Luis Miguel

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Luis Miguel
Luis Miguel performing in Boston, Massachusetts
Luis Miguel performing in Boston, Massachusetts
Background information
Birth name Luis Miguel Gallego Basteri
Born April 19, 1970 (1970-04-19) (age 38)
Genre(s) Latin pop, Bolero, Crooner
Instrument(s) Vocal
Years active 1981–present
Label(s) WEA
Website http://www.luismigueloficial.com

Luis Miguel Gallego Basteri (born April 19, 1970), known as Luis Miguel, is a Puerto Rican-born Mexican-raised pop singer. He is best known for his smooth,crooning vocals and romantic ballads. Luis Miguel has been one of the most popular singers in Latin America since the early 1980s, and is commonly referred to as El Sol de México ("The Sun of Mexico"). Luis Miguel has won four Latin Grammy Awards and five Grammy Awards, and received a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at the age of 26. Luis Miguel has sold more than 90 million albums worldwide. ([1] - Read Press Note (in Noticia) "Luis Miguel lanza Nuevo Disco 11/14/2007.)

Contents

[edit] Early life

The details of Luis Miguel's early life are somewhat unclear. Luis Miguel was originally thought to have been born in Mexico, as he grew up in the state of Veracruz. However, in the early 1980s it was reported in the press that he had actually been born in Puerto Rico during a very brief stay in the island by his parents. After it became public knowledge that he was born in Puerto Rico, the Mexican government granted him citizenship. When asked about if he recognizes that he was born in Puerto Rico, and goes on to say he still considers himself 100% Mexican.[citation needed]

He was the son of the late Spanish singer Luisito Rey (born Luis Gallego Sánchez) and Italian-born actress Marcela Basteri. Luis Miguel's mother disappeared some time in 1987, with her whereabouts unknown ever since. He has two younger brothers, Sergio and Alejandro, whom he supports financially. These are some of the only details known about Luis Miguel's family life.

[edit] Career

Luis Miguel singing
Luis Miguel singing

His career started early. At the age of four, he appeared in public in Costa Rica. During his adolescent years, his father, who was also his manager, encouraged him to watch and analyze nearly every movie, recording, and concert performance of Elvis Presley, as a learning process towards the attainment of a high degree of showmanship. His actual recording career started in 1981, at the age of 11, with the recording of his first album, 1+1= 2 Enamorados (1+1=2 In Love) release by the Mexican branch of EMI Records. Two years later, he started touring Latin American countries including Colombia, Venezuela, Chile and Argentina.

In 1985, he took part in the San Remo Music Festival, where he won his first award with his song Noi Ragazzi Di Oggi ("We boys of today"). That same year, he was also presented with the "Antorcha de Plata" (silver torch) award in the Viña del Mar Music Festival. The award led to his recording of a duet with Scottish singer Sheena Easton. The song was called Me Gustas Tal Como Eres ("I like you just as you are").

Marketing and publicity included a brief acting career. He filmed two movies. In 1984, he co-starred in the film Ya Nunca Más; and in 1985, Fiebre De Amor, with singer Lucero as his co-star.

In 1987, he signed with Warner Records, giving his career a huge push; especially with the backing of producer and composer Juan Carlos Calderón. His relationship with his father soured soon thereafter, with allegations of mismanagement of his career, and poor financial decisions, risking his earnings.

In 1988, the album Un Hombre Busca Una Mujer brought Luis Miguel the beginning of what would be fame and popularity throughout Latin America. The album's mega-hit single La Incondicional broke all previous airplay records and was a number one hit all throughout Latin America for over five months.

In 1990, he made a successful transition from child singer to adult showman extraordinaire with the album 20 Años and an ensuing string of sold-out shows — first in Mexico, then throughout Latin America and elsewhere in the world, where he established a reputation for hard work and for delivering some of the most extraordinary vocals to be heard in popular music.

In 1991, Luis Miguel's career soared to even greater heights and earned him the respect of a wider audience with the release of Romance (album), an album of romantic Mexican standards, known as boleros. Romances is the best-selling Spanish-language album of all time and the first Spanish album by a male ever to reach platinum status in the United States (albums selling over one million copies). In 1988, Arizona born Mexican-American singer Linda Ronstadt's Canciones Di Mi Padre was the first Spanish-language album to achieve Platinum status in the United States. Ironically, Luis and Linda both appeared on Frank Sinatra's Duet's II album.

In 1993, his album Aries won the Grammy Award for Best Latin Pop Album. Luis Miguel became the first Latin artist ever to sell out Madison Square Garden, receiving a special recognition in the middle of his sold-out concert.

In 1994, he released a sequel to Romances, Segundo Romance, featuring Miguel as a convincing pop tenor with mastery over timeless Spanish classics such as Solamente Una Vez and Sin Ti. The album went on to earn a Grammy Award, reaching platinum status in the United States.

That same year, Luis Miguel was personally invited by Frank Sinatra to join him on his Duets II album and to perform live in a nationally televised special in honor of Sinatra's 80th birthday; along with other stars such as Stevie Wonder and Natalie Cole.

In 1995, the first recording done of live concert performances was released as "El Concierto".

In 1996, Luis Miguel received a highly sought after and prized recognition with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Luis Miguel quickly returned to the studios and released Nada Es Igual, a pop album featuring Sueña (English title: Someday), the main theme for Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

In 1997 Miguel released Romances, the third album of the bolero series. Romances broke all previous records and became the fastest selling Spanish-language album in US history; it rose to #14 on the Billboard chart in its debut week. Romances earned Miguel a World Music Award and another Grammy Award.

In 1999, Luis Miguel released Amarte es un Placer which earned him three Latin Grammys. Its hit single O Tu O Ninguna placed #1 on the Billboard Hot Latin Tracks list for eight consecutive weeks. The Amarte Es Un Placer Tour became the best selling tour for a Latin artist in history.

Following the success of Amarte es un placer, Luis Miguel released Mis Romances in 2001, his fourth installment in a series of Spanish romantic standards. With this album, which sold over two million copies worldwide, he launched an extensive tour throughout the United States, Latin America, and Europe.

In 2003, Luis Miguel released his first pop album in over four years. Entitled 33, indicative of his age, it featured a collection of ballads and uptempo songs. The first single Te Necesito rose immediately to #1 on Billboard's Hot Latin Tracks list. 33 was the best-selling Latin Pop Album of the Year. On the 33 Tour, Luis Miguel performed at Mexico's sold-out National Auditorium, two sold-out nights at Asunción's Arena, and various sold-out shows at Buenos Aires', as well as other prestigious international venues such as Plaza de los Toros in Spain.

That same year, Prince Felipe of Spain presented him with a special award for being the best-selling foreign artist in his country's history, and hosted a special party in his honor in Madrid.

In 2004, Luis Miguel released Mexico En La Piel, a collection of traditional Mexican mariachi songs. This album was widely regarded by both critics and fans as one of Miguel's best works; also earning him two Grammy Awards. It sold over 100,000 copies in its first week in Mexico alone.

In 2005, Luis Miguel released Grandes Exitos that featured his greatest songs he recorded including to singles Misterios Del Amor and Si Te Perdiera.

In 2006, Luis Miguel's Mexico en la Piel 30-show engagement Jan. 18-Feb. 27 at the National Auditorium in Mexico City. It is believed to be the highest grossing tour in the history of Mexico and among the highest selling tours globally. It also surpassed Luis Miguel's 26-show run at the venue in 2004. The 101-date tour started last September (2005) in Mexico and then played Argentina, Chile and Uruguay through the end of the year before beginning the Mexican run in January. The tour's total gross was north of $95,000,000, breaking his own record (Amarte es un Placer in 1999) as the top-selling tour ever by a Latin artist. Most recently, Luis Miguel launched his own line of Chilean wine, called "Unico", winning a "Gold Medal".

That same year, he released a Christmas album called Navidades. The playlist includes many Christmas standards interpreted in Spanish. The album reached #1 on the Billboard charts during the first week of release. His two singles were Santa Claus Llego A la Ciudad (Santa Claus Is Coming to Town), and Mi Humilde Oracion (My Grown-up Christmas List)

Luis Miguel's new studio album is called Cómplices and will be released on May 6, 2008. Produced by Luis Miguel and written by the spanish composer Manuel Alejandro. The first single, "Si tú te atreves" (English: "If you dare") was released on April 7, 2008. The 2008 Tour of Luis Miguel is confirmed and starts at September 12, 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

[edit] Personal life

Luis Miguel is often referred to as "mysterious" by the public and entertainment press. He rarely attends award shows; and when he does, he arrives using a rear entrance, to avoid being seen by the press. He is not known for granting interviews, which would illustrate his preference to keep private matters "private". Because of his musical style, popularity, personality and his numerous relationships with beautiful women, he is considered as the "Latin Frank Sinatra".

He has been linked romantically with many famous women and female celebrities. Among the more lasting relationships:

A high-profile relationship with singer/songwriter Mariah Carey from 1998 to 2001.[1].

From 2002 to 2005, he was involved with, and for a time, engaged to Cuban-American journalist Myrka Dellanos.

His son, Miguel, aka "Miguelito", was born January 1, 2007 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California. Miguelito's mother is Mexican model/actress/singer Aracely Arámbula, 33. She and Luis Miguel became involved in 2005. It has been reported in the media that the couple became "separated" in September of 2007, but has not been confirmed "officially" by either party. It has also been reported that Arámbula returned home to Chihuahua, Mexico, with their son and is living with her parents. That may change, as she is scheduled to begin filming a Mexican soap opera, Fuego en la sangre (Fire in the blood) and a television program on babies.

[edit] Awards

Luis Miguel has won:

[edit] Discography

Main article: Discography of Luis Miguel

Selected Discography WEA

[edit] Videography

[edit] Notable tours

  • (1991-1992) Gira Romance
  • (1993-1994) Gira Aries
  • (1994-1995) Gira Segundo Romance
  • (1996) Gira Nada Es Igual
  • (1997-1998) Romances Tour
  • (1999-2000) Amarte Es Un Placer Tour
  • (2002) Mis Romances Tour
  • (2003-2004) 33 Tour
  • (2005-2007) Mexico En La Piel Tour
  • (2008-) Tour Complices

[edit] Billboard #1 Hot Latin Tracks

To date, Luis Miguel is the second artist with most number one hits on the Billboard Hot Latin Tracks charts with 16.[2]

  1. "Ahora te puedes marchar" (1987, "Soy como quiero ser")
  2. "La incondicional" (1989, Busca una mujer)
  3. "Fría como el viento" - (1989, "Busca una mujer")
  4. Tengo todo excepto a ti - (1990, "20 años")
  5. Entrégate - (1990, 20 años)
  6. No sé tú - (1992, "Romance")
  7. "Inolvidable" (1992, "Romance")
  8. "Ayer" (1993, "Aries")
  9. "Hasta que me olvides" (1993, "Aries")
  10. "El día que me quieras" (1994, "Segundo romance")
  11. "La media vuelta" (1994, "Segundo romance")
  12. "Si nos dejan" - (1995, "El concierto")
  13. "Por debajo de la mesa" - (1997, "Romances")
  14. "O tú o ninguna" (1999, "Amarte es un placer")
  15. "Cómo duele" (2001 "Mis romances")
  16. "Te necesito" (2003 "33")

[edit] References

  1. ^ Mariah Carey Biography : People.com

[edit] External links