Born in Puerto Rico but raised in the U.S., Tito Nieves (born Humberto Nieves) began his career while participating in Cimarron, a New York-based orchestra. He then teamed up with Héctor Lavoe in 1977 and joined Conjunto Clásico soon after. Tito Nieves decided to start his solo career in 1986, setting himself apart by singing salsa in English. He became a chart-topper in 1997 with a song called "I Like It Like That." Among his key albums are 1988's Classic, 1989's Yo Quiero Cantar, 2004's Fabricando Fantasias, and 2006's Hoy, Manana y Siempre.