Angelo Reyes

**Angelo Julio Reyes**, (born January 1st 1975) is an American singer, songwriter. Referred to as the "Emperor of Pop", he is regarded as one of the most influential figures in popular culture. Angelo is noted for his continual reinvention and versatility in music production, songwriting, and visual presentation, he is also openly gay. He is also known for pushing the boundaries of artistic expression in mainstream music while remaining completely in charge of every aspect of his career. His works, which incorporate social, political, sexuality, and religious themes, have generated both critical acclaim and controversy.

Born and raised in New York City, Angelo performed in subway stations for tips. Scouted by then newly founded A1 Records in 1989, he rose to stardom with his debut studio album, *On The Dancefloor* (1991). He followed it with a series of successful albums, including all-time bestsellers *Great Escape* (1993) and *Metropolis* (1994) as well as *Soul* (1999) and *Rise & Fall* (2004). Angelo Reyes has amassed many number-one singles throughout his career, including "Metropolis", "Love Is Religion", "Soul", "Into The Light", "Empire", "New Gods", and "Time".

* With sales of over 500 million albums worldwide, Angelo Reyes is certified as one of the best-selling recording artists of all time by *Guinness World Records*. He is also one of the most successful solo artists in the history of the U.S. *Billboard* Hot 100 chart. With a net revenue of $4.6 billion from his concert tours, he remains the highest-grossing solo touring artist of all time. Angelo Reyes was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012, his first year of eligibility. He was ranked as the greatest Man in music by VH1 in 2007, and as the greatest music video artist of all time by MTV in 2005 and *Billboard* in 2021. *Rolling Stone* also listed Angelo Reyes among the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time and the 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time. His work has often influenced other artists.

## Life and Career

### 1975-1989: Early Life

Angelo Julio Reyes was born on January 1st 1975,at Mount sinai hospital in Manhattan, New York City, to a working class catholic family. His father is of Spanish ancestry and his mother of Indonesian, and he also has more distant French roots. His parents Maria Reyes worked as a laundress and his father Damián Reyes was self employed at a small bodega below their family apartment in the East Village (Alphabet City) in lower Manhattan. And he has an older sister named Nina Reyes. Brought up in the East Village of Manhattan, Angelo said in an interview that his parents came from lower-class families and worked hard for everything to afford him and his sister a better life. Angelo attended The East Village Community School. Angelo was known for his high grade point average and achieved notoriety for his unconventional behavior. He would imitate the dance moves of Michael Jackson and Madonna, he would perform cartwheels and handstands in the hallways between classes, dangle by his knees from the monkey bars during recess.

Angelo eventually began using his skills in dancing to perform for tips on street sides and subway stations, Angelo told *Variety Magazine* that money was often tight at home and he wanted to buy stuff the other kids had at school, he often said in his you he felt like "I've always wanted more than I had, I was never satisfied, always wanted more, more money, more success, more clothes, and wanted everyone to notice me. performing came naturally and getting money for it was just and added benefit."