Julio Iglesias
The most commercially successful Spanish singer in history, with over 300 million records sold worldwide.
Last updated
Alejandro Vilar · via Wikipedia: Julio Iglesias · CC0
Julio José Iglesias de la Cueva (born 23 September 1943) is a Spanish singer and songwriter. He is recognized as the most commercially successful Spanish singer in the world and one of the top record sellers in music history, having sold more than 300 million records worldwide in 14 languages. He has performed in more than 5,000 concerts for over 60 million people across six continents. In April 2013, Iglesias was inducted into the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Lore & Background
Iglesias was born in Madrid to Julio Iglesias Sr., a medical doctor from Ourense, and María del Rosario de la Cueva y Perignat. His paternal grandparents were of Galician ancestry; his maternal grandmother was from Guayama, Puerto Rico. He has stated he is of Jewish ancestry on his maternal side.
In his youth, he was a goalkeeper for Real Madrid Castilla. A serious automobile accident in 1963 left him unable to walk for two years; during his recovery, a nurse gave him a guitar, leading him to discover his musical talent. He later studied law at Complutense University of Madrid.
Reader's Guide
In 1968, Iglesias won the Benidorm Song Festival with the song "Vida sigue igual" (meaning "Life Goes on the Same"). He represented Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest 1970 with "Gwendolyne", finishing fourth. He moved to Miami in 1979 and signed with CBS International. His 1984 album 1100 Bel Air Place established him in the English-speaking market, featuring the hit duet "To All the Girls I've Loved Before" with Willie Nelson.
He won a Grammy Award for Best Latin Pop Album in 1988 for Un hombre solo. In 1993, he recorded "Summer Wind" with Frank Sinatra. In 2003, his album Divorcio sold 350,000 copies in its first day in Spain. He became a Dominican citizen in 2005.
Did You Know?
- In 1983, Iglesias was credited as having recorded songs in the most languages in the world.
- In 2013, he was recognized as the best-selling male Latin artist of all time.
- He has been awarded the Gold Medal for Merit in the Fine Arts of Spain and the Legion of Honour of France.
- UNICEF named him Special Ambassador for the Performing Arts in 1989.
- He has had a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame since 1985.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Julio Iglesias?
Julio José Iglesias de la Cueva is a Spanish singer and songwriter born on 23 September 1943. He is widely regarded as the most commercially successful Spanish-language artist in the world.
In how many languages has Julio Iglesias recorded?
His discography spans 14 different languages, a testament to his broad international appeal beyond the Spanish-speaking market.
When and where was Julio Iglesias born?
He was born on 23 September 1943 in Spain, where he launched a career that would eventually take him to audiences worldwide.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Julio Iglesias (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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