José José

Lore & Background

José José was born into a family of musicians in Clavería, Azcapotzalco, Mexico City. His father was an operatic tenor and his mother a classical pianist. They discouraged his early interest in singing, citing the difficulty of show business. His reportedly alcoholic father later abandoned the family, forcing José to work to support his mother and younger brother. At age fifteen, his mother gave him his first piano; he learned guitar and sang in church and serenades for extra money. In 1967 he formed the band Los Peg, which did not achieve commercial success. His solo career began under the name 'Pepe Sosa' with singles that also sold poorly. A breakthrough came when he performed for a friend's sister, who worked as an executive secretary at Orfeón Records. He adopted the stage name José José, combining his first name with his father's first name. He signed with RCA Victor and released his debut album, José José (also known as Cuidado), which garnered critical praise but limited popular success.

His big break came on 15 March 1970, when he represented Mexico at the II Festival de la Canción Latina with the song 'El Triste'. Though he finished third, the performance launched his career to a wider audience. In the 1970s he had several major hits, and a DJ gave him the title 'El Príncipe de la Canción' after the song 'El Príncipe'. In 1973, Frank Sinatra invited him to record a duet and album, but the collaboration was impossible due to José's exclusivity agreement with his label. He signed with Ariola Records in 1976, releasing Reencuentro a year later.

In the 1980s, José rose to international prominence. His 1983 album Secretos sold over four million units and was nominated for a Grammy. He sold out venues such as Madison Square Garden and Radio City Music Hall. He also acted in films including Gavilán o Paloma (1985) and Perdóname Todo (1995). His personal life included a divorce and a battle with alcoholism, which he discussed in interviews.

Reader's Guide

José José's significance lies in his role as a defining figure of Latin pop music, particularly the romantic ballad. His tenor voice and emotive performances earned him the title 'El Príncipe de la Canción' and influenced generations of Latin pop artists. His career, spanning over four decades, included multiple Grammy nominations, sales of more than 40 million albums, and international reach to non-Spanish-speaking countries in Europe and Asia. His 1983 album Secretos became his best-selling recording, and he achieved multiple number-one albums on the Billboard Latin Pop Albums chart. He also collaborated with major figures such as Plácido Domingo, Julio Iglesias, and José Feliciano. Despite personal struggles, including alcoholism and family challenges, his legacy as an emblematic Latin singer endures. His performance of 'El Triste' at the 1970 Latin song festival is widely regarded as a career-defining moment that showcased his vocal ability and helped cement his place in Latin music history.