Jose Alvaro Osorio Balvin aka J Balvin is this year’s Latin Billboard breakthrough artist.
The 29 year-old Urban singer, who recently concluded his run opening for Enrique Iglesias and Pitbull on their “Sex and Love” tour, returns to South Florida as a 12-time nominee in 11 categories at this year’s Billboard Latin Music Awards show.
It's an amazing feat for the artist who turned his failure to break into the music business in Miami back in 2004 into opportunity when he moved back home to Medellin, Colombia, where he has single-handily revolutionized the Latin Hip-Hop genre known as Reggaeton.
Over the last couple of years, Balvin’s top record sales in Colombia and other Latin American countries have turned him into one of the most sought-after voices, allowing him to record Spanish remixes for hits like Ariana Grande’s “Problem” and “The Way”, Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines" and Maroon 5’s “Maps”.
The release of his third album “La Familia” (The Family) helped set the momentum globally for Balvin, whose hit singles “6AM” featuring artist Farruko and “Yo Te Lo Dije” (I Told You So) earned him three Latin Grammy Nominations in 2014.
His latest hit “Ay Vamos” (Still Hanging On) is part of the soundtrack for the blockbuster movie “Furious 7” starring Vin Diesel, The Rock and the late Paul Walker.
In the categories of Hot Latin Song of the Year and Hot Latin Artist of the Year, J Balvin is up against musical giants Enrique Iglesias with 19 nominations, and Bachata king Romeo Santos with 21 nominations.
He will also go head-to-head with Reggaeton artist and producer heavyweights Don Omar, Winsin and Yandel in the category of Latin Rhythm Artist of the Year.
To see who wins, and to catch J Balvin’s first-ever performance at the Billboard Latin Music Awards live from the University of Miami’s BankUnited Center in Coral Gables, tune in to our sister station Telemundo on April 30th at 8 p.m.
