Emilio

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For other uses, see Emilio (disambiguation).
Emilio Navaira
Birth name Emilio Navaira III
Born August 23, 1962 (1962-08-23) (age 45)
Origin San Antonio, Texas, USA
Genre(s) Country, Tejano
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter
Instrument(s) Vocals, rhythm guitar
Years active 1993-present
Label(s) Columbia/CBS
Capitol/EMI Latin
Capitol Nashville
RCA/BMG Latin
RCA/Ariola
Associated acts Ednita Nazario
Website http://www.emilioyrio.net/

Emilio (born Emilio Navaira III, August 23, 1962) is an American Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter of Mexican heritage who performs both country music and Tejano music. He has also charted more than ten singles on the U.S. Billboard Hot Latin Tracks charts, in addition to six singles on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts. He is also one of the only Tejano artists to have significant success in both the United States and Mexico.[1]

Contents

[edit] Biography

 Please help improve this article or section by expanding it.
Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion. (March 2008)

Emilio Navaira III was born in 1962 as the third patriline Navaira to be named Emilio Navaira.[2] Raised in San Antonio, Texas[3] Emilio began singing to Willie Nelson, George Strait and "Little Joe" tunes at an early age and initially thought of being a music teacher.[4]

In 1985 at age 23, Emilio began his performing career by singing lead vocals for David Lee Garza y Los Musicales.[4] In 1987, Cuantas Veces by David Lee Garza Y Los Musicales beat out Alpha by Mexican American singer Selena for Album of the Year at the Tejano Music Awards. In 1989, Navaira formed his own band, Emilio y Groupo Rio..[4] That same year Emilio signed with Columbia Records (then known as CBS Records). This relationship resulted in Emilio recording more than fifteen studio albums to date, including several with his Rio Band.

By the mid 1990s, Emilio began crediting himself solely as Emilio, eventually switching his focus to country music.[5] Between 1989 and 1996, Emilio had released seven Spanish albums with cumulative sales of about 2 million.[6] This success lead to mainstream commercial exposure, with companies such as Coca-Cola and Wrangler Jeans using his songs in their advertisements in the 1990s.[5] Emilio had also gained a sponsorship with Miller Lite beer, who had persuaded him to use their slogan at the time, "Life is good", as the title of his first country album.[1]

Emilio signed with Capitol Records and released his first country music single called "It's Not the End of the World" which reached the Top 30 on the country charts in 1995. His album was a surprise success as well reaching #13 on the country charts and also a high placing on the Top 200. Several more singles including a Spanish version of "It's Not the End of the World" followed but none of these singles came close to the Top 40 except "Even If I Tried" which reached #41 in 1996. In 1997, he released a second country album, "It's On The House" but it wasn't as successful as his first country album. Two more minor country singles followed and gradually Emilio faded from country music and increasingly came back to Tejano music.

[edit] Tour bus accident

Navaira was hospitalized in critical condition after his tour bus crashed early in the morning on March 23, 2008, in Bellaire (a small municipality partially surrounded by Houston, Texas). Navaira's tour bus was traveling north along west 610 Loop near the Southwest Freeway when it crashed into a set of freeway barrels shortly before 4 a.m. Although there was some initial confusion regarding whether Navaira was the driver[7], his agent, Joe Casias, and Bellaire police officials said that he was driving at the time of the accident. Authorities also indicated that Emilio was not licensed to drive a bus.[8][9] Navaira had performed the previous night at Hallabaloo's, a Houston nightclub. Emilio was taken by Life Flight to Memorial Hermann Hospital[10][11] where a blood clot in his head was removed;[12][13] Emilio's initial treatment included being kept in a medically-induced coma and induced hypothermia to minimize brain swelling. Doctors cautioned that he might not survive.[14]

A March 27 press release from Memorial Hermann Hospital reported that on the evening of March 26 Emilio "opened his eyes and moved his arms and legs."[15] On April 4, the hospital announced that Emilio underwent a surgical procedure on March 31 to repair a pseudoaneurysm in his right lung and that he remained in critical condition.[16]

On April 16, he was upgraded to fair condition.[17][18] On April 23, the hospital announced that Emilio was transferred to The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research (TIRR) at Memorial Hermann as part of his rehabilitative care.[19]

On May 1, police released initial reports that indicated that Emilio was intoxicated at the time of the crash.[20] On May 8, the full report was released which indicated that Emilio had a blood alcohol content of 0.19, more than twice the legal limit in Texas.[21] Emilio has previously been arrested twice on DWI charges, paying a fine and serving probation for the first one in 2000 while the second arrest from 2005 remains unresolved. Resolution of either of the two outstanding cases would escalate the remaining offense to a felony.[22]

In late May, a member of Emilio's band and the relative of another band member sued Emilio, Inc. (the singer's corporate identity) in state court because of the injuries they suffered from the accident. The suit sought unspecified damages.[23]

[edit] Discography

[edit] Studio albums

Year Title Chart Positions
US Latin Regional Mexican US Country US 200
1989 Emilio Navaira y Rio Band 8
1990 Sensaciones
1991 Shoot It 14
1992 Unsung Highways 32 11
Shuffle Time
1993 Emilio Live 18 7
Southern ExposureA 4 2
1994 Sound Life 5 2
1995 Life Is Good 13 82
1996 Quédate 9 2
1997 It's on the House 50
A Mi Gente 46 15
2000 El Rey del Rodeo
2001 Lo Dice Tu Mirada
2002 Acuérdate
2003 Entre Amigos
2007 De Nuevo

[edit] Singles

Year Title Chart Positions Album
US Hot Latin Latin Regional Mexican US Country
1994 "Ya Ahora Es Tarde" (w/ Roberto Pulido)A 17 Te Vi Partir (Roberto Pulido album)
1995 "¿Dónde Andará?" 25 Soundlife
"Ya" 18 13
"It's Not the End of the World" 27 Life Is Good
"No Es el Fin del Mundo"B 18 12
1996 "Even If I Tried" 41
"I Think We're On to Something" 56
"Have I Told You Lately" 62
"Por Siempre Unidos" (w/ Ednita Nazario and Graciela Beltrán)C 17 single only
"Quédate" 32 17 Quédate
1997 "Hoy Me Siento Feliz" 39
"I'd Love You to Love Me" 56 Life Is Good
"She Gives" 73
2000 "Esperando Su Llamada" 40 El Rey del Rodeo / Lo Dice Tu Mirada
2002 "Lo Dice Tu Mirada"A 35 Lo Dice Tu Mirada
  • ACredited to Emilio Navaira.
  • B"No Es El Fin del Mundo" is a Spanish-language version of "It's Not the End of the World".
  • C"Por Siempre Unidos" also peaked at #7 on Latin Pop Airplay.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Myerson, Allen R. (1996-01-01). A Tejano Singer Sets Out To Bridge Music and Nations. The New York Times. Retrieved on 2007-11-12.
  2. ^ Burr, Ramiro. (August 21, 1998) San Antonio Express-News Colombian cumbias; Emilio's birthday bash. Section: Weekender; Page 22H.
  3. ^ Ankeny, Jason. allmusic ((( Emilio > Biography ))). All Music Guide. Retrieved on 2007-11-12.
  4. ^ a b c Hinojosa, Cassandra. (February 20, 2004) Corpus Christi Caller-Times Two Tejano kings. Grammy winners Navaira , Little Joe visit Kingsville Section: Weekend; Page E4.
  5. ^ a b Emilio biography. Oldies.com. Retrieved on 2007-11-12.
  6. ^ DeVault, Russ. (March 7, 1996) The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Tejano's new star. As he crosses over into country, Emilio finds "Life Is Good". Section: Features; Page D1.
  7. ^ Emilio Navaira in critical condition after accident, Latin Notes, MySanAntonio.com, March 23, 2008
  8. ^ Emilio was driving tour bus without proper license
  9. ^ Injured singer's future uncertain
  10. ^ Tejano star Emilio Navaira hospitalized after bus crash
  11. ^ Tejano singer injured in accident
  12. ^ Grammy winner Emilio Navaira critically injured in bus crash
  13. ^ Tejano star still critical
  14. ^ Police: Emilio was driving bus without proper license
  15. ^ Emilio Navaira Updates From Memorial Hermann-TMC, March 27, 2008 11:30 am
  16. ^ Medical Update on Emilio Navaira From Memorial Hermann-TMC, April 4, 2008 12:00 pm
  17. ^ Emilio's condition improving
  18. ^ Emilio Navaira Medical Update From Memorial Hermann-TMC, April 16, 2008 3:30 pm
  19. ^ Emilio Navaira Transferred to Memorial Hermann TIRR, April 23, 2008 2:00 pm
  20. ^ Emilio intoxicated at time of crash, tests reveal, May 01, 2008
  21. ^ Emilio's blood alcohol level was 0.19, report says, May 08, 2008
  22. ^ Emilio was spared from car monitor in DWI case, May 09, 2008
  23. ^ 2 sue Tejano star Emilio over Houston crash, June 3, 2008

[edit] External links