Toby Love
Toby Love (born Octavio Rivera; March 20, 1985) is an American singer, rapper and songwriter of Puerto Rican descent.[1] Based on The Bronx, New York, he is best known for being a former member of Aventura before pursuing a solo career, mostly known for their 2002 album We Broke the Rules, later performing a style of bachata music that combines traditional and urban singing and production.[1][2]
Toby Love | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Octavio Rivera |
| Also known as | Soul Love |
| Born | March 20, 1985 The Bronx, New York, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) |
|
| Instrument(s) | Vocals |
| Years active | 1999–present |
| Labels | Elegant Boyz |
Background
Toby Love was born in The Bronx, New York to Puerto Rican parents, coming from a musical family, he grew up listening to a bunch of different music genres, such as pop, hip-hop, R&B, bachata and merengue. His father Toby Rivera sang with the salsa orchestral group Conjunto Clásico. His mother was later remarried to a Dominican man, which eventually led to Toby Love's exposure around both Dominican and Puerto Rican cultures. He started working with Aventura as a backup vocalist and additional percussionist.[2][3][4][5] His voice was featured in 2 songs, I Believe and Gone in the album We Broke the Rules beginning a solo career with his 2006 LP, Toby Love, released on Sony Records.[2] In 2008, he received four nominations to the Billboard Latin Music Awards for songs included in his debut album.[2] Love won awards for two categories, Tropical Airplay Song of the Year, and Latin Rap / Hip Hop Album of the Year.[2]
Love embarked on his solo career.[6][7] Living in the same neighborhood as the group, he became close friends with the member "Mikey", who later asked Love to join.[6]
Toby Love is recognized as the artist that made the subgenre of crunkchata popular.[1] As the result of having recorded half of his debut album in Miami, Love became a fan of crunk music, and incorporated it into his bachata music.[1]
Love produces the majority of the music used in his albums, along with co-producer Eddie Perez.[1]
Personal life
In addition to living in New York, Toby Love also spends his time between homes in Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, and New Jersey.[1] Love hopes to begin working as an actor, in addition to his career as a musician.[1]
Discography
Studio albums
- Toby Love (Sony BMG, 2006)
- Love Is Back (Sony BMG, 2008)
- La Voz De La Juventud (Sony Music, 2011)
- Amor Total (Top Stop Music, 2013)
- Bachata Nation (Elegant Records, 2016)
Compilation albums
- Mis Favoritas (Sony Music, 2012)
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart positions[8] | Album | Certifications | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | U.S. Latin | U.S. Latin Trop | U.S. Latin Pop | ||||
| 2006 | "Tengo Un Amor" | 100 |
2 |
3 |
25 |
Toby Love |
• U.S. RIAA certification: 2× Platinum[9] |
| "Don't Cry (La Niña Que Soñé)" | — |
13 |
22 |
— |
|||
| 2007 | "Amores Como El Tuyo" | — |
— |
— |
— |
||
| 2008 | "Llorar Lloviendo" | — |
22 |
2 |
36 |
Love is Back |
• U.S. RIAA certification: Gold[10] |
| "Amor Primero" | — |
— |
— |
— |
|||
| 2010 | "Te Parece Poco" | — |
— |
15 |
— |
La Voz de la Juventud |
|
| 2011 | "Casi Casi" | — |
— |
15 |
31 |
||
| "Quizás" (featuring Yuridia) | — |
— |
15 |
— |
|||
| 2012 | "Lejos" | — |
36 |
2 |
36 |
Amor Total |
|
| 2013 | "Todo Mí Amor Eres Tú" | — |
29 |
1 |
17 |
||
| 2014 | "Hey" | — |
43 |
1 |
37 |
||
| "El Aire Que Respiro" | — |
— |
8 |
— |
Bachata Nation |
||
| 2015 | "We Never Looking Back (feat. French Montana)" | — |
— |
1 |
— |
||
| "Vestida De Blanco" | — |
— |
1 |
— |
|||
| 2016 | "No Le Eches La Culpa" | — |
— |
1 |
— |
||
Featurings
- Tito El Bambino : La Busco
- Alexis & Fido - Soy Igual Que Tu
- Chosen Few Movement - Grind It Up (featuring Toby Love & Lumidee)
- Omega - Tu No Ta Pa Mi (Remix)
- Magic Juan - La Otra Noche
- Aventura - I Believe (Yo Creo) & Gone
- Javi G - Por Qué? (Toby Love y Mikey)
- Tony CJ - Mi Primer Amor (Salsa Version)
- Fanny Lú - Y Si te Digo (Bachata, 2007)
- R.K.M & Ken-Y - Tengo un Amor (2006)
References
- Latin Music Interview: "Toby Love Becomes the Voice of the Youth"
- Toby Love Coming to Los Angeles To Promote His New Album
- "Toby Love: "The bachata of the future."". People en Español. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
- "Toby Love to Become First Spanish Singing Artist to Perform at Van Andel Arena". Van Andel Arena Insider. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
- Donelson, Marcy. "Toby Love - Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
- Otero, Navani (2006-10-03). "nocheLatina - Q&A Sessions: Toby Love". nocheLatina. Retrieved 2013-01-18.
- "Ex integrante de Aventura, Toby Love, presenta credenciales en el Centro de Arte & Comunicación Celinés Toribio". El Nuevo Diario. 2006-12-15. Archived from the original on 2015-04-12. Retrieved 2013-02-15.
- "Toby Love Chart History". Billboard. Archived from the original on 21 November 2021. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
- "American single certifications – Toby Love – Tengo Un Amor". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
- "American single certifications – Toby Love – Llorar Lloviendo". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 22 May 2018.