Martín de León is a Dominican songwriter. He has written for other performers for more than three decades, mostly in merengue and more recently in Colombian vallenato, and several of the songs he wrote became the best-known records of the artists who sang them.

Sabana de la Mar

He is from Sabana de la Mar, in the province of Hato Mayor. He does not describe himself as a professional musician: he works by ear, and has said he is grateful to write as many lyrics as he has without formal training. The town later declared him a meritorious son.

The orchestras

He came into the business through the bands, playing in the orchestra of Monchy Capricho and in Sangre Nueva before settling into writing. His first song, Nadie Como Tú, was recorded in 1991 by Monchy’s orchestra, and he also wrote Te Saqué los Pies for him.

Eddy Herrera

The long partnership of his career is with Eddy Herrera. He wrote Los Hombres Calientes and De Risita in the mid-nineties, Como Llora Mi Alma in 2001, which became a fixture of that singer’s repertoire, and Si Yo Se Lo Pido. Nuestro Amor is also his. Vida Loca, another of his merengues, took the award for merengue of the year.

In 2014 he wrote Ella Me Gusta, recorded by Herrera with Vakeró.

Colombia

Vallenato became a second market for him. He wrote 24 Horas, released in 2011 and taken up by Colombian performers, and Ese Loco Soy Yo, which a Colombian singer recorded for a major label. He has continued writing across genres rather than settling in one.