Fernando Villalona

Fernando Villalona, known as El Mayimbe, started singing with the merengue orchestra Los Hijos del Rey in 1975. He was born in Loma de Cabrera, Dominican Republic in 1955. His early work included songs like 'Dominicano Soy,' which became popular for its celebration of Dominican identity.

As a solo artist in the 1980s, Villalona recorded songs such as 'Porque Eres Linda' and 'Soy Un Hombre Feliz.' These tracks showed his range from romantic ballads to more upbeat merengue numbers.

In the 1990s, Villalona faced legal problems related to drugs that interrupted his career for a time. He eventually returned to performing, though his output became less frequent than during his peak years in the 80s.