viva Olga" in the House of BluesHouse of Blues
House of Blues is a chain of 13 live music concert halls and restaurants in major markets throughout the United States. House of Blues first location was in Cambridge's Harvard Square. It was opened in 1992 by Isaac Tigrett, co-founder of Hard Rock Cafe, and Dan Aykroyd, star of The Blues Brothers...
in Orlando, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
. This production was named by the National Foundation of Popular Culture as one the top 20 productions of the year. The record went platinum and Tañón earned her first Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
. On August 2000, Tañón sold out 12 shows in the Antonio Paoli Hall
Antonio Paolí
Antonio Paoli was a Puerto Rican tenor. He was known at the height of his fame as "The King of Tenors and The Tenor of Kings." He is considered to be the first Puerto Rican to reach international fame in the musical arts...
at the Luis A. Ferre
Luis A. Ferré
Don Luis Alberto Ferré Aguayo was a Puerto Rican engineer, industrialist, politician, philanthropist, and a patron of the arts. He was the third Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico from 1969 to 1973, and the founding father of the New Progressive Party which advocates for Puerto Rico...
Center of the Fine Arts in San Juan. Later that same month, she debuted in the Bass Performance Hall
Bass Performance Hall
The Nancy Lee and Perry R. Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth, Texas is located in downtown Fort Worth near Sundance Square, occupies a whole city block, and was opened in 1998. It was built entirely with private funds and seats 2,056 people in a city with an estimated 2009 population of 720,250...
in Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
. Her performances received rave reviews in the Fort Worth Star Telegram and the Dallas Morning News. At the end of 2000, Tañón presented her musical spectacular at the Anayansi Theater in Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
, and toured the southeastern United States with Mexican singer Alejandro Fernández
Alejandro Fernández
Alejandro Fernández is a Mexican singer. Nicknamed as "El Potrillo" by the media and his fans, he has sold over 20 million albums worldwide. Alejandro is the son of the ranchera singer Vicente Fernández. He originally specialized in traditional, earthy forms of Mexican folk music, such as...
.
In 2001, Tañón recorded a CD titled, "Yo por Ti" (Me for You), which won both American and Latin Grammys. The first single, Como Olvidar, topped the U.S. Billboard Top Latin Tracks. The CD became a best-seller in Puerto Rico, Latin America, and among the Hispanic population in the United States. In 2002, Tañón toured many countries, including Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
and the United States. That year she became the first merengue artist to successfully score a chart topper in the Middle East when her partnership with Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
ian music singer Hakim
Hakim (Egyptian singer)
Hakim is an Egyptian folk-singer. In addition to the number of albums he has put out, on December 11, 2006 he was the first person from an Arab country to perform at a Nobel Peace Prize event.-Biography:...
yielded the highly successful Arabian hit, Ah Ya Albi. In 2003, Tañón toured Europe and made a total of ten recordings for WEA Latina. In 2003 she released Sobrevivir and won her fourth Grammy. She also married Billy Denizard, with whom she had two sons, Indiana Noa and Ian Nahir.
As part of a international tour called, "Evolution Tour 2008", Tañón traveled to Italy where she made a presentation at the Festival Latinoamericano on July 5, 2008. In 2005, Tañón released her hit album, "Una Nueva Mujer", which won Best Contemporary Tropical Album at the 2006 Latin Grammys.
In support of Latin American immigrants in the U.S., in 2006 Tañón recorded, "Nuestro Himno
Nuestro Himno
"" is a Spanish-language version of the United States national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner". The debut of the translation came amid a growing controversy over immigration in the United States "" (Spanish for "Our Anthem") is a Spanish-language version of the United States national anthem,...
" in collaboration with Pitbull
Pitbull (rapper)
Armando Christian Pérez , better known by his stage name Pitbull, is an American rapper, singer-songwriter and record producer. His first recorded performance was from the Lil Jon album Kings of Crunk in 2002, after which he released his debut album in 2004 titled M.I.A.M.I. under TVT Records...
, Carlos Ponce
Carlos Ponce
Carlos Armando Ponce, Jr. is a Puerto Rican actor, singer, composer and television personality. Ponce began his acting career by participating in Spanish language soap operas for Televisa and Telemundo. Ponce continued to expand his acting career by participating in various American television...
, and Wyclef Jean
Wyclef Jean
Wyclef Jean is a Haitian musician, record producer, and politician. At age nine, Jean moved to the United States with his family and has spent much of his life in the country...
. On May 2, 2010, Tañón first performed in Iquitos
Iquitos
Iquitos is the largest city in the Peruvian rainforest, with a population of 370,962. It is the capital of Loreto Region and Maynas Province.Located on the Amazon River, it is only above sea level, although it is more than from the mouth of the Amazon at Belém on the Atlantic Ocean...
a concert where presented her classic songs. The concert was part of her tour, which started in Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
.
Premio lo Nuestro
On February 22, 2007, Tañón won three awards at the 19th edition of Premio Lo Nuestro. During the 2006 show, she won in the categories: "Album of the Year", "Female Artist" and "Song of the Year". She holds the record as the artist who has won the most "Premio Lo Nuestro Awards", with a total of 26.On June 2009, Tañón released a new hit single called "Amor Entre Tres" which is the theme song for the new soap opera in Venezuela called "La Vida Entera." That same month, WEA Latina will be releasing "25 Exitos de Fuego Vol. 1 & Vol. 2." Each CD has a set of greatest hits through her entire career of merengue and Latin pop. In September 2009 participated, next to Juanes and other internationally acclaimed artists, in "Concierto por la Paz" at Plaza de la Revolucion in La Habana, Cuba.
Discography
Studio Albums- 1992: Sola
- 1993: Mujer de Fuego
- 1994: Siente el Amor...
- 1996: Nuevos Senderos
- 1997: Llévame ContigoLlévame Contigo-Chart performance:-See also:*List of number-one Billboard Top Latin Albums from the 1990s*List of number-one Billboard Tropical Albums from the 1990s...
- 1998: Te Acordarás de MíTe Acordarás de Mí-Chart performance:-Sales and certifications:-Procession and succession:...
- 2001: Yo por Ti
- 2002: SobrevivirSobrevivirSobrevivir is the title of a studio album released by Puerto-Rican American performer Olga Tañón. It was released by Warner Music on November 19, 2002. The album was produced by Humberto Gatica, Kike Santander, and Manuel Tejada. Sobrevivir includes a collection of songs from different genres such...
- 2005: Una Nueva Mujer
- 2006: Soy Como Tú
- 2007: Exitos en 2 Tiempos
- 2011: Ni Una Lagrima Más
EPs
- 2009: 4/13
Compilations
- 1995: Éxitos y Más
- 2003: Puro Fuego
- 2005: Como Olvidar: Lo Mejor de Olga
- 2006: 100% Merengue
- 2006: 25 Exitos de Fuego / Vol. 1
- 2006: 25 Exitos de Fuego / Vol. 2
Live albums
- 1999: Olga Viva, Viva Olga (Live)
- 2008: Fuego En Vivo / Vol.1 "Solo Exitos" (Live)
- 2008: Fuego En Vivo / Vol.2 "Solo Exitos" (Live)
DVDs
- 2002: Olga Viva, Viva Olga
- 2005: Como Olvidar: Lo Mejor de Olga (CD+DVD)
- 2005: Exitos en Video
- 2009: 4/134/134/13 is the 12th studio album recorded by the Puerto Rican singer Olga Tañón, released on November 10, 2009.-Background:The album contains songs that the artist had previously released in digital format. The songs are: "Amore Entre Tres" and "Pasión Morena", which were launched simultaneously. It...
(CD+DVD)
Concerts
- 2010: Incomparable Tour
Singles
| Year | Title | Hot Latin Songs |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Contigo O Sin Ti | 20 |
| 1994 | Vendrás Llorando | 27 |
| Receta De Amor | 30 | |
| Presencié Tu Amor | 9 | |
| No Me Puedes Pedir | 25 | |
| Muchacho Malo | 24 | |
| Es Mentiroso | 23 | |
| 1995 | Ya Me Cansé | 21 |
| Una Noche Más | 31 | |
| Entre La Noche Y El Día | 9 | |
| Aún Pienso En Ti | 28 | |
| 1996 | Mi Eterno Amor Secreto | 21 |
| Me Subes, Me Bajas, Me Subes | 3 | |
| Éxitos Y Más | 13 | |
| Basta Ya | 1 | |
| 1997 | Serpiente Mala | 9 |
| Porque No Te Encontré | 35 | |
| Llegó El Amor | 22 | |
| En Ti | 34 | |
| 1998 | Tu Amor | 4 |
| El Frío De Tu Adiós | 4 | |
| Así Es El Amor | 34 | |
| 1999 | Hielo Y Fuego | 23 |
| Escondidos | 4 | |
| Engáñame | 35 | |
| Te Acordaras de Mi | 28 | |
| El Niño | 17 | |
| La Magia Del Ritmo | 37 | |
| 2001 | Cómo Olvidar | 1 |
| 2002 | Miénteme | 18 |
| 2003 | No Podrás | 10 |
| Cuando Tú No Estás | 34 | |
| Así Es La Vida | 1 | |
| 2005 | Vete Vete | 15 |
| Bandolero | 6 | |
| 2006 | Desilusióname | 4 |
| 2007 | Flaca O Gordita | 34 |
| Maria | 15 | |
| 2008 | Hoy Quiero Confesarme | 35 |
| Cosas del Amor Cosas del Amor (song) "Cosas del Amor" is a song by American recording artist Vikki Carr and Mexican singer-songwriter Ana Gabriel. It was released as the lead single from Carr's studio album Cosas del Amor... |
48 | |