Fito Blanko

Fito Blanko is the stage name of Roberto E. Testa (born on May 7, 1983), a Panamanian-Canadian singer-songwriter known for being one of the most successful Latin crossover artists in North America. At the age of 8, Testa’s family relocated from Panama City to Montreal escaping Manuel Noriega’s dictatorship but soon moved to Mississauga, Ontario. The young artist started writing songs in both English and Spanish while still a teenager and released his full-length debut, Higher Level (2004) with the help of Peruvian-Canadian producer Sensei. Despite having the support of a major label, the album failed to meet Universal Music Latino’s expectations and Testa was eventually dropped. In subsequent years, Testa released a highly-successful string of singles, most notably 2009’s “Mambo” featuring Drake, and 2011’s “VIP,” a collaboration with Fuego that peaked at Number 12 on Billboard’s Latin Rhythm Airplay. In 2012, he teamed up with Latin pop star Elvis Crespo for “Pegaíto Suavecito,” a catchy urban pop number that topped Billboard’s Latin Tropical Chart and was awarded platinum certification by the US RIAA. A few years later, his single “Meneo” was featured on the soundtrack for Furious 7 (2015) and he was inducted to the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 2017. Testa’s winning streak continued in 2019, when both of his singles “La Gringa,” in collaboration with Bright Lights, and “Ella Me Besó,” also featuring Elvis Crespo, entered the Top 10 on Billboard’s Dance Club Songs and Latin Tropical Airplay charts, respectively.