Pee Wee (singer)

Irvin Salinas (born December 8, 1988), better known as Pee Wee, is an American singer, songwriter and actor. He was a former singer for the band Kumbia Kings and was a lead singer for Kumbia All Starz, both created by A.B. Quintanilla. In early 2008, he left Kumbia All Starz to become a solo artist. His debut studio album Yo Soy was released on August 11, 2009.

Early life and discovery (1988–2003)

Irvin Salinas, known as Pee Wee was born on December 8, 1988, in Othello, Washington. He is the youngest of three siblings (his older sister named Elizabeth Salinas and his older brother Simon Salinas). His father, Horacio Salinas was an alcoholic, and put in rehabilitation while Irvin was thirteen years old. After his parents separated, his mother, María Martínez, changed residence to La Joya, Texas, located in the outskirts of McAllen, Texas. Irvin began to wash cars and perform other small jobs in order to provide his family with extra income. He has an uncle in Navasota, Texas after the name of Rafael Salinas. At thirteen, he met A.B. Quintanilla, brother of Selena, in a casting at Pee Wee' s middle school. It was then that A.B. Quintanilla expressed interest in Pee Wee, and informed him about a casting for a music video with his band and offered him an audition. Irvin accepted, presenting to him a few days later in the casting. He also went to Memorial Middle School and La Joya High School.

Kumbia Kings (2003–06)

His artistic career began in 2003 when he joined A.B. Quintanilla's band Kumbia Kings after several members like Frankie J and DJ Kane left Kumbia Kings. In 2004 he recorded his first song and video with Kumbia Kings, Sabes A Chocolate on the album Los Remixes 2.0 released on April 6, 2004, being a round success and showing a very good response of the public. Due to the success, Quintanilla decided the absolute stay of Irvin, and nicknamed him "Pee Wee" for being the minor of all the band members. It was on the album Fuego released on October 5, 2004, that included his second success "Na Na Na (Dulce Niña)", being much accepted also by the public, and his success led to it reaching a big popularity with the public, and especially with the fans, who increased notably thanks to him.

On April 7, 2005, Pee Wee along with A.B. Quintanilla and the rest of the Kumbia Kings participated in Selena ¡VIVE! the tribute concert for Selena, performing Baila Esta Kumbia. Kumbia Kings later released the album Duetos on March 29, 2005, which included Baila Esta Kumbia.

Kumbia Kings released their live album Kumbia Kings Live on April 4, 2006, which included the single Pachuco. They won a Latin Grammy for the album Kumbia Kings Live.

Later, on August 2006, a legal disagreement between A.B. Quintanilla and Cruz Martínez, the second founder of the band, resulted in A.B. Quintanilla leaving Kumbia Kings. Other members started to leave including Pee Wee who left Kumbia Kings after Cruz Martínez replaced him with Jo-Joe because he didn't show up for a concert. Pee Wee continued with A.B. Quintanilla and Chris Pérez (brother-in-law of Quintanilla), joining him in his following project that would be the band Kumbia All Starz.

Kumbia All Starz (2006–08)

On August 2006, Pee Wee became the lead singer for A.B. Quintanilla's new band Kumbia All Starz. Kumbia All Starz launched their single Chiquilla in 2006 which turned out to be a success. The band released their debut album Ayer Fue Kumbia Kings, Hoy Es Kumbia All Starz on October 3, 2006. They also launched other singles in 2007, Parece Que Va A Llover and Speedy Gonzales. Nevertheless, on February 1, 2008, it was announced that Pee Wee had left the band Kumbia All Starz to begin a career as solo singer a month before the band's second album Planeta Kumbia got released. A.B. Quintanilla declared that he had already signed a contract with a record company of which the name he did not mention.

On March 12, 2008, Pee Wee presented himself in the program Don Francisco Presenta, transmitted by Univision, in which he declared that it was false: "Everything he said is false, I never signed with any record company but, yes I have received many offers lately and have not accepted any yet" he declared. Also it gave an exclusive interview the raw declarations about his abandonment of the band and of the ill-treatment that he and his partners of band were receiving on the part of A.B. Quintanilla.

When one questioned him if he had decided to leave the band, he declared: "A. B. gave us a date that he would pay us the money from the recordings that we had done, nevertheless the date had happened and he had not given us any of the money. We had a meeting in which we spoke about several topics, but apparently he said to us that we were replaceable and that we could leave if we wanted, that the door was opened. Me and my partners Memo and Roque could leave that the door was opened and that we were going away".

He gave the declarations given by Pee Wee individually without the company of the band or of anybody. He also declared the maltreatment that his mother, Maria Martínez had got from Quintanilla, on having sent his representative Luigi Giraldo to call her to say that they had 24 hours to leave the house that Quintanilla had offered to Pee Wee and his mother. Pee Wee said that he is going to keep on singing and not leave his fans.

Solo, Bust A Ritmo, El Show De Los Sueños, Camaleones and Yo Soy (2008–11)

Problems with A.B. Quintanilla forced him to leave Kumbia All Starz. After he left the band Kumbia All Starz, Cruz Martínez invited Pee Wee to be a part of his band Los Super Reyes, but Pee Wee declined the invitation to pursue a career as solo artist. He collaborated with Erre XI on the song Carita Bonita.

On June 16, 2008, he became the host of the series Bust A Ritmo on MTV Tr3s.

On July 17, 2008, Pee Wee made his debut as a solo artist in 2008 Premios Juventud singing Life Is A Dance Floor. In September 2008, Pee Wee was invited by Rubén and Santiago Galindo to take part in the reality show El Show De Los Sueños, production of Televisa, in the first season of El Show De Los Sueños: Sangre De Mi Sangre where he competed with artists such as Gloria Trevi, Edith Márquez, Ernesto D'Alessio and Kalimba, along with Susana Fuente and Adriana Fuente, the Fuentes.

On October 27, 2008, Pee Wee and his team defeated Gloria Trevi and Kalimba in the final of El Show De Los Sueños and gaining the right to take part in Los Reyes Del Show. In A Telethon in 2008, Pee Wee declared that he was officially Mexican. He collaborated with other singers like RBD members Christopher Uckermann and Dulce María. On El Show De Los Sueños he debuted a new song called Quédate with La Nueva Banda Timbiriche.

In November 2008, Pee Wee opened the concerts for RBD during the Gira Del Adios World Tour in Brazil except for the two extra shows.

December 7, 2008, was the beginning of Los Reyes Del Show where Pee Wee managed to make it to the finale of the program on December 14, 2008, where he again managed to win and defeat Gloria Trevi and Kalimba, gaining $1,000,000.00 USD. The money was distributed in $333,333.00 USD between the 3 members of the team.

On March 26, 2009, Flex and Pee Wee sang together in Premios Lo Nuestro 2009 singing "Dime Si Te Vas Con Él".

On May 29, 2009, he released his new single Cumbayá. Cumbayá was released worldwide on June 1, 2009. Cumbayá was released on June 30, 2009, on iTunes.

On July 5, 2009, Pee Wee performed the hit single Carita Bonita and a new single called Tan Feliz featuring two new Puerto Rican reggaeton singers Dyland & Lenny in Premios Tecate Deportes 2009.

On July 16, 2009, Pee Wee performed for the first time, his new single Cumbayá in 2009 Premios Juventud.

On July 27, 2009, the telenovela Camaleones premiered in Mexico in which Pee Wee stars as Ulises Morán.

On August 11, 2009, his debut studio album Yo Soy was released.

On August 12, 2010, Pee Wee was scheduled to perform on Premios Texas 2010 from Austin, TX he is nominated for Best Male Artist.

Name change and second studio album (2011–present)

In 2011, Pee Wee returned to the scene once again and changed his name to PW. He says "PW is the evolution of Pee Wee, as it shows his growth from when he debuted to what he is now." He signed with Top Stop Music, a record label that features artists such as Prince Royce and Luis Enrique. His debut single as "PW", "Wanna Be Yours," was released on September 27, 2011. The refreshing, ultra-modern dance track was produced by Sergio George and French producers So Fly and Nius. The video was shot at Universal Studios and showed a whole new side of PW that his audience has never seen before. There is a lot of dancing and clearly shows his evolution as an entertainer. His new album should be released by February 2012.

Studio albums

Singles

As main artist

As featured artist

Promotional singles

Other appearances

Videography

Music videos

Guest music videos