CNCO

Emerging in 2015, the multinational Spanish-language boy band CNCO claimed victory on Univision’s La Banda, the Latin American singing competition devised by Simon Cowell. Their 2016 single “Reggaetón Lento (Bailemos)” reached the Top Ten of Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart, while debut album Primera Cita topped the Billboard Latin Albums chart; the group also supported Ricky Martin as openers on his global trek. A second Latin number one arrived with the 2018 self-titled album CNCO, followed by the covers collection Déjà Vu in 2021 and XOXO in 2022.

La Banda, which debuted in September 2015, placed contestants in both group and solo formats across its 13-week span. At the conclusion, the five highest-ranking participants formed CNCO, with Ricky Martin, serving as producer and judge, heading their management. The lineup consists of Christopher Velez from Ecuador, Richard Camacho from the Dominican Republic, Joel Pimental from Mexico, Erick Brian Colón from Cuba, and Zabdiel de Jesus from Puerto Rico. During the program they interpreted material by Christina Perri, Ed Sheeran, Meghan Trainor, and Selena, ultimately prevailing with renditions of Chayanne’s “Salome,” Maná’s “Bendita Tu Luz,” J. Balvin’s “Tranquila,” Sin Bandera’s “Kilometros,” and Justin Bieber’s “Sorry.”

Sony Music Latin signed the quintet, who cut their first album, Primera Cita, under producer Wisin; lead single “Tan Facil” arrived in January 2016. Later that year the multi-platinum “Reggaetón Lento (Bailemos)” became an international success, prompting Ricky Martin to invite them onto his One World Tour. In 2017 they unveiled the upbeat “Hey DJ,” the first single from their sophomore effort CNCO, which appeared in April 2018 and featured a 2017 remix of “Reggaetón Lento (Bailemos)” with girl group Little Mix that reached the U.K. Top Five and peaked at number two in the Netherlands. An alternate take of “Hey DJ” featuring American singer Meghan Trainor and Jamaican dancehall rapper Sean Paul followed later that year.

Throughout 2019 the band released collaborative tracks with Abraham Mateo, Manuel Turizo, and PRETTYMUCH alongside their own singles “Pretend” and “De Cero,” the latter appearing on the October EP Qué Quienes Somos. The 2020 singles “My Boo” and, with Natti Natasha, “Honey Boo” preceded the February 2021 arrival of third studio album Déjà Vu, a set of covers honoring Enrique Iglesias and Chayanne; their interpretation of Ricardo Montaner’s “Tan Enamorados” performed strongly on Latin airplay charts. Joel Pimental departed shortly afterward, leaving the group to continue as a quartet. Their fourth full-length, 2022’s XOXO, contained the major singles “Toa La Noche,” “Miami,” and “Party, Humo y Alcohol.”