Max Santos, the bass player and founder of the influential Bronx-based bachata group Aventura, was arrested Wednesday morning after allegedly assaulting his girlfriend, police and sources said.
Santos — who is known professionally by his stage name Max Agende — came home around 8 a.m. and allegedly started punching his girlfriend in front of a child in a drunken attack, according to police sources.
The 41-year-old was arrested at the apartment building on Sedgwick Avenue and charged with assault, criminal mischief and endangering the welfare of the child, cops said.
Santos’ girlfriend suffered injuries to her left eye and bruising to her back and legs but refused medical assistance, according to police.
Santos was a founding member of Aventura, a wildly popular Latin musical group, which he formed in the 1990s with fellow Dominicans Anthony “Romeo” Santos, Lenny Santos, and Henry Santos., according to Allmusic.
The award-winning group brought a modern wave of bachata — a blend of European, indigenous and African music native to the Dominican Republic — to the United States, first hitting the charts with 2005’s “Ella y Yo,” according to Allmusic.
By 2007, the Aventura was among the biggest and best selling Latin groups in the world.
Over the last two decades Aventura released 9 charting albums, including 2009’s “The Last” — which featured rappers Ludacris, Akon and Wyclef Jean, and have won numerous Premio Lo Nuestro, Premio Juventud, and Billboard Music awards.
In 2021, the group teamed up with Bad Bunny for the single “Volvi.” The track was immediately thrust to the top of the Hot Latin Songs charts and the music video has been viewed more than 450 million times.
