David Pabón Figueroa was born on 20 June 1964 on the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico, and emerged as a salsa vocalist influenced by the works of Larry Harlow and Willie Colón. He began playing guitar in childhood and later joined local bands such as El Condór and Union 78, where he gained experience as a percussionist and manager. His breakthrough came in 1989 with the single "Aquel viejo motel" from the album Es de Verdad!, which achieved substantial airplay in Latin America and Spain and established him as a rising salsa star. The following years saw a steady output of studio albums: Mejor Que Ayer (2001), Por Naturaleza (2003), Desde Hoy (2005), and 12 Favoritas (2013), each featuring tracks that charted on regional salsa lists, including "Cuando bailas" and "Por instinto". Pabón toured extensively across Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Mexico, the United States, and Canada, performing at venues such as Madison Square Garden and the Calle Ocho Salsa Street Festival in Miami, and collaborated with artists such as Eddie Santiago. He founded Pabón Entertainment Group LLC, producing and promoting salsa releases. While no formal awards are recorded, his recordings consistently ranked within the top tiers of Latin music charts, and his influence is noted in contemporary salsa circles.
