In a moment that is redefining the boundaries of Latin music and reshaping global pop culture, Eric West, Kedward Avilés, and Samuel Mancini have united to form a groundbreaking supergroup—one whose debut not only dominated the Billboard charts but also marked a historic milestone in the evolution of multi-national, genre-defying music.
Each member of the trio carved a distinct path to stardom before coming together. Eric West, a fashion icon for nearly three decades, has been the face of major global campaigns for brands like Coach, Lexus, and Intel. On screen, he’s shared the spotlight with Bruce Willis, and most recently stunned audiences with his portrayal of Kid Cudi in Hulu’s hit limited series Diddy on Trial: As It Happened, directed by Emmy Award-winner Miles Kahn. His impact has long been recognized, including an Essence Magazine “New and Next: Ones to Watch” award—alongside now-household names The Weeknd and Zendaya.
Kedward Avilés brings a formidable presence as a classically trained vocalist and dynamic stage performer. With a career spanning nearly 20 years, he’s dazzled audiences in operas like Mozart’s La Finta Giardiniera, musicals such as Evita and Into the Woods, and even represented Puerto Rican culture on international stages—including the 500th anniversary of San Juan and the 2020 U.S. Presidential Inauguration. His voice, presence, and authenticity have earned him respect across both theatrical and Latin music communities.
Then there’s Samuel Mancini, the hot pop-R&B star whose career took off with a debut film appearance in Love the Coopers opposite Timothée Chalamet. He quickly translated that momentum into music, with his debut album Feed the Fire reaching the Billboard Top 25. His single “SOAK” became a crossover success, peaking at #7 on the U.S. Billboard R&B charts, confirming his place as a genre-blending force to watch.
But nothing could have prepared the industry for what came next.
In November 2024, these three artists—each from diverse backgrounds and different corners of the entertainment world—merged their talents to release “Tú Eliges” and its English counterpart “Choose”, both co-written by the legendary Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis. The result? Instant chart domination. “Tú Eliges” debuted at #1 on the Billboard Latin Singles Chart, unseating none other than Bad Bunny—a seismic moment in the genre. Even more astonishing, the track broke into the UK Top 50, a rare feat for a Spanish-language song, signaling a global cultural shift and widening the door for Latin music’s worldwide resonance.
The trio’s rise is not just a personal success story—it is a historic turning point in Latin music. Never before has a group made up of talents this diverse, from different disciplines and nationalities, unified so powerfully to change the mainstream landscape. In doing so, they’ve not only blurred the lines between pop, R&B, and Latin music—they’ve obliterated them.
Their explosive debut has earned them five Ritmo Latino Entertainment Awards, including the coveted Favorite New Artist honor. And the momentum shows no signs of slowing. In what promises to be another unforgettable moment, the group is set to headline Nuestra Belleza Puerto Rico with a live performance of “Tú Eliges”—bringing the song home to the heart of the Caribbean and honoring Puerto Rico’s rich cultural legacy on one of the island’s biggest stages.
This upcoming performance is more than just a televised appearance—it’s a homecoming, a celebration, and a declaration of Latin music’s global future. With West, Avilés, and Mancini leading the charge, a new era of music has officially arrived.
This is more than a collaboration. It’s a historic cultural moment—one that will be remembered as the genesis of a movement, where borders blurred, languages fused, and three world-class artists rose together to the top of the charts and into music history.
