Juan Fernando Velasco

Ecuadorian singer-songwriter and producer Juan Fernando Velasco was born on January 17, 1972, in the city of Quito. He took his first steps in music as the keyboardist and guitarist for the rock group TercerMundo, which he left in 1997 to embark on a solo career. Para Que No Me Olvides, his gold-selling studio debut, appeared in 1999 and secured him a spot at the Viña del Mar Festival in Chile. Follow-up album Tanto Amor (2022) fared even better, obtaining platinum certification in both Ecuador and Colombia thanks to the success of the chart-topping singles "Chao Lola," "Dicen," "Hoy Que No Estás," "Si Alguna Vez Te Amé," and "Salud." The album was presented through a series of sold-out shows in Quito, Guayaquil, and Cuenca, followed by a performance at the iconic Madison Square Garden with Franco de Vita. After relocating to Miami in 2005, Juan Fernando Velasco began working on his third LP, A Tu Lado, with producer Andrés Castro. Featuring guest appearances by former Bacilos frontman Jorge Villamizar and rapper Gerardo Mejía, A Tu Lado (2007) received nominations for the Latin Grammy Awards and MTV Latin Awards. In 2008, he offered a live show at the Paz Sin Fronteras concert alongside Miguel Bosé, Juan Luis Guerra, and Alejandro Sanz. Released in 2010, his album Con Toda el Alma earned him his second nomination for the Latin Grammys in the category of Best Folkloric Album. His musical evolution continued on the Noel Schajris-produced A Contratiempo (2011) and Misquilla (2015), an orchestral reimagining of traditional Ecuadorian songs.