Leonardo Paniagua

Leonardo Panigua is one of the Dominican Republic's most popular bachata musicians. He emerged from obscurity to overnight stardom in the 1970s, when he recorded his first 45rpm record, "Amada, Amante" for Discos Guarachita. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Paniagua's bachata albums were the best-selling. With his soft voice and romantic style, he appealed beyond bachata's usual working-class audience. He was also one of the first artists to form a movement of romantic-bachateros, artists who helped the genre emerge into mainstream music. Paniagua still tours and performs today in the USA, Europe, and of course in the Dominican Republic. He recently played with his orchestra at one of several inaugural events in Arecibo, Puerto Rico's...