Elmer Figueroa Arce (born June 28, 1968), best known under the stage name Chayanne, is a Puerto Rican Latin pop singer . Elmer Figueroa Arce, widely known as Chayanne, was born in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico on the 29th of June 1968, the third child among five siblings . Although it is widely believed that his date of birth is on the 28th of June . In an interview, he said his mother entered the hospital on the 28th and gave birth at daybreak of the 29th . The doctor, however, still registered his birth on the 28th . Elmer Figueroa became Chayanne while still a child; a nickname that was given to him by his mother after a favorite television series of the 60’s entitled "Cheyenne" . After Los Chicos separated in 1984, Chayanne began his career as a solo artist . He signed with RCA Ariola and released his first album, Chayanne es mi Nombre, that year . His second album with RCA, Sangre Latina was released in 1986 . The cover of Chayanne es mi Nombre . 1984 After three years as a solo artist, Chayanne broke out with his first self-titled album in 1987 . It featured two #4 hits on the Hot Latin Songs, the ballad "Peligro de Amor" written by Michael Sullivan and Paulo Massadas and a song that would cement him as an overall performer, the upbeat dance track "Fiesta en America" written by Honorio Herrero. In 1988, Chayanne switched labels to Sony Music and released the eponymous album, Chayanne. This album included several hit singles such as Honorio Herrero's "Tu Pirata Soy Yo", José María Cano's "Fuiste un Trozo de Hielo en la Escarcha" and "Este Ritmo Se Baila Así", composed by Pierre-Edouard Decimus, Jacob Desvarieux and Roberto Livi. At the same time, Chayanne became a spokesperson for Pepsi, with the airing of the first Spanish speaking advertising spot broadcasted on national television coast to coast during the 1989 Grammy Awards telecast. .