José Ángel López Martínez[1] (born April 25, 1994), known by his stage name Jay Wheeler, is a Puerto Rican singer and songwriter. Wheeler first became widely known after a video of him singing went viral in 2016, after which he began pursuing a career as a musician. Signing with Dynamic Records in 2018, his debut album Platónico was released the following year, executively produced by DJ Nelson. His second effort, Platónicos, again produced by DJ Nelson, was released in 2020, and contained the successful single "La Curiosidad" featuring Myke Towers, which peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart.[3]

Jay Wheeler
Jay Wheeler in 2022
Jay Wheeler in 2022
Background information
Birth nameJosé Ángel López Martínez[1]
Born (1994-04-25) April 25, 1994 (age 30)[2]
Salinas, Puerto Rico
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Years active2016–present
Spouse
Zhamira Zambrano
(m. 2022)

Early life

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Wheeler was born José Ángel López Martínez on April 25, 1994, to a working-class family in Salinas, Puerto Rico. He first developed an interest in music as a child through singing at his local church, where he also learned to play the piano. Throughout his teenage years Wheeler stopped singing and instead began experimenting with production, after developing a fear of singing in public due to the regular bullying he suffered at school.[4][5][6] At the age of 16, Wheeler separated from his girlfriend, an incident that inspired him to write a new song, "Ahora Estoy Mejor" and record himself singing it. After showing it to a friend, he was encouraged to post it online, where it went viral overnight, generating over 500,000 views and serving as a platform for Wheeler to seriously pursue a career as a musician.[4][7][6]

Career

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Early years (2016–2018)

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Wheeler used his newfound fanbase to continue to release music through both Instagram and Facebook, building up a steady following and earning the nickname "La Voz Favorita" (The Favourite Voice).[6] He would later choose to go by the stage name Jay Wheeler; he asked his fans to choose a name that would go with "Jay", eventually choosing Wheeler as the best suggestion; he believed "Jay Wheeler, La Voz Favorita" just sounded right.[6][8][4] After a steady number of releases between 2016 and 2018, Wheeler was noticed by Dynamic Records, who signed him to his first record deal. A video of Wheeler bought to tears on stage at the sight of fans singing his music went viral in 2018, and was later seen by DJ Nelson, who reached out to Wheeler and offered to be his mentor.[6]

2019–present: Platónico, Platónicos and work with DJ Nelson

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DJ Nelson told Wheeler that he had an exact vision for him as an artist and offered to executively produce his debut studio album Platónico, released in 2019, containing the successful Otra Noche Más remix with Farruko.[6]

Wheeler began work on his second effort soon after, a sequel to his first album to be known as Platónicos. Released in 2020 and again produced by DJ Nelson, the album contained the hit single "La Curiosidad" featuring Myke Towers, which peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart.[3]

Discography

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Studio albums

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List of extended plays, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions
US
Latin

[citation needed]
SPA
[9]
Platónico
(with DJ Nelson)
72
Platónicos
(with DJ Nelson)
34 23
De Mí Para Ti 68
El Amor y Yo 36
Emociones 10 13
Emociones 1.5 67
TraPPii 18
Música Buena Para Días Malos 15
"—" denotes a title that was not released or did not chart in that territory.

Singles

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As lead artist

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List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
US
Latin

[citation needed]
SPA
[9]
"Lloras (remix)"
(with Cauty and Lenny Tavárez featuring Noriel and Alex Rose)
2020
  • PROMUSICAE: Gold[10]
Non-album singles
"Vete Pal Carajo"
(with DJ Nelson and Yan Block)
12
"La Curiosidad (Blue Gran Prix remix)"
(with Myke Towers and Rauw Alejandro featuring DJ Nelson, Jhayco, Lunay and Kendo Kaponi)
14
  • PROMUSICAE: Platinum[13]
"No Te Enamores (remix)"
(with Milly and Alan Walker featuring Farruko, Nio Garcia and Amenazzy)
2021 5
"Desnudarte"
(with Brytiago)
"Conexión"
(with Foreign Teck and Justin Quiles featuring Bryant Myers, Eladio Carrión and Tory Lanez)
83
"Si Te Veo"
(with Arcángel and Miky Woods)
43
  • PROMUSICAE: Gold[17]
"Fragancia"
(with Juhn)
38
"Otro Fili"
(with J Balvin)
26 51
  • PROMUSICAE: Gold[19]
"Desde Mis Ojos (remix)"
(with Chris Lebron and Sech)
2022 43
"Si Te Preguntan"
(with Prince Royce and Nicky Jam)
31 96
"Suelta"
(with Mora)
35 Emociones
"Dicelo"
(with Zhamira Zambrano)
"Pacto"
(with Dei V and Hades66 featuring Luar la L)
2023 42
  • PROMUSICAE: Gold[23]
Emociones 1.5
"Pacto (remix)"
(with Anuel AA and Hades66 featuring Bryant Myers and Dei V)
29 29
  • PROMUSICAE: Platinum[24]
TraPPii
"Extrañándote"
(with Zhamira Zambrano)
Non-album singles
"Textos Fríos"
(with Mora)
2024 63 Música Buena Para Días Malos
"Aunque Llegue Otro"
(with Myke Towers)
63 La Pantera Negra
"—" denotes a title that was not released or did not chart in that territory.
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List of singles as featured artist, with selected chart positions
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
SPA
[9]
"La Tóxica (remix)"
(Farruko, Sech and Myke Towers featuring Jay Wheeler and Tempo)
2020 54
  • PROMUSICAE: Platinum[25]
Non-album singles
"Quítenme El Teléfono"
(Dímelo Flow, Sech, Dalex, Justin Quiles and Lenny Tavárez featuring Yandel and Jay Wheeler)
2024 55 The Academy: Segunda Misión
"WYA (Remix Red)"
(J Abdiel, De La Rose and Yan Block featuring iZaak and Jay Wheeler)
30
  • PROMUSICAE: Gold[26]
Non-album singles

Other charted and certified songs

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List of other charted and certified songs, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
US
Latin

[citation needed]
SPA
[9]
"Me Enamoré"
(with DJ Nelson)
2019 Platónico
"Dime Que Sí"
(with DJ Nelson)
"Cuando Fue"
(with DJ Nelson and Feid)
2020
  • PROMUSICAE: Gold[28]
Platónicos
"La Curiosidad"
(with DJ Nelson and Myke Towers)
5 2
"Eazt" 2022 El Amor y Yo
"Lugar Seguro"
(with Noreh)
Emociones
"—" denotes a title that was not released or did not chart in that territory.

References

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  1. ^ a b Túa, Lynet Santiago. "Jay Wheeler busca su sitial en el género". Metro.
  2. ^ Jay Wheeler - Biografía, historia y legado musical
  3. ^ a b "Myke Towers". Billboard.
  4. ^ a b c "Jay Wheeler". Reggaeton.co.uk. June 20, 2020.
  5. ^ "Jay Wheeler nunca se dio por vencido". Primera Hora.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "Latin Artist on the Rise: Jay Wheeler's Bringing His Romantic Flow To Reggaeton". Billboard.
  7. ^ Nacimientonoviembre 21, Información personalNombre CompletoJosé Ángel López Martínez; zodiacalEscorpio, 1994Edad26 añosOcupaciónCantante y compositor Apodo/PseudónimoJay Wheeler NacionalidadPuertorriqueñoGénerosReguetón y trapMovimientosUrbanoSigno (July 24, 2020). "Jay Wheeler".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ "Jay Wheeler | Biography & History". AllMusic.
  9. ^ a b c d Spanish charts peaks:
  10. ^ "Spanish certifications – Noriel / Lenny Tavárez / Jay Wheeler / Cauty / Alex Rose". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "American certifications – Jay Wheeler". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  12. ^ "Spanish single certifications – Vete Pal Carajo". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España.
  13. ^ "Spanish certifications – Jay Wheeler / Myke Towers / Rauw". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
  14. ^ a b "American certifications – Jay Wheeler". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  15. ^ "Spanish certifications – Milly / Farruko / Nio Garcia / Jay Wheeler / Amenazzy". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
  16. ^ "Spanish single certifications – Conexión". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España.
  17. ^ "Spanish single certifications – Si Te Veo". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España.
  18. ^ "Spanish single certifications – Fragancia". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España.
  19. ^ "Spanish single certifications – Otro Fili". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España.
  20. ^ "Spanish single certifications – Si Te Preguntan". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España.
  21. ^ "Spanish certifications – Jay Wheeler / Mora". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
  22. ^ "Spanish certifications – Jay Wheeler / Zhamira Zambrano". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
  23. ^ "Spanish single certifications – Pacto". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España.
  24. ^ "Spanish single certifications – Jay Wheeler, Anuel AA, Hades66, Bryant Myers, Dei V – Pacto (Remix)". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España.
  25. ^ "Spanish certifications – Farruko / Sech / Myke Towers / Jay Wheeler / Tempo". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
  26. ^ "Spanish certifications – J Abdiel / Yan Block / iZaak / Jay Wheeler / De La Rose". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
  27. ^ a b "Spanish certifications – Jay Wheeler & DJ Nelson". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
  28. ^ a b c "Spanish certifications – Jay Wheeler". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
  29. ^ "Spanish certifications – Jay Wheeler / DJ Nelson / Myke Towers". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 10 September 2024.