NEW YORK, NY -- Global 'Bachata' music superstar Romeo Santos is on a roll. His "Propuesta Indecente" music video has had over 600 million views, and he topped the record of most Latin Billboard nominations. His newest album Formula: Volume 2 was Billboard's top Latin album for 2014.
On Monday, the 33-year-old Latino star performed live on the Today show, and thousands of fans lined up around Rockefeller Plaza to hear the Bronx, NY-raised star. The son of a construction worker from the Dominican Republic and a Puerto Rican stay-at-home mom, Santos recently told NBC News' Katie Tur he considers himself "a humble kid from the Bronx who's blessed."
For some Latino fans, seeing Santos up close was a dream come true. He was born Anthony Santos, but he took the stage name Romeo - and does live up to his romantic name, judging from his female fans' reactions.
"My husband is forgiving me for all the kisses I'm sending Romeo," said a laughing Patti Velazquez, joined by her smiling husband, Luis. The Peruvian couple from Yonkers, New York woke up at 3 a.m. to line up to see the King of Bachata. Patti added that Santos gave a concert in Peru and she never thought she would see him in New York City.
Anabel Valenzuela, a fan from Garfield, New Jersey, said it quite a thing to see Romeo Santos up close. "It's surreal to be here - in my country, in the Dominican Republic, he is like royalty."
Santos is also an actor, he has a part in the new movie, Furious 7.
The "King of Bachata" was a shy child who started singing in the church choir. Only a few decades later, Santos filled New York City's Yankee stadium 2 days in a row - the first Latino artist with this distinction.