Daddy Yankee

Yankee in 2006, photo by Prphotos

Birth Name: Ramón Luis Ayala Rodríguez

Place of Birth: San Juan, Puerto Rico

Date of Birth: February 3, 1976

Ethnicity: Puerto Rican [African, Spanish, possibly Taíno]

Daddy Yankee is a Puerto Rican singer, songwriter, rapper, actor, and record producer. He is known for the song Despacito (2017), with Luis Fonsi and, in some versions, Justin Bieber. He is known as “King of Reggaetón,” as well as “The Big Boss,” “El Cangri (The Chief),” and “Winchester.”

He is the son of Rosa María Rodríguez and Ramón Ayala Class, a salsa percussion player. He is married to Mireddys González, with whom he has three children.

Daddy Yankee’s paternal grandfather was Porto Ayala y Ayala (the son of Elias Ayala y Trinidad and Senona Ayala y Caraballo). Porto was listed as “mulatto” on civil records. Elias was the son of José Ayala y Calderón and Estefania Trinidad y Pérez. Senona was the daughter of Juan Ayala y Calderón and Eugenia Caraballo y Hernández. José and Juan were brothers, making Elias and Senona first cousins.

Daddy Yankee’s paternal grandmother was Altagracia Class y Aponte (the daughter of José Class y González and Natalia Aponte). Altagracia was listed as “white” on civil records. José was the son of José del Carmen “Carmelo” Class y Adorno and María Celestina González y Adorno. Natalia was the daughter of Narciso Labrador y Fontánez and Catalina Aponte y Morales.

Sources: Death record of Daddy Yankee’s paternal grandfather, Porto Ayala y Ayala – https://familysearch.org

Daddy Yankee’s paternal grandmother, Altagracia Class y Aponte, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Marriage record of Daddy Yankee’s paternal great-grandparents, José Class y González and Natalia Aponte – https://familysearch.org