Born José Oscar Mejías in Puerto Rico, CHELO is still in his early 20s but is already a road-tested veteran of two successful groups the Puerto Rican boy band Jyve V and the Texas-based urban/Regional Mexican group ATM. CHELO was a major creative force in both of those bands. For Jyve V, he co-wrote such cuts as No Me Digas Que No and Sólo a Tu Lado Quiero Vivir, both of which landed in the Top 40 of Billboards Hot Latin Songs chart. Even with the groups success, it was inevitable that CHELOs charisma and energy would launch him into a solo career sooner rather than later. Even as a kid, CHELO remembers, he realized how important it was for an artist to be able to do it all: I was amazed by both dancing and singing. Thats why I would get Michael Jacksons or Janet Jacksons CDs. I was all about a good show. Hailing from a musical family, CHELO was known as a showman to friends and teachers as early as third grade. In his teens, he thought he might one day become a choreographer to the stars when CHELO was a high school junior, future reggaetón superstar Daddy Yankee asked him to choreograph for him. In fact, dancing helped CHELO get what he considers his first big break when he was with Jyve (originally a dance group which became Jyve V), they won a dance competition in Miami Beach. Record labels wasted no time in approaching with contract offers. It was the culmination of working hard at what he loved to do hed realized early on that he wasnt going to be a model student. His teachers told him hed make better use of his time working on his music rather than poring over textbooks. Every time I went into a studio I couldnt get out of the studio and my mom would punish me because I wouldnt do my homework, he says. Despite his aversion to assignments, CHELO is now the pride of his alma mater, which gives the José Oscar Mejías award to the most artistically talented high school senior. And CHELOs parents, too, realize their sons long hours in the studio are paying off: My family gives me all the support in the world, CHELO says. My family knows what the business is all about and what it takes to get there, so theyre really excited for me with this project.