Instead, it's a Bronx band called Aventura, and it plays an adventurous style of modern bachata, a much-revered form of romantic pop music that originated in the Dominican Republic.
Over the course of six albums, Aventura has launched bachata into the 21st century with bilingual lyrics, boy-band melodicism and creative touches of hip-hop, rock and soul.
And if the fact that it has dabbled with the bachata formula has perhaps raised the ire of some old-school traditionalists, it's also true that millions of fans are completely nuts over the music.
The band is touring on the strength of its latest and most contemporary CD, "The Last," and in a standalone date that takes place right in the middle of the Madison Square Garden dates, Aventura performs Saturday at Mohegan Sun Arena.
It's a big deal show. According to a recent issue of Billboard, "The Last" was the best-selling Latin album of 2009, and the periodical also ranked Aventura with Miley Cyrus and Britney Spears as the hottest current tours.
Clearly, Aventura's ever-evolving brand of bachata is working - even though its stylistic evolution was an accident.
"You know, the changes in our music just happened over the years. They weren't done purposefully," says Lenny Santos, the band's guitarist and music director.
"We all grew up in households where our parents listened to bachata. At the same time, we were kids in the Bronx and couldn't help but be influenced by rock and hip-hop. The best thing is, we've never felt pressured to cross over or even stay with our roots. We just like playing and writing together."
Along with Santos, Aventura includes his brother, Mikey Santos (bass), and cousins Anthony "Romeo" Santos (vocals/songwriter) and Henry Santos Jeter (vocals/songwriter) .
With millions of albums sold, the band's reputation is growing so much that Ludacris, Wyclef Jean and Anon all contributed to a track on the new album called "Spanish Fly." A pastel splash of perfect pop music, "Spanish Fly" represents probably the most radical Aventura tune on "The Last."
"'Spanish Fly' is one of my favorites, but a lot of our audience doesn't necessarily relate," Santos says. "It's in English, for one thing, so it's probably not going to be a priority single. At the same time, we're going to release as many as seven singles from this album, and seven videos, and we'd like very much to push 'Spanish Fly' and see what markets it opens up."
Given the participation of Ludacris, Wyclef Jean and Anon, opening some doors in the group's demographics certainly seems possible. No matter what, though, Santos says just getting to work with those artists was amazing.
"I respect all of those guys dearly," Santos says. "Wyclef is an amazing musician, and Ludacris is just so quick. All of them were really nice guys. Anon is very humble and quiet but funny, too. I remember he was having problems with his throat that day and just pushed through."
Santos, who is very polite in conversation, doesn't seem the sort to whom it would occur that maybe Ludacris and Wyclef Jean are just as honored to be recording with Aventura.
Santos also regards the four sell-outs at Madison Square Garden as though it's happening to someone else.
"To do that is unbelievable," he says. "None of us or even anyone in the industry says that could happen - particularly in the Latin/tropical market. What it does tell me is how big the Latin community is and how much they support us. It's like they want to say, 'See? Not just Bruce can do this. Our guys can, too.' It's very gratifying."
While the voice of lead vocalist Romeo is instantly identifiable and linked with Aventura's sound, Santos is a very fine guitarist whose spidery lines are laced with a flamenco-like beauty and dexterity. But Santos would be the last guy to claim rock-star virtuosity. He laughs when fielding a compliment about his technique.
"I definitely don't consider myself a great guitarist," he says. "In Aventura, we've all worked our butts off to make the group better. But I went and saw Slash in Velvet Revolver, and that guy's a maniac. I can't do that. Or flamenco? That stuff's like physics or chemistry. It's really hard. If I'm good at anything, it's that I'm not above saying, 'How did you do that? Give me lessons and show me how.'"
Despite all the hard-earned hits and record sales and sold-out arenas, Santos says an indelible experience came when Aventura performed at the White House in October for President and Mrs. Obama during a celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.
"That day will be marked in my life forever," Santos says. "It was just amazing. In fact, we just got the official photograph, and something like that is so cool for my kids to see. And you know what? In a million years, I would never have believed a president could be so humble and down to earth."
