Puerto Rican salsa band
Son by Four is a Latin music group from Puerto Rico, well known for their English U.S. pop hit "The Purest of Pain (A Puro Dolor)". The group is now independent, and they founded their label SB4 Music Group in 2003.
Son by Four was created by Panamanian producer and songwriter Omar Alfanno and their members Ángel López, Pedro Quiles, and brothers Javier Montes and Jorge Montes.
Music career
In 1998, the group released two songs produced by Omar Alfanno: "No Hay Razón" and "Nada". The songs were minor hits on the Billboard Latin Tracks chart, helping Son by Four sign a recording contract with Sony Music. The same year, they had their first album Prepárense and toured to promote the album. In early 2000, they released an eponymous album featuring the single "A Puro Dolor". This song, written by Omar Alfanno and originally recorded in Spanish, proved to be a success. Its ballad version was featured in the Mexican soap opera La Calle de las Novias, and Venezuelan soap opera Mis Tres Hermanas. The single spent a year on the Billboard Latin singles chart and set a record for staying at number one for 20 weeks. It also got a place in the Billboard's tropical music charts for 21 weeks. "A Puro Dolor" ranks at number one in Billboard's Decade-End Latin Songs of 2000s chart.[1]
The English version of the song ("Purest of Pain") placed at number 26 on Billboard's pop music charts. The album sold 315,000 units in the United States and more than 1 million copies worldwide.[2] "A Puro Dolor" helped Son by Four earn gold sales status, and it received four prizes at Billboard Music Awards (December 2000) and seven prizes the Billboard Latin Music Awards (April 2001), including Hot Latin Track Artist of the Year.[2][3] The Spanish version of the song appeared at number 65 in Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart. The group soon recorded an English-language version, named "The Purest of Pain", and this version got into the top 30, peaking at number 26. Son by Four continued to release two albums Salsa Hits in 2001 and Renace in 2003, but these were less successful than their second album.
2007–present: Catholic music
From 2007, the band, composed of Pedro Quiles and the brothers Javier and George Montes, has changed their music style from Latin pop, salsa and ballad to Catholic music.
Since then, Son By Four has released five albums and five new singles. In 2015, Son By Four were nominated for a Latin Grammy for Best Christian Album.
Their single "A quién Iremos" was released on May 26, 2023.[4]
