José Tamárez Mateo, known professionally as Joseíto Mateo, was born on April 6, 1920, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. He began his singing career in the 1930s and gained public favor. In the late 1940s, he was contracted by SEECO Records to join La Sonora Matancera in Havana but faced travel restrictions. Mateo eventually moved to Cuba, performing with Celia Cruz and La Sonora Matancera on CMQ radio. After Rafael Trujillo's assassination in 1961, Mateo relocated to Puerto Rico and became the first vocalist for El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico. Throughout his career, Mateo released numerous albums, including King of Merengue! (1950). Some of his most recognized songs are "Madame Chuchí" and "Dame la Visa." Mateo received the Premio Grammy Latino a la Excelencia Musical in 2010. He passed away in 2018, at the age of 98.
