Oscar D'León

Óscar Emilio León Simosa (born July 11, 1943), known as Oscar D'León, and affectionately called The Pharaoh of Salsa, The Lion of Salsa, and the World's Sonero, is a Venezuelan musician and bassist best known for his salsa music. He is the author of Llorarás, which he recorded in 1974 with his group, Dimensión Latina. He is also an ambassador for Operation Smile.

Early life Oscar D'León was a long-time resident of the Parroquia Antímano section of Caracas, Venezuela and when a plaque dedicated to him was stolen in Barquisimeto nine hours after he had been honored with it and the city's keys on September 13, 2014.

Discography Contributing artist The Rough Guide to Salsa (1997, World Music Network)

Albums Dimensión Latina '75 (1974) Dimensión Latina '76 Salsa Brava (1975) Dimensión Latina En Nueva York (1976) Con Bajo y Todo (1976) 2 Sets Con Oscar (1977) El "Oscar" de la Salsa (1977) Dos Sets Con Oscar D'Leon Y Su Salsa Mayor (1977) Tranquilo Y Sin Miedo (1978) El Más Grande (1979) Llegó...Actuó...Y...Triunfó..! (1979) Al Frente De Todos (1980) A Mí Sí Me Gusta Así! (1981) El Discóbolo (1982) Con Dulzura... (1983) El Sabor De Oscar (1983) Con Cariño (1983) Yo Soy (1985) Oscar '86 (1986) De Venezuela Para El Mundo (1987) Riquiti..! (1987) Que se sienta (1988) Navidad con Oscar D'León (1989) En Puerto Rico (1990) El Rey de los Soneros (1992) Así soy (2004) Fuzionando (2006) En Vivo (2012) Clásicos de Big Band (2014)

Awards and distinctions D'León was named Best Salsa Artist at the 2014 Pepsi Venezuela Music Awards.

On July 7, 2015, he received a Honoris Causa PhD of the Universidad Pedagógica Experimental Libertador for being "a Venezuelan whose discipline and constancy in the development and execution of his musical art have led him to become artistic patrimony of Venezuela".