Kat DeLuna

Kathleen Emperatriz DeLuna (born November 26, 1987) is an American singer.

DeLuna began pursuing a career as a singer when she was a teenager and later signed with Epic Records.

In 2004, while DeLuna was 17, Coquette opened for a Cassidy concert in New Jersey.

In 2006, DeLuna chose to pursue a solo career and was signed by Epic Records.

After being signed to Epic Records, DeLuna began working with producers such as RedOne and Jane't Sewell-Ulepic, among others.

The two worked together to produce the majority of the songs on DeLuna's debut album.

Her debut single, "Whine Up", released in 2007, went on to become a commercial success, entering the Top 40 in numerous countries and topping the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart.

Her debut studio album, 9 Lives (2007), failed to see the success of its lead single.

The album's third single, "Run the Show", became a hit in various territories, and reached number two on the Hot Dance Club Play chart.

Following the commercial performance of her first album, DeLuna was dropped from Epic Records.

DeLuna continued to record both collaborations and soundtrack singles.

In 2007, DeLuna won "Best New Artist" at the Los Premios MTV Latinoamérica 2007 awards.

On May 15, 2007, DeLuna released her debut single, "Whine Up".

The title comes from the Caribbean English pronunciation of Wind up, meaning to move one's hips on the dance floor.

The single received mixed reviews from critics.

AssociatedContent had a positive review of the song, stating "On the song Kat goes back forth between singing in English and Spanish. The song is catchy and fills a void currently in the marketplace. Elephant Man adds his traditional high energy approach and the song is a surefire hit."

Billboard also spoke highly of the song, claiming "Talk about a summertime sure thing. Nineteen-year-old Dominican Kat Deluna is prepped to combust with a platinum-plated debut so certain you can practically smell the smoke emanating from its juicy one-spin hook and manic tempo. Accompanied by reggaeton queen Ivy Queen and dancehall staple Elephant Man, aka the Energy God, the bilingual crossover beauty – who grew up in poverty in the Dominican Republic and the Bronx before studying music at the New Jersey School of Performing Arts – combines Caribbean cadence with a novel mesh of hip-hip, R&B and merengue. Deluna's launch single offers ultimate seasonal sizzle – over the airwaves, on the beach, down the highway and across dance floors. A "Whine" to be heard loud and proud the world over."

In 2008, she won "Best New Artist" and "Best Urban Artist" at the TMF Awards.

DeLuna's single, "Whine Up", won the award for "Latin Dance Club Play Track of the Year" at the 2008 Latin Billboard Music Awards.

She also won a Casandra Award in 2008 for "Best International Artist".

DeLuna was born and raised in the Bronx, New York City, to Dominican parents.

At a young age, DeLuna and her family moved to the Dominican Republic.

When she was 12, DeLuna performed onstage and was heard by Milly Quezada who commended her vocals.

Friends and family recognized her talent at an early age, but it was not until she moved back to the United States at age 14, to Newark, New Jersey, that DeLuna realized her potential as a singer.

She attended Benjamin Franklin Elementary in Newark, and was taught by Nicholas Straus.

DeLuna then attended the Newark Arts High School, which was the only school she applied to.

While there, DeLuna and her friends formed an R&B group called Coquette.

DeLuna had a tough upbringing and was raised in poverty.

She spent her time listening to Aretha Franklin and Billie Holiday records, which she imitated daily on her karaoke machine.

At age 15, DeLuna entered a Coca-Cola sponsored karaoke competition.

Her version of "I Will Always Love You" took first place.

It was through this competition that she met Cuban salsa singer Rey Ruiz.

Ruiz gave DeLuna this advice: "Nobody knows you better than you do, and nobody can help you if you can't help yourself."

DeLuna began writing her own music and has continued to do so.

DeLuna later began working on her second studio album, Inside Out (2010), which received a limited release through Universal Music Belgium.

The album spawned a number of singles, notably "Party O'Clock", "Unstoppable", "Push Push", and "Dancing Tonight" featuring Lil Wayne, Akon, and Fo Onassis respectively.

Viva, the North American edition of the album, was slated to be released later that year; however, this never materialized.

"Wanna See U Dance" was released as the first single back in 2012.

DeLuna is currently working on her fourth studio album.

DeLuna released the compilation album Loading in 2016.