Luny Tunes is an American reggaeton production duo consisting of Francisco Saldaña (Luny) and Víctor Cabrera (Tunes) who have been known for creating unique musical rhythms for some of the most popular reggaeton artists since the early 2000s.
Biography
Francisco Saldaña was born on June 23, 1979, and Víctor Cabrera was born on April 12, 1981. Originally from Lawrence, Massachusetts and native to Dominican Republic,
[ Reggaetonline.com - Luny Tunes Biography] they originally started working at the
Leverett House dining hall at Harvard University before their commercial success as reggaeton producers.
Musical career
2000–2003: The early years
Luny Tunes was reggaeton's first major hitmaking production team, cranking out an assembly line of hit singles, club anthems, and CD mixtapes, all the while collaborating with many of the style's top vocalists. Ivy Queen was the first person to work with Luny Tunes when they produced her single "Quiero Saber", as she trusted their talent.
Luny Tunes were given their big break by
DJ Nelson, a reggaeton pioneer who recognized their production talents, which had been well showcased on Héctor & Tito's A La Reconquista (2002), and signed them to his
Flow Music label.
Luny Tunes in turn made their major-label debut, alongside another promising young production talent, Noriega, on Mas Flow (2003). The various artists album consisted of 100% original material featured most of reggaeton's top vocalists of the time (
Daddy Yankee,
Don Omar, Tego Calderón, Wisin & Yandel, Héctor & Tito, Zion & Lennox,
Baby Ranks,
Nicky Jam,
Trebol Clan, and many more) and firmly established the duo as a go-to production team. The album was a huge commercial success in
Latin America and was one of the top Latin albums in the
United States and would go on to sell over 500,000 copies worldwide despite limited mainstream exposure thanks to the reggaeton boom of 2002-2007.
2004–2007: Rise to international fame
The following year Luny Tunes continued to further their reputation, establishing themselves as hitmakers when "
Gasolina," one of their numerous productions featured on Daddy Yankee's
Barrio Fino (2004), became a worldwide hit and club anthem. In addition to Barrio Fino, Luny Tunes also contributed productions to acclaimed albums by Don Omar (The Last Don, 2003) and Tego Calderón (
El Abayarde, 2003), as well as albums by
Eddie Dee (Los 12 Discípulos, 2004),
Ivy Queen (Diva, 2004), Zion & Lennox (Motivando a la Yal, 2004), Nicky Jam (
Vida Escante, 2004), and Trebol Clan (
Los Bacatranes, 2004) — all of this within a two-year span. Their instrumentals and musical styles were creating a new standard in reggaeton in general.
In 2005, Luny Tunes released Mas Flow, Vol. 2, their first all-new album since the previous volume, and in 2006 they released a third, , along with a second compilation of previously released material, Reggaeton Hits, which had been preceded by a prior best-of collection, La Trayectoria (2004). "Mas Flow 2" is a landmark album for the reggaeton genre and one of the only products in the history of its music to sell over a million copies worldwide. The album remains the most successful compilation in the history of the genre spawning world renowned hits such as: "Rakata" by Wisin y Yandel, "Mayor Que Yo" featuring Wisin y Yandel, Daddy Yankee, Don Omar, Tonny Tun Tun and Héctor el Father, "Mirame" by Daddy Yankee feat. Deevani and "Te He Querido Te He Llorado" by Ivy Queen among other hit songs. "Mas Flow 2" is generally regarded as one of the greatest albums in the history of reggaeton music being one of the few albums of the genre to gain critical and commercial success outside the Spanish Hip Hop and Reggaeton circles.
Luny Tunes then remixed Janet Jackson's hit single "Call on Me", which featured Nelly.[ Janet Jackson & Nelly - Call on Me (Luny Tunes Mix)] They then released the compilation in 2006 and a special edition . This album produced the #1 worldwide hit single "Noche De Entierro" (Nuestro Amor) by Daddy Yankee, Tonny Tun Tun, Héctor el Father, Zion and Wisin y Yandel. "Noche De Entierro" remains one of the most famous and internationally recognized hits in the history of the reggaeton genre. By this point, Luny Tunes were employing various assistant producers and artists such as Nesty La Mente Maestra, Nely, Tainy, AA and Nales among many others...
2008–2012
In 2008, Luny Tunes signed duo
Erre XI to Mas Flow. After their signing, the duo released their full-length debut album titled
which spawned the single "
Carita Bonita" featuring Pee Wee of Kumbia All Starz.
In 2009, Luny Tunes signed Dyland & Lenny to Mas Flow. They started their career in late 2009 with "Nadie Te Amará Como Yo". Then they were featured on the Luny Tunes produced track "Rompiendo Cadenas" by Latin Grammy recording artist Ana Bárbara. In 2010 they released their debut album My World. Their biggest hits from the album are "Nadie Te Amará Como Yo", "Quiere Pa' Que Te Quieran" and "Caliente" Produced by Madmusick (Yan & Yon).
In 2010, the duo produced work for Ivy Queen on her seventh studio album Drama Queen including "La Vida Es Así", "Cosas De La Vida", and "Aya Aya". As well as on her eighth studio album Musa, later in 2012.
In 2012 they produced a song for Farruko's album The Most Powerful Rookie. Among other albums they worked on was Daddy Yankee's Prestige. Luny Tunes released the coverart for the third edition of the Mas Flow series, Mas Flow 3. The album will feature Don Omar, Wisin & Yandel, Alexis & Fido, Zion & Lennox, Plan B, Jowell & Randy and among others.
2014–present
Luny Tunes currently reside in
Puerto Rico where they own a studio estimated to be worth around US$3.5 million.
[ YouTube - Broadcast Yourself] In recent years, the superstar production team has worked on hit songs such as "Adrenalina" by
Wisin feat.
Jennifer Lopez and
Ricky Martin, "Duele El Corazon" by Enrique Iglesias, "Mayor Que Yo 3" by
Daddy Yankee,
Don Omar, Wisin y Yandel, "
Moviendo Caderas" by Yandel feat. Daddy Yankee, "Limbo" by
Daddy Yankee and even more pop influenced tracks for the likes of
Farruko,
Don Omar, and Tito El Bambino. They are currently working on "Mas Flow 3", though initially expected to be a more pop influenced album with featurings from the likes of
J Balvin and Flex, the product will now be more of a return to reggaeton's roots like the first two Mas Flow albums due to the poor reception of the leaked lead single "La Fila" by
Don Omar, Sharlene and Maluma. The duo signed a deal with
Universal Latino in 2016 to distribute the much anticipated "Mas Flow 3" album. In an interview with Molusco TV released on November 1, 2023, Luny Tunes stated Mas Flow 3 is still planned to be released and are currently renegotiating with their parent label to make it happen.
Charted songs
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |
Discography
Main albums
-
2003: Mas Flow
-
2005: Mas Flow 2
-
2006:
-
2016 - ????: Mas Flow 3 (unreleased)
Compilation albums
-
2003: Desafío
-
2004: La Trayectoria
-
2004:
-
2006: Reggaeton Hits
-
2007: 20 #1's Now
-
2007: 20 #1's Then
-
2008: Luny Tunes Presents: Calle 434
Instrumental albums
-
2004: The Kings of the Beats
-
2006: The Kings of the Beats 2
Re-release albums
-
2004:
-
2006: Mas Flow 2.5
-
2007:
-
2007:
Other
Production discography
Awards
-
Latin Billboard Awards 2004: Más flow - "Tropical Album of the Year / Duo or Group"
-
Latin Billboard Awards 2004: Más flow - "Tropical Album of the Year / New Generation"
-
Reggaeton People's Choice Awards 2004: Luny Tunes - "Producer of the Year"
-
Latin Grammy Awards 2005: Barrio Fino - "Best Album of the Year / Urban" (as Producers)
-
Reggaeton People's Choice Awards 2005: Luny Tunes - "Producer of the Year"
-
Reggaeton People's Choice Awards 2005: Mayor Que Yo - "Best Song of the Year"
-
Reggaeton People's Choice Awards 2005: Mas Flow 2 - Best Album of the Year"
-
Latin Billboard Awards 2006: Luny Tunes - "Producer of the Year"
-
Premios Lo Nuestro Awards 2006: Mas Flow 2 - "Best Album of the Year / Urban Category"
-
Furia Musical 2007: Luny Tunes - "Reggaeton Producers of the year".
-
BMI Latin Awards 2007: Luny - "Songwriter of The Year".
[BMI'shttp://www.bmi.com/news/entry/534664]
See also
External links
