Judy Santos: The Female Voice Behind “Obsesión” Who Deserves More Recognition

When you hear the iconic bachata hit Obsesión, your ears immediately recognize the sultry, heartfelt vocals that carry the chorus. That voice belongs to Judy Santos, a Dominican-American singer whose contribution to one of Latin music’s most globally celebrated songs often goes unacknowledged.

Born on June 17, 1981, in Sleepy Hollow, New York, Judy Santos began singing as a child, performing in local music groups and honing her craft. Her life changed in 2002 when she recorded the female vocals for Aventura’s smash hit Obsesión, from the album We Broke the Rules. The song quickly became a global phenomenon, topping charts across Europe, including Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland. Yet despite her voice being central to the song’s appeal, her name rarely features in discussions about its success.

Following the success of Obsesión, Judy continued collaborating with Aventura on tracks like La Guerra and Angelito, contributing her signature voice to the band’s sound. By the mid-2010s, she began releasing her own solo music, marking a new chapter in her career. Her single Tú Tienes Tu Vida (2015) gained traction on Billboard’s tropical charts, and she has since released songs including Secreto, Loca, Demos Paso al Amor, and No Me Rendiré — the latter reaching #24 on the Billboard Tropical Airplay chart in 2021.

Despite these accomplishments, Judy Santos remains somewhat undercelebrated. Her story highlights a systemic issue in Latin music: women’s contributions, especially those in supporting or featured roles, often go under the radar. Hits like Obsesión are widely credited to the male leads or the group as a whole, while the female voices — critical to the song’s emotional resonance — are minimized or forgotten.

Several factors contribute to this lack of recognition. The “female voice behind the hit” problem, industry bias favoring male artists, and the commercialization of Latin hits all play a role in rendering women invisible in music history. Solo careers that follow high-profile collaborations often receive less promotional support, making it harder for artists like Judy to maintain visibility despite their undeniable talent and influence.

Her story is emblematic of countless women in Latin music: the backup vocalists, chorus singers, and collaborators whose work shapes the genre but rarely receives the credit it deserves. Yet Judy has continued to evolve as an artist, collaborating with other musicians, releasing new music, and even reuniting with Aventura for a surprise performance during their Cerrando Ciclos tour finale in Santo Domingo in 2025 — performing Obsesión live and reminding fans of the voice behind the classic.

Judy Santos deserves recognition not only for her past achievements but for her resilience and ongoing contributions. Her voice helped spark a global bachata wave, and her career demonstrates the perseverance needed to succeed in an industry that often sidelines women. Honoring her legacy challenges the structural erasures in Latin music and ensures that the artists who shape the genre’s sound are remembered and celebrated.

For fans, historians, and cultural observers, Judy’s story is a reminder that every hit has a human behind it. Recognizing her work is a step toward a more inclusive music history — one that gives credit where it is long overdue. Judy Santos is not a footnote; she is a pillar of Latin music whose voice has defined an era and whose story deserves to be heard.