His unique sound was influenced by early travel where he was exposed to and played with prominent jazz and salsa musicians in the US, France, and elsewhere. To this, he fused his native country's musical heritage, creating an entirely new sound, now widely imitated by other Latin artists.

His first album, "Cabas" was released in Columbia in 2000 and was an immediate hit. Its single, “Mi Bombón” (“My Candy”) topped the country’s charts for three consecutive months earning him Gold and double Platinum discs before spreading to the rest of Latin-America and Mexico. Two other singles from the album also topped the charts--not only in Colombia but throughout the Americas--“Ana Maria” and “Tu Boca”.

"Cabas" was released in the US in 2002, and between that year and 2010, Cabas was nominated for Grammy Awards for Best New Artist, Best Contemporary Tropical Album, Best Tropical Song, Album of the Year, Best Latin Children's Album, and Best Tropical Song.