Cristian Castro

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Cristian Castro
Cristian Castro in concert at the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, California, on June 29, 2006.
Cristian Castro in concert at the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, California, on June 29, 2006.
Background information
Birth name Cristian Sáenz Castro
Born December 8, 1974 (1974-12-08) (age 33)
Origin Mexico City, Mexico
Genre(s) Latin Pop, Bolero, Ballad
Years active 1992—present
Label(s) Fonovisa (1992-1996)

Sony BMG (1997-2004) Universal Music Group (2005-Present)
Website www.christiancastro.net

Cristian Castro (born Cristian Sáenz Castro on December 8, 1974 in Mexico City) is a Grammy Award-nominated Mexican pop singer. He is referred to as "Christian Castro", "Cristian", or "El Gallito Feliz" (The Happy Little Rooster).

Contents

[edit] Biography

He is the son of renowned actress and singer Verónica Castro and comedian Manuel "El Loco" Valdes. Castro also has a younger brother named Michell Castro, his uncle is José Alberto "el Guero" Castro and his aunt is Betty Sheridan, who both are producers. As a baby, he made his acting debut with her during the telenovela named El Derecho de Nacer. Soon after, he appeared on a television commercial with her, and on the Mexican version of the broadway show Mame alongside the prominent actress Silvia Pinal.

Castro uses his mother's last name because the man with whom Verónica Castro was in a relationship at the time she became pregnant with Cristian, Manuel "el loco" Valdéz, has always had an icy relationship with his son. In fact, Valdez did not attend his son's 2003 wedding with a Paraguayan model. Another reason that he chooses to use his mother's last name is that he lists her as his number one idol in life.

Curious fact: he's got tattooed on the back side of this neck the first logo of the progressive metal band Tool (band).

[edit] Beginning career

Castro began his singing career in 1992 with the release of Agua Nueva. The album received mixed reviews because Castro's voice was said to be too low-pitched. The album was a big success nonetheless, with the smash hit "No podrás" topping the charts for weeks. After participating in various telenovelas and recording some albums as a teenager, Castro began his "internationalization" in 1993, starting with concerts in Puerto Rico. Castro dedicated a song to that country in his second album, Un Segundo En El Tiempo, titled "Puerto Rico" as a way of thanking the Puerto Rican public for supporting his career. He also modified his singing voice from the deep voice he employed in Agua Nueva to a softer one that he currently uses. His song, Nunca Voy A Olvidarte (I Will Never Forget You), launched his career. Castro became an international teen idol and sex symbol almost instantly after he began touring, and he began what has been a fructiferous international singing career. Cristian has also done voiceover theme songs for telenovelas such as La Mujer De Madera (The Woman of Wood), Angela, and Morelia. In 1994, Cristian released "El Camino Del Alma". The album hit, Mañana, meaning Tomorrow, was an original song composed by Mexican singer, Juan Gabriel which was titled, Mañana, Mañana.

[edit] 1997-2005

During the late 1990s, he dated an Argentine woman. The couple once was involved in a small scandal at Miami International Airport. As they arrived on this particular day, they were hounded by a reporter who, incidentally, has also had trouble with Alejandro Fernández and Luis Miguel, among others. The reporter asked Cristian's girlfriend a personal question, and Cristian reacted by slapping him across the face. The incident, which was caught on camera, was shown on tabloid television shows several times.[citation needed]

In 1997, Castro left Fonovisa and began contract to BMG with the release of Lo Mejor De Mi. Famous Pianoist Raul di Blasio did the piano work for the song, Después De Tí...¿Qué? (After You...What?). The album was nominated "Best Latin Pop Album of the Year". Following the album's success, Castro has made duets with other singers such as Olga Tañón, Grupo Limite, and José Alfredo Jiménez. Castro added the "h" to his first name at the release of his successful album, Mi Vida Sin Tu Amor in 1999 though "Christian Castro" is still not widely used as "Cristian Castro", in fact, he went back to his original artistic name for use with his albums until 2004. In 2001, he released "Azul", which won "Best Latin Pop Album of the Year". After breaking up with his Argentinian girlfriend, Castro met a Paraguayan girl, Gabriela Bo, the daughter of a rich man. They were married in Asunción in 2003.

Apart from the reporter-slapping scandal, Castro is known for his accessibility to fans, and it's not uncommon to see paparazzi photos showing him stopping to sign an autograph for a fan or taking pictures with them.

Shortly after his marriage to Gabriela Bo, Castro began to have marital problems. Bo returned to Paraguay, and Castro allegedly has been denied entry into that country by the Paraguayan immigration service. Rumors have spread about the reason of their split: some rumors point to him being homosexual; others say he had affairs with multiple women during his short marriage. Gabriela Bo used her fame as Cristian Castro's wife to promote her modeling career in Paraguay.

Castro divorced Bo, and four days later he married his Argentinian Jewish ex-girlfriend, Valeria Liberman, who is a lawyer. Castro had converted to Judaism during the wedding as Liberman is Jewish. His mother could not attend the wedding due to an accident on a circus where she fell down and had to stay in the hospital. Castro is said to be big fan of José José"El Principe de la cancion". In fact, he considers him as his artistic godfather as stated in an interview on Sabado Gigante. Castro even invited him to his wedding with Liberman as one of the first guests. Castro was later called "El Gallito" possibly from his song "Gallito Feliz" from either the song he sang as a child or on his album, "Amar Es". In 2005, he released Galltio Feliz, a collection of his childhood songs, and Días Felices with "Amor Eterno" and "Sin Tu Amor" as the album hit.

[edit] Modern

In September 2006, he began conflicts with his mother. Veronica apparently did not approve of Castro's second marriage with Liberman and insisted he stayed with Bo due to Bo's career as a model.

In 2008 he has separated from Liberman and she has accused him of domestic violence. The fathers rights' movement known as Action4Justice (AXJ) has criticized the fact he has been separated from his children while Liberman has custody of the children. This is discrimination based on gender and unconstitutional.

In June 26, 2007, Castro released his first mariachi album, El Indomable, which was produced by Vicente Fernandez, and released the single from the album, "Tu Retirada".

In late August People en Español revealed that the singer had separated from his second wife. An exclusive interview was published in the October issue (on sale 9/3/07) with a coverline quoting "I Want to Be Free." Despite personally speaking to the magazine, he later denied what he said in that interview and hiding the divorce suit he presented in Miami. Castro emphasized that he will always lie to the press about his personal life. "I don't want the press to know about my personal life. I'm not here to share it; I'm here to sing. I will always lie to the press. Always expect lies about my personal life." He has since admitted to filing for divorce, but withdrew papers the next day.[citation needed]. On Tuesday, 11 March 08, People en Espanol announced that Cristian and Valeria are finally divorcing.

On April 1 of 2008, Cristian Castro was announced to committ suicide by la calle. This was immediately identified as an April Fool's joke.[citation needed].

[edit] Discography

Studio Albums

Year Title Label Singles
1992 Agua Nueva Fonovisa No Podrás

Solo dame una noche
Diez Mil Lagrimas
Agua Nueva
Para Ti
1993 Un Segundo en el Tiempo Fonovisa Nunca voy a olvidarte

Es Mejor Así
1994 El Camino del Alma Fonovisa Mañana

Azul Gris
Con Tu Amor
1996 El Deseo de Oír Tu Voz Fonovisa No Puedo Arrancarte de Mi

Amarte a Ti
Esperandote
Una y Mil Veces
1997 Lo Mejor de Mi BMG - Sony Lo Mejor de Mi

Lloran Las Rosas
Después de Tí...¿Qué?
Me Tomas, Me sueltas
1999 Mi Vida sin tu Amor BMG - Sony Ángel

Mi Vida Sin Tu Amor
Por Amarte Así
Volver a Amar
2001 Azul BMG - Sony Azul

Lloviendo Estrellas
Yo Quería
Con Ella
2003 Amar Es BMG - Sony No Hace Falta

Te Llamé
2004 Hoy Quiero Soñar BMG - Sony Te Buscaría

Una Cancíon Para Ti
2005 Días Felices Universal Latin Amor Eterno

Sin tu amor
2007 El Indomable Universal Latin Tu Retirada

Te Sigo Queriendo

Compilation Albums

Year Title Label Singles
2002 Grandes Éxitos BMG - Sony Cuando Me Miras Así
2006 Canciones de Amor BMG - Sony

Collaboration Albums

Year Title Label Singles
1997 Boleros: Por Amor y Desamor Fonovisa Vuélveme a Querer


[edit] Albums

  • Agua Nueva (New Water) (1992)
  • Un Segundo En El Tiempo (A Second In Time) (1993)
  • El Camino Del Alma (The Way of the Soul) (1994)
  • El Deseo De Oir Tu Voz (The Desire To Hear Your Voice) (1996)
  • Lo Mejor De Mi (The Best of Me) (1997)
  • Mi Vida Sin Tu Amor (My Life Without Your Love) (1999)
  • Azul (Blue) (2001)
  • Amar Es (To Love Is) (2003)
  • Hoy Quiero Soñar (Today I Want To Dream) (2004)
  • Días Felices (Happy Days) (2005)
  • El Indomable (The Untamable) (2007)

[edit] Singles [1]

  • No Podrás
  • Solo Dame una Noche
  • Diez Mil Lagrimas
  • Agua Nueva
  • Para Ti
  • Nunca Voy a Olvidarte
  • Por Amor a Ti
  • Es Mejor Así
  • Mañana
  • Azul Gris
  • Con Tu Amor
  • Vuelveme a Querer
  • Morelia
  • Amarte a Ti
  • Esperandote
  • Amor
  • No Puedo Arrancarte de Mi
  • Una y Mil Veces
  • Lo Mejor de Mi
  • Si Tu Me Amaras
  • Lloran Las Rosas
  • Después de Tí...¿Qué?
  • Volver a Amar
  • Mi Vida Sin Tu Amor
  • Por Amarte Así
  • Alguna Vez
  • Yo Quería
  • Lloviendo Estrellas
  • Azul
  • Con Ella
  • Cuando Me Miras Así
  • No Hace Falta
  • Te Llamé
  • Te Buscaría
  • Una Cancíon Para Ti
  • Amor Eterno
  • Sin Tu Amor
  • Tu Retirada
  • Te Sigo Queriendo

[edit] Duets

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/retrieve_chart_history.do?model.vnuArtistId=30829&model.vnuAlbumId=956729

[edit] External links