Growing up in the violence laden country of Columbia, Juanes has experienced things most people see only in the darkest moments of their nightmares. In addition to losing a friend to a fatal gunshot, Juanes’ uncle was kidnapped and murdered; his father lost his battle with cancer; and he watched as his fellow Columbians were murdered in the waves of violence.

Instead of letting such grief overpower him, Juanes poured his emotions into his music, penning songs that have the critics comparing him to such superstars as U2’s Bono. Before the whole world knew his name, however, Juan Esteban Aristizabal was an aspiring musician, from the tender age of seven, who learned how to play the guitar with the help of his dad.

As a teenager his passion for music took a turn from traditional Latin to a new genre: Juanes wanted to play heavy metal. Determined to become a successful metal musician, Juanes started a band that soon all of Columbia would know: Ekhymosis. In the following seven years, Ekhymosis released 11 albums, making the band a bona fide success.

Despite his band’s success, Juanes wanted more. With dreams of starting a solo career, he headed for the American west coast. The move to Los Angeles proved to be just what Juanes’ solo career needed.

Before making the move to the United States, Juanes had recorded a demo, which he actively shopped when he arrived in Los Angeles. The demo landed in the hands of Argentine producer Gustavo Santaolalla, and Juanes soon had a recording contract with Santaolalla’s own label Surco.

Juanes’ first album, “Fijate Bien,” was released in 2000, and was barely noticed. That all changed with his sophomore release, 2002’s “Un Dia Normal.” Overnight, Juanes became a Latin sensation, and “Un Dia Normal” shot to the top of the Billboard Latin charts, where it stayed in the top ten for an impressive 24 months. Professional acclamations also reigned on Juanes as he received eight Grammy nominations, taking home five of the industry’s most prestigious awards.

Since then, Juanes has released “Mi Sangre,” which garnered almost as much excitement as his smash offering “Un Dia Normal.” Following the release of his third album, Juanes went on a world tour, playing more than 200 dates, and making appearances everywhere he could. He’s so hot that getting Juanes concert tickets is a challenge, but millions of fans the world over wouldn’t have it any other way.