Oscar D’León, “El León de la Salsa” (the lion of salsa) was born July 11, 1943, in the Caracas neighborhood of Etamin, where he began to show interest in percussion instruments and to sing at social activities as a young child. His capacity to improvise, the tone of his voice and his intense love for the music make Oscar D’León a born sonero in the best salsa music tradition.
Today, his name is recognized all over the world, although in his home country of Venezuela he is an idol. Indeed, he is not only as a singer and musician, but also as a self-made man of humble origin who overcame his circumstances and achieved fame and fortune.
Oscar D’León is possibly the most recognized Venezuelan artist outside his own country. He was influenced by the great masters of Cuban music, especially by soneros Beny Moré and La Sonora Matancera. His other influences come from the New York salsa sound of the 1960s, particularly Eddie Palmieri and the Fania generation.
His top hits include “Mi bajo y yo”, “El baile del suavecito”, “Llorarás”, “Divina Niña”, “Taboga”, “El frutero”, “Parampampam” or “Dolor cobarde”
Besides being a great singer, Oscar D’León is an extraordinary showman an entertainer who takes charge of the stage even before singing his first words, and moves with the easiness of a professional dancer.
Unfortunately, in 2003, Oscar D’Leon suffered 3 heart attacks while performing on the Caribbean island of Martinique. Medical tests discovered that he had 3 heart attacks: 1 on the stage while performing and 2 more in the hospital. The diagnosis of the heart attacks were due to high cholesterol, and he was told to control his diet in the future.
Doctors gave D’Leon two pacemakers, and he was forced to cancel tour dates in several countries. “This is a lesson to take care of myself more,” said D’Leon. During a news conference in his hometown of Caracas, D’Leon said: “Oscar D’Leon will be around for a while. If God lets me, I’ll be singing until I’m 90.”
On December 20, 2009, Oscar d’León was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of a clinic in Caracas after suffering another heart attack. He recovered after undergoing a catheterization procedure.
On April 23, 2013, he suffered a domestic accident while adjusting a trunk on a high shelf. The trunk fell, striking his face and causing a severe ocular contusion, which resulted in the loss of his left eye. Later that year, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Latin Grammy Awards.
In 2015, D’León marked 50 years in his artistic career. He served as a judge at the 56th Viña del Mar International Song Festival, which began on February 22, and closed the event with a performance on February 27, earning the Antorchas and Gaviotas de Plata y Oro awards.
On September 30, 2016, he released the single La Sandunguita, a collaboration with Spanish musician Diego Amador. The song was included in the album Soy de las 3000 by Diego Amador.
Discography:
Con Bajo y Todo (Top Hits, 1976)
2 Sets Con Oscar (Top Hits, 1977)
El Oscar de la Salsa (Top Hits, 1977)
Y Su Salsa Mayor (Top Hits, 1978)
El Más Grande (Top Hits, 1979)
Llegó…Actuó y Triunfó (Top Hits, 1979)
Al Frente de Todos (Top Hits, 1980)
A Mi si me Gusta Así (Top Hits, 1981)
Dos Colosos en Concierto (Top Hits, 1981)
El Discóbolo (Top Hits, 1982)
El Sabor de Oscar (Top Hits, 1983)
Con Dulzura (Top Hits, 1983)
Tributo a la Sonora Matancera (Top Hits, 1984)
Con Cariño (Top Hits, 1984)
Yo Soy (Top Hits, 1985)
Oscar 86 (Top Hits, 1986)
Riquiti..! (Top Hits, 1987)
De Venezuela para el Mundo/La Salsa Soy Yo (Top Hits, 1987)
Que Se Sienta/De Aquí Para Allá (Top Hits, 1988)
Navidad (Top Hits, 1989)
En Puerto Rico (Top Hits, 1990)
Y los Blanco (Top Hits, 1991)
Auténtico (Top Hits, 1991)
Live In Rotterdam/Holanda (Top Hits, 1992)
El Rey de los Soneros (RMM Records, 1992)
Toitico Tuyo (RMM Records, 1994)
The King of Salsa Live (Cameo, 1994)
El Sonero del Mundo (RMM Records, 1996)
En Nueva York (RMM Records, 1997)
Live From West Port (RMM Records, 1998)
La Fórmula Original (RMM Records, 1999)
En Vivo! Copacabana (RMM Records, 2000)
Doble Play (Universal Music Latino, 2000)
Más Que Amor…Frenesí (Universal Music Latino, 2001)
Infinito (Universal Music Latino, 2003)
Así Soy (Sony, 2004)
Fuzionando (Sony, 2006)
Orq. Sinfónica Municipal de Caracas Presenta (Alcaldía de Caracas, 2007)
Tranquilamente…Tranquilo (Sony, 2008)
Oscar D’León Live-Teresa Carreño (Sonográfica, 2012)
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.