Raphael (singer)
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| Raphael | ||
|---|---|---|
| Background information | ||
| Birth name | Rafael Martos Sánchez | |
| Born | May 5, 1945 Linares, Jaén, Spain |
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| Origin |  Madrid, Spain |
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| Genre(s) | Latin | |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, actor | |
| Years active | 1966 – present | |
| Label(s) | Hispavox, Sony, EMI | |
| Website | RaphaelNet.com | |
Don Rafael Martos Sánchez, Ilustrísimo Señor de la Orden de Cisneros, Comendador de Isabel La Católica, and known worldwide as Raphael, is one of the best known singers from Spain. Absolute pioneer of the modern music in Spanish, his importance rests in having opened the door the singers of Spanish speech towards the whole world, making them respected. His wide-range voice, added to his quality as showman has entertained and engaged people worldwide for more than four decades. He is also a movie, stage and television actor. He is the father of Spanish movie director Jacobo Martos.
Raphael is known for acting each one of his songs while on stage, emphasizing his gestures, sometimes, with high dramatic effect It is not unusual for Raphael to ad lib lyrics as to localize a song depending on the venue he's singing at, wear Latin American peasant costumes and dance folk dances within a song, kicking and demolishing a mirror, or doing the moves of a flamenco dancer or a bullfighter onstage. He also possesses a wide vocal range, which he often used in the beginning of his career as to evoke a choirboy approach to some songs.
He usually is on stage dressed entirely in black.
Raphael's health faced a major setback in 2003, when his liver started failing due to a latent bout with Hepatitis C; he recovered successfully after a transplant. Since then he is an active organ donation promoter.
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[edit] Childhood
He was born in Linares, province of Jaén ((Spain), on May 5, 1945. As a consequence, he is nicknamed both "El Ruiseñor de Linares" ("Nightingale of Linares") and "El Niño de Linares" ("The child from Linares"). His family moved to Madrid when he was a baby, and he started singing when he was just three years-old. He joined a children's choir at age four. When he was 9, he was recognized as the best child voice in Europe at a contest in Salzburg, Austria.
[edit] Professional career
He started his professional career by signing with Dutch record label Philips. To distinguish himself, he adopted the "ph" of the company's name and christened himself 'Raphael'. His first singles were "Te voy a contar mi vida" and "A pesar de todo", among others. Raphael adopts his own peculiar singing style from the beginning.
When he was sixteen, won First, Second and Third Award at the famous Benidorm International Song Festival, Spain, 1962, with the songs: "Llevan", "Inmensidad" and "Tu Conciencia". He switched labels to the Hispavox recording company, and begins a long artistic relationship with Spanish songwriter Manuel Alejandro.
In 1966 and 1967 he represented Spain at the XII and XIII Eurovision Song Contest in Luxembourg , singing Yo soy aquél and Hablemos del amor (Let's speak about love), getting 7 and 6 votes. He didn't win, but for the first time, Spain could obtain a relevant place in the competition, and not get the last one as was usual till then. He succeded with the grant of the audience, so when he came back to Spain, had a great welcome as he was considered the real winner of the contest.
This moment, serves as a turning point in his career, shooting him as an international star, and beginning to travel worldwide, performing at the most important venues of Europe, Latin America, USA, Russia and Japan.
Songs such as "Yo soy aquel" (his signature song), "Cuando tú no estás", "Mi gran noche", "Digan lo que digan", "Tema de amor", "Estuve enamorado" and "Desde aquel día" cemented his status as a major international singing star.
He played his first star movie, "Cuando tú no estás" (Mario Camus, 1966), which will be followed after by "Al ponerse el Sol" (Mario Camus, 1967) "Digan lo que digan" (Mario Camus, 1968, filmed in Argentina), "El golfo" (1969, filmed in México), "El ángel" (1969), "Sin Un Adiós" (1970, filmed in England), "Volveré a nacer" (1972).
[edit] Latin American Popularity
As he became a major attendance draw in Latin America He made a habit of recording Latin American folk standards. For instance, Mexican standards like "Huapango torero", "Sandunga" and "Llorona" were hits in Mexico and all Latin America.
He appeared live on The Ed Sullivan Show on October 25, 1970, singing (in spanish, english and italian) "Hallelujah", "Hava Nagila", with great success. He appeared again on December 27, 1970, with the songs: "Maybe", "When love is around" and "The sound of the trumpet".
In 1975 Raphael realized his own program in Spanish Television called "Raphael Show", where he used to sing with international stars, and which was very much successful. Also he had his radio program where he and his wife made interesting articles and interviews to out-standing personalities.
He starred in soap operas, starting with the Mexican production "Donde termina el camino", shown in the spring of 1978 and later on other countries like Peru and Chile.
Raphael succeded in the early 1980s with songs such as "¿Qué tal te va sin mí?", "Como yo te amo", "En carne viva" and "Estar enamorado". In 1981, he wins "Uranium Disc" (see below). In 1984 he recorded his first production with songs written by José Luis Perales like "Ámame", "Yo sigo siendo aquel"(a follow-up to his signature song, "Yo soy aquél"), "No sé si es cierto" and "Estoy llorando hoy por ti".
In 1984 a parody of "Yo soy aquél" was used in a radio spot in Puerto Rico's gubernatorial race. Then-governor Carlos Romero Barcelo used the parody (complete with a Raphael sound-alike) namely as a jab against opponent, Raphael's namesake, (and noted Spanophile), former governor Rafael Hernandez Colon. Raphael was surprised by the unauthorized use of the music, but was highly amused by the reference.
In 1987 he leaves Hispavox and signs a contract with Columbia (now Sony Music), where he kept recording songs written by Roberto Livi like "Toco madera", "Maravilloso corazón".
In 1991 made a great hit with "Escándalo", in Spain, Latin America, and reached first top hit in Japan.
In the end of the 90s, after ending a contract with Polygram, he went back to EMI.
In 1998 the artist published the first part of his memories: "¿Y mañana qué?", from his childhood until he got married (1972).
[edit] Theater
In the year 2000 Raphael made shows in Spanish theaters with the play "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" for seven months, with great success.
[edit] Awards and Accomplishments
Raphael can be singled out as one of the most important singers in the Spanish language for the second half of the Twentieth century, along with Joan Manuel Serrat, Julio Iglesias, Rocío Dúrcal, Marisol and Rocío Jurado.
Some of his most important awards are:
- 3 Grammy nominations (USA)
- 326 Golden discs worldwide
- 48 Platinum Discs worldwide
[edit] Uranium Disc Award
Raphael's success in the music industry is also marked by one unusual award: a uranium disc. It was granted to him by Hispavox, after the massive worldwide sale of more than 50 million copies of its best hits LP "Ayer, Hoy, Siempre". Sales of audio recordings in Spain over 40,000 copies grant the performer with a gold disc, while sales of 170,000 units deserve platinum disc status. Therefore, the uranium disc granted to Raphael is equivalent to 1,250 golden discs or 300 platinum discs. Hispavox, undestanding the complexity of delivering so many golden discs, preferred to grant Raphael a uranium one.
