Raised in Manhattan's East Harlem

At age 12, found work as a background singer for commercials and demos with the help of a neighborhood friend; eventually sang backup and wrote songs for the Ricky Martin-era Menudo; also wrote Top 40 dance hit "Boy, I've Been Told" for Safire

Film acting debut in "East Side Singer"

Scored as a club-music artist with "Ride on the Rhythm", a No 1 dance hit

Appeared on the international TV program "Carnival Internacional" which led to bookings around the world

Earned New Artist of the Year award at BILLBOARD's Latin Music Awards for album "Otra Nota"

Had small part in "Hackers"

Played the restaurant's busboy in "Big Night" and a high school gangbanger in "The Substitute"

Became the first salsa singer to sell out NYC's Madison Square Garden

Starred in the title role of Paul Simon's ill-fated Broadway musical "The Capeman", based on a real life 1950s NYC murder case

With Tina Arena, sang "I Want to Spend my Lifetime Loving You", the love theme for the film "The Mask of Zorro"

Portrayed a homeless man who survives after being shot in the head in Martin Scorsese's "Bringing Out the Dead"

Headlined HBO special "Marc Anthony: The Concert From Madison Square Garden" (February)

Played small role of a college professor in the Showtime drama "In the Time of Butterflies"

Starred with Denzel Washington in Tony Scott's "Man of Fire"

Portrayed Hector Lavoe, the man who started the salsa movement in 1975 and brought it to the U.S. in "El Cantante"; also co-starred his wife Jennifer Lopez