Elmer Figueroa Arce better known under the stage name Chayanne, is a Puerto Rican Latin pop singer, actor and composer. As a solo artist, Chayanne has released 21 solo albums and sold over 30 million albums worldwide. After Los Chicos separated in 1984, Chayanne began his career as a solo artist. He signed with RCA Ariola and released his first album, Chayanne es mi Nombre, that year. His second album with RCA, Sangre Latina was released in 1986.
After three years with RCA, Chayanne switched labels to Sony Music and broke out with his first self-titled album in 1987. This album featured a blend of ballads and dance tracks, a formula for which Chayanne would be famous. It featured two hit songs, the ballad “Peligro de Amor” written by Michael Sullivan and Paulo Massadas and a song that would cement him as an overall performer, the upbeat dance track “Fiesta en América” written by Honorio Herrero.
Following the album’s release, Chayanne began an international tour to promote Mi Tiempo. Among the places visited early in the tour were Mexico, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, and the United States. On August 24, 2008, he began a series of presentations in Spain. When interviewed he noted that the concert would be fluid “like a musical”, and “more Latin” than his previous presentations, being composed of “more pop, Brazilian, Caribbean and reggae rhythms” which he would use to “dance constantly”. He also gave a special performance in Miss Universe 2003 pageant.
In the 1980s, Chayanne participated in several soap operas and starred in the comedy series Generaciones with Luis Antonio Rivera. More recently, he has received several offers for acting jobs, but he has declined most of them for conflicting with his musical career, which he considers his priority.
World Liberty TV, Had the pleasure of interviewing Chayanne, here in New York City, see what he had to say.
