Born in Bogota, Colombia, Juan Fernando Fonseca, better known as Fonseca chose music at an early age, studying music formally at institutions such as Javeriana University in Bogota and Berklee College of Music in Boston. Fonseca's self-titled debut gained him considerable attention in Colombia. His second album released Corazón explored the crossroads where pop/rock influences meet the vallenato, bullerengue, and tambora. Gratitud followed in 2008, with Ilusión arriving in 2011. Fonseca recorded Sinfónicoin concert with Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Colombia in 2013. Released a year later. In early 2015, Fonseca was awarded La Musa Premio Triunfador by the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame, and in May received the first-ever Contemporary Icon Award at the SESAC Latina Music Awards. In the fall, he released the album Conexión. this album included collaborations with recognized artists like Juanes and Victor Manuelle. In 2017 Fonseca launched “Fundación Gratitud” an important project that seeks to rescue and ensure the protection of cultural traditions. In 2018 Fonseca received “La Orden de Boyacá en grado Oficial”, the most important recognition given by the Colombian government as part of his work as a promoter of reconciliation and peace. Fonseca released his latest album Agustín in December 2018 which has 4 nominations for the 20th Annual Latin Grammys Awards. Through his musical career Fonseca has been awarded with 5 Latin Grammy and also has been nominated in 2 opportunities to the Grammy Awards.
Life and career
1979-1996: Early life
Juan Fernando Fonseca was born on May 29, 1979, in Bogotá. In his youth he studied in Colegio los Nogales and then he passed to Gimnasio Campestre. Fonseca's interest in music began at a young age. In fact, when he was just twelve years old, he recorded a song and had 500 copies made to distribute among his friends and family. His parents recognized his talent and encouraged him to pursue his passion. Fonseca studied music at the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana and at the Berklee College of Music, where he developed not only his musical talent but also the tools needed to navigate through the competitive world of performance. Prior to the release of his first album, Fonseca was a member of the rock band Baroja, which was well known on the Bogotá club scene.
After graduation from college, he recorded his first album titled Bomba de Tiempo that he sold door-to-door, showing the album to patrons at small bars, and eventually selling 500 copies. Fonseca was searching for a record label when he found the Colombian musician José Gaviria and helped him in an initial recording with Sonolux in United States in 1997. The project stayed up in the air until 2002 when he signed with Líderes Entertainment Group, a label of EMI Capitol to produce his three upcoming albums. Fonseca's self-titled debut album was released in February 2002 in Colombia and on December 26, 2005 internationally. The album had a moderate success in his native country. The album spawned four singles, "Mangangué", "Noche de Carnaval", "Sueño" and "Confiésame". The album is highly influenced by the Colombian "tropipop" sound associated with Carlos Vives' albums Clásicos de la Provincia and La Tierra del Olvido. The album gained him considerable attention in Colombia, including the notice of artists like Shakira and Juanes, both of whom offered him subsequent collaboration and performance opportunities. Sharing the stage with Shakira on her Tour of the Mongoose and Juanes at Estadio El Campín in Bogota garnered Fonseca the recognition and momentum he would need for his second album. His second studio album, Corazón produced by Fonseca himself, Bernardo Ossa and the executive producer Alvaro Rizo, was released on May 23, 2006. Allmusic gave the album a rating of three out of five stars. The album has reached a peak position of number seven on the U.S. Tropical Albums chart. Three of the album's eleven tracks became singles, including "Te Mando Flores", "Como Me Mira" and "Hace Tiempo". The first song won Fonseca one Latin Grammy and reaching the top 40 on the U.S. Latin chart.
2008-present: Gratitud and Ilusión
Fonseca released his third studio album Gratitud, on May 27, 2008. The album had a peak position of seventy on the U.S. Latin Albums chart. It had four singles, "Enrédame", "Arroyito", "Paraíso" and "Estar Lejos" with the American musician Willie Colón. In Miami, Florida in the United States on 24 September 2013, Fonseca received “SESAC Latina Radio and TV Performance Award". It is an important recognition to the deployment in radio and television of the single "Eres Mi Sueño".
A Premio Nuestra Tierra is an accolade that recognize outstanding achievement in the Colombian music industry. Fonseca has received three nominations.
Personal life
"Fonseca is also very concerned with changing the rest of the world’s view of his mother country, Colombia, using his music as a platform to publicize the positive aspects of the nation" During his U.S. tour in early 2013, Fonseca made a point to show videos of and to speak personally about Colombia. On the same tour Fonseca worked with Marca Colombia, a program run by the Colombian government to re-educate other countries about Colombian culture, as well as with the Colombian airline Avianca, a sponsor of the tour. Of his work with these two entities, Fonseca has said to Colombia Reports, "I am excited that on my Illusion World Tour I will carry the message of Colombia from the Brand Colombia to the United States. I am very proud of my country and I'm honored to be its ambassador". Fonseca states that he views music as a representation of culture, so using his music to promote and educate people on Colombia makes sense to him.
