Omar Enrique Alfanno Velásquez[1] is a Panamanian singer-songwriter of Latin music who is most active in the salsa and merengue genres.
Reuters noted him as "one of Latin music's premiere songwriters and the man behind countless hits".[2]
He has composed for musicians like Tony Vega, Luis Enrique, Melina Leon, Jerry Rivera, Victor Manuelle, Gilberto Santa Rosa, and Marc Anthony. His most successful song, "A Puro Dolor" performed by the Son by Four, reached the Billboard Hot 100. The song was awarded a Lo Nuestro Award, a Billboard Music Award, and a Latin Grammy Award nomination in 2000. His song "Amores Como el Nuestro" — written for Jerry Rivera — was sampled by Wyclef Jean in the 2004 song "Dance Like This" which was later used for the 2006 Shakira hit "Hips Don't Lie". "Amores Como el Nuestro" was also sampled by Lord Tariq and Peter Gunz in the 1998 song "Deja Vu (Uptown Baby)".
In April 2013, he performed with many of his collaborators at a concert in Panama.[3]