Jhensen, the stage name of Félix Caraballo Leonidas, is a Dominican romantic ballad singer and songwriter born on September 30 in Bayagüana, Monte Plata province. Raised in La Otra Banda, Higüey, he built his recording career in Puerto Rico. His 1980s recordings and songwriting connect romantic ballads with a later turn toward bachata.

From Bayagüana to Puerto Rico

After spending his childhood in La Otra Banda, he settled in Puerto Rico in 1967. He made his home in Carolina and began his professional singing career there, bringing a Dominican romantic-song repertoire into the Puerto Rican music scene.

Early recordings

In 1981 he released «Cuando te sientas sola» on the Venezuelan label «Velvet». The album included his self-written title song and his interpretation of «El amor no tiene tiempo ni edad», written by Teddy Jauren and Roberto Livi. «Yo también amé igual que tú» followed in 1982, and «Amiga mía» appeared in 1984. The latter album includes «En ruinas», a composition by Rafael Solano.

Songwriting and bachata

He continued recording in the 1990s; his own biography identifies a production titled «Lo nuevo de Jhensen» and the song «Déjame libre mujer». In 1999 he released «Ay amor», which includes his own recording of «Pienso en ti». Frank Reyes subsequently recorded the composition for his 2006 album «Pienso en ti». Jhensen also moved toward bachata with the 2014 single «Te seguiré».

Legacy

His career combines ballad singing, songwriting and musical exchange between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. «Cuando te sientas sola» marks his recording beginnings; Frank Reyes's recording of «Pienso en ti» carried one of his songs into another genre and to another audience.