Juan Fernando Velasco stands as Ecuador’s most influential pop artist of the past 25 years. A two-time Latin Grammy nominee, Emmy winner and holder of dozens of gold and platinum certifications for exceptional sales, Velasco has cemented his status as his country’s foremost musical ambassador, both at home and abroad.
Since embarking on his solo career in 1999 with the release of his debut album, he has consistently dominated the charts. Signature hits such as “Para que no me olvides,” “Déjame,” “Chao Lola,” “Hoy que no estás,” “Dicen,” “Nunca” and “Tú no me perteneces” have resonated across generations, becoming personal anthems for fans everywhere. His concept albums—Con toda el alma and Misquilla, which celebrates Ecuadorian pasillos—alongside his latest record, POPular, a collection of his greatest hits reimagined in contemporary pop arrangements, have each shattered sales and airplay records.
A sought-after collaborator, Velasco has recorded with luminaries including Franco de Vita, Fonseca, Andrés Cepeda, Gilberto Santa Rosa, José Luis Rodríguez “El Puma” and Noel Schajris, among many others.
His most recent project, Julio Eterno, pays homage to the immortal Julio Jaramillo, one of Latin America’s greatest romantic voices. Leveraging cutting-edge audio restoration technology, the original recordings of Jaramillo—who would have celebrated his 90th birthday this year—were meticulously revived and blended with Velasco’s own vocals. Produced by multi-Grammy winner Andrés Castro, Julio Eterno presents five newly crafted duets and has been available on all streaming platforms since May 16.
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