In a 2016 discussion with SAG-AFTRA, Jennifer Lopez cited "El Cantante" as the film she is most proud of in her career.
Willie Colón, close friend and collaborator of Héctor Lavoe, on whom this film is based, has stated that a mere 10 or 15% of the film actually happened in real life.
According to the DVD commentary, the film was shot in only 33 days.
The title translates in English as "The Singer."