Joan Sebastian

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For the similarly named American musician, see John Sebastian.

Joan Sebastian born in Juliantla, Guerrero (year 1951) is a popular three-time Grammy Award and five-time Latin Grammy Award winning-Mexican singer and songwriter. He has composed hundreds of pop songs and been a regular staple on the top-40 charts in Mexico since his career began in 1977. His music is a mixture of Latin pop, ranchera and grupera music. His success is not only found in music but also in his short acting career when he became the main protagonist of a mexican soap opera. In 1996 he made his acting debut in the Mexican soap opera Tú y Yo (You and I) sharing credits with Maribel Guardia (his former wife and mother to one of his sons) the soap opera became an instant televised hit.

Before he had a successful music career Jose Manuel Figueroa (Joan Sebastian's legal name) passed most of his childhood from place to place. At age eight he was sent away by his parents to Guanajuato for school. When he was eleven he return to Juliantla, his native town, this return inspired him to begin formally composing. But he was sent off again to a monastery in Morelos were he was under the care of father David Salgado. Due to the influence Father Salgado had on Sebastian he took the decision of becoming a priest. So at age 14 he enrolled in the Seminario Conciliar de San Jose(located in Cuernavaca, Morelos). But he soon realized that music was his true calling so when he was 17 years old he abandoned the seminary to dedicate himself completely to the music business.

Meanwhile he made a living as an administrative assistant in a vacationing resort in Oaxtepec,Morelos were he would sing through the intercom. It was in that resort that Sebastian found the incentive he needed to pursue his singing dream more aggressively. The year was 1968 when Joan Sebastian encountered Angelica Maria (a famous mexican actress) who was looking for a place to stay. While she waited she asked him if he sang and the following day he sang for her six songs. Angelica Maria suggested to Sebastian that he record the songs and gave him the telephone number of Eduardo Magallanes, a music producer. Without hesitating Sebastian move to Mexico City and began knocking on doors until Chucho Rincon from Discos Capitals agreed to listen to him and thus began Sebastian's artistic career. He recorded his first disc and the positive results came fast when in Ciudad Obregon, Sonora the song "Descartada" sold 12 thousand copies.

The year 1977 was a transitionary year for Sebastian it was the moment when he stopped using his legal name Jose Manuel Figueroa and picked up his artistic name Joan Sebastian (Joan is how the name John is said in the Catalan language of eastern Spain). It was also the year he moved to recording label Musart. His introduction with the public under his new name was another success for this Mexican singer when his new disc "El Camino del Amor" sold 127 thousand copies and also reached audiences in the United States and South America. Thirty two albums followed there after and all more successful than the previous. His most recent production up to date is "Secreto de Amor" which was released in 2000 and sold over 1 million copies.^[1]

In February of 2001 Joan received the prestigious award "Premio Lo Nuestro a la Musica Latina" as recognition of his career, during 2003 Sebastian received the Songwriter of the universe Award for the second time at the 11th Annual El Premio ASCAP. He was awarded "The Silver Pen Award" in 2000.

Sebastian is the father of eight children who he has had with different partners through out his life. Their names are José Manuel (who is also a singer and composer), Joan Sebastián, Trigo, Sarelia, Julián (son of Maribel Guardia), Marcelia, Joana Marcelia y Juliana. Trigo de Jesús, his third oldest was shot in the back of the head after one of Joan Sebastian's concert in Texas on August 26, 2007. Trigo was transported to the McAllen Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

Joan Sebastian remains one of the most famous singers and songwriters Mexico has. His versatility has help him remain in the popular taste of the public.