Richy Peña
Encyclopedia
Life and Career
Peña was born in Santo DomingoSanto Domingo
Santo Domingo, known officially as Santo Domingo de Guzmán, is the capital and largest city in the Dominican Republic. Its metropolitan population was 2,084,852 in 2003, and estimated at 3,294,385 in 2010. The city is located on the Caribbean Sea, at the mouth of the Ozama River...
, Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
. In 2001, Peña formed his first group, a boy band called Alofoque for Latino teens in Boston, and a record label with the same name.
Peña left for New York with no job, friends or real plan. A young producer, Nely “El Arma Secreta” was working with the top talent in Reggaeton, including Daddy Yankee
Daddy Yankee
Ramón Luis Ayala Rodríguez , known artistically as Daddy Yankee, is a Latin Grammy Award winning Puerto Rican Reggaeton recording artist. Ayala was born in Río Piedras, the largest district of San Juan, where he became interested in music at a young age. In his youth he was interested in baseball,...
and Don Omar
Don Omar
Don Omar, also known as El Rey Don Omar, also known as El Rey Don Omar, also known as El Rey (born William Omar Landrón Rivera; February 10, 1978, is a Puerto Rican Reggaetón singer and actor.-Early life:...
. Before long Peña was working on songs with Zion, Rihanna
Rihanna
Robyn Rihanna Fenty , better known as simply Rihanna, is a Barbadian recording artist. Born in Saint Michael, Barbados, Rihanna moved to the United States at the age of 16 to pursue a recording career under the guidance of record producer Evan Rogers...
, and Don Omar
Don Omar
Don Omar, also known as El Rey Don Omar, also known as El Rey Don Omar, also known as El Rey (born William Omar Landrón Rivera; February 10, 1978, is a Puerto Rican Reggaetón singer and actor.-Early life:...
. Don Omar
Don Omar
Don Omar, also known as El Rey Don Omar, also known as El Rey Don Omar, also known as El Rey (born William Omar Landrón Rivera; February 10, 1978, is a Puerto Rican Reggaetón singer and actor.-Early life:...
asked Richy to be part of his team, as Nely had moved to Miami.
An early success was the song “Calm My Nerves” by Don Omar
Don Omar
Don Omar, also known as El Rey Don Omar, also known as El Rey Don Omar, also known as El Rey (born William Omar Landrón Rivera; February 10, 1978, is a Puerto Rican Reggaetón singer and actor.-Early life:...
. Don Omar
Don Omar
Don Omar, also known as El Rey Don Omar, also known as El Rey Don Omar, also known as El Rey (born William Omar Landrón Rivera; February 10, 1978, is a Puerto Rican Reggaetón singer and actor.-Early life:...
set up collaborations with artists including Tony Dize, Las Moscas and a group from Venezuela called Chino y Nacho. He produced two songs for Chino y Nacho at that time, including one of their early hits, “Dentro de Mi” featuring Don Omar
Don Omar
Don Omar, also known as El Rey Don Omar, also known as El Rey Don Omar, also known as El Rey (born William Omar Landrón Rivera; February 10, 1978, is a Puerto Rican Reggaetón singer and actor.-Early life:...
. In 2008 he set up a studio in downtown Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, within view of the Statehouse.
Peña began plans for the first Boston Music Conference (BMC) in 2008, and in September of that year, they held the BMC. It brought together aspiring talent, A&Rs from major labels and artists including Lapiz and Sensato del Patio.
Chino y Nacho came to Boston at the end of 2008, writing the hit song Niña Bonita
Niña Bonita
Mi Niña Bonita is the single by Chino & Nacho. It is off the album, with the same name, Mi Niña Bonita. This song has two music videos, an original latin american version and a U.S. version.-Music video:...
. Peña helped to get Chino y Nacho signed to Universal; it went to the top of the charts.
In 2010 Richy won a Grammy for “Niña Bonita
Niña Bonita
Mi Niña Bonita is the single by Chino & Nacho. It is off the album, with the same name, Mi Niña Bonita. This song has two music videos, an original latin american version and a U.S. version.-Music video:...
”, and signed a co-publishing deal with Warner/Chappell Music. Peña also co-founded Rich Republic, a 360 music marketing company.
Awards and Nominations
- Winner of the 2010 Latin Grammy for Best Urban Music Album (Chino y Nacho)
- Winner of the 2011 Premio Lo Nuestro for Best Tropical Album Mi Niña Bonita (Chino y Nacho)
- Nominated for 2011 Billboard Latin Pop Airplay Song of the Year
- Nominated for 2011 Billboard Tropical Airplay Song of the Year
- Nominated for 2011 Billboard Latin Rhythm Album of the Year
- Nominated for 2011 Billboard Latin Digital Download of the Year
- Winner of the 2011 BMI Citation of Achievement In Recognition of the Great National Popularity as Measured by Broadcast Performances Niña Bonita
- Powermeter Award for Being One of the 100 Most Influential Latinos 2011
- Entrepreneurial Spirit Award by Boston Latino TV
- Editor’s Pick for Best Independent Music Conference by El Planeta Newspaper