Camilo Sesto

Camilo Sesto is the stage name of Camilo Blanes Cortés (born 16 September 1946). He is one of the most famous singers from Spain. He is also a songwriter, a music producer and composer of romantic pop and rock ballads in the Latino genre.^[1] Sesto sang in two pop bands during the 1960s and won a contest in a Madrid TV show. He also played a part in the Spanish filming of Shakespeare's Hamlet. Later, he teamed up with singer and producer Juan Pardo, but success would come on its own accord, with his own music works.

As a composer he has written songs for artists such as Miguel Bosé, Cristina (Spanish singer), Francisco (Spanish singer), Ángela Carrasco, Lani Hall, Audrey Landers, Lucía Méndez, Manolo Otero, Sergio Fachelli, Charytín Goyco, José José and Federico Cabo among others. ^{[2] [3]} Camilo produced and translated the lyrics to Spanish, of an album from the popular Australian band Air Supply. Throughout his career he remained as one of the most influential pioneer artists of rock/ballad in Spanish, that would inspire many newer acts in the Latino music world.^[4][5]

Career

The Mid sixties marked the beginning of Camilo Sesto's career. After editing his first record - with his band Los Dayson, in 1965 they traveled to Madrid to appear on TVE's "Salto a la Fama". In 1966, Sesto joined another band, Los Botines. In 1967 the band appeared in a film "El flautista de Hamelín" (Spanish for "Pied Piper of Hamelin") and later Sesto was the main star on another film, "Los chicos del Preu", directed by Pedro Lazaga.

In 1970, Sesto recorded various singles like: "Llegará el Verano" y "Sin Dirección", with the artistic name "Camilo Sexto". He became his own producer and other artist's. His solo career started in 1970 and in the same year he won the "Revelación" price, at the "Olés de la Canción" festival.^[6]

In 1971 and under his artistic name "Camilo Sesto" (with "s" not "x"), he appeared on Spanish TV's program "Buenas Noches" singing "Algo de Mí" (his first No.1 record). Algo de Mi reached the Number 1 slot in Spain and most of the Spanish speaking world, and it maintained that top position for a whole year in most of Latin-America. In 1972 Camilo Sesto received his first "Disco de Oro" (Gold Record) award. On the same year, he released the LP "Solo un Hombre" with songs like: Amor... Amar, Fresa Salvaje, Como Cada Noche, Con Razón o Sin Razón y To Be a Man (for which he was nominated for the best foreign song award). In 1974 his success as a pop singer continued with record sales escalating rapidly. His concerts took him round the world with songs like: "¿Quieres ser mi amante?", "Llueve sobre mojado", "Ayudadme", "Isabel", "Déjame participar en tu juego" and "Madre". He received further "Discos de Oro" for record sales.

On 6 November 1975 Camilo Sesto starred in the role of Jesus on the Spanish version/adaptation by Jaime Azpilicueta of the rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar at the Alcalá-Palace Theatre in Madrid (Spain).^[7] The production was very costly for Camilo —some sources say 12 million pesetas ^{[8](approximately $380,000 American dollars in 1975, equivalent to 2 million at 2014)}, as he financed it entirely.^[9] His work was a success and received excellent criticism. The public filled the theatre and shows were extended to four months.^[10] Both in terms of interpretation and musically speaking, Camilo Sesto's show was considered of great quality. Andrew Lloyd Webber admitted that this was the only production that could equal the original American version.^[11]

After successfully starring in the Spanish version of "Jesus Christ Superstar", Sesto continued gaining fame as a singer and composer. Year after year, he had reached the top of the charts all over America, Latin America and in Spain, with songs like Algo De Mí (Something in me) (1971–72), Amor... Amar (Love.. to love) (1972), Melina (1975), a song about Melina Mercouri, ¿Quieres ser mi amante? (Do you want to be my lover?) (1974), Jamás (Never) (1975), El Amor de mi Vida (The Love of my Life ) (1978), Perdóname (song) (Forgive me) (1981), the latter being his most successful hit, among others being Donde estés, con quien estés, Amor de mujer (1984) and the classic "Amor Mío, ¿Qué Me Has Hecho?" (My love, what have you done to me?) (1991), number one in the Billboard magazine on November 1991,^[12][13] plus several other hits around the world.

Also around the year 1980, he composed and sang the theme for Colorina with Lucía Méndez. As Colorina was one of the most successful telenovelas in the 80s, he also produced for it a pop ballad hit album named Cerca de ti. He would take a break at the end of the 80s decade, when he became a father for the first time and would become significantly less active in the mediums at the time.

He would survive a liver transplant, in 2003 and managed to make a successful comeback with his album Alma, surprising the audience with the song "Mola mazo" ("It rules") in an exercise of self-assertion. The Alma CD includes some songs in English: Selections from The Phantom of the Opera and a duet with Andrea Bronston. Camilo Sesto returned to the stage in 2004 at the Viña del Mar International Song Festival in Chile. Sesto won many awards at Viña del Mar in 2004.^[14]

His last musical work was the singing of Bujalance's football team's hymn.^[15][16]

Since 2008, Camilo announced his retirement from the studio, and in September 2009 he announced that he would go on a farewell tour. He would tour the Americas (U.S., Mexico, Peru, Chile, Ecuador, Colombia, and other countries) for the next two years. In October 2010, he gave his last two concerts in Madrid, which were released as his first "live" (and also last) album. A live DVD called "Todo de Mí" recorded in Madrid, was also released around the same time.^[17]

In 2011, he was awarded the "Highest Hispanic Pride" medal in Las Vegas. That day was proclaimed Camilo Sesto's Day in Nevada.^{[18][19][20][21]}

Controversies

Sometime around 2011 there were rumors of yet another Camilo Sesto "farewell tour", that some news mediums called "La Gira del Adiós".^[22] Allegedly, tour dates were made, radio stations spoke about it, tickets were sold, etc. There were many convincing ads in local newspapers, and magazines. However, Camilo later communicated that this was nothing but a "hoax" to get people to buy fake tickets for a tour that he himself was not even aware of. Unfortunately, by this time it was already too late, unrepeatable damage had been done. Many radio stations and music mediums threatened to take legal action against the singer, if he would not "meet with the responsibility" for the already horrible situation. Camilo was once again forced to come back into the media, television, etc. but not to perform, but to try to clear his name. The courts went in favor of some institutions that eventually did sue.^[23][24] Camilo eventually did perform on Television a handful of times after that.^[25]

Personal life

Sesto took a rest in 1987 to take care of his newborn son. During this time most of his fan base was lost, as radio stations would not play his music often at all. Rumors about how his voice had "changed" were circulating in the mediums, as well as others claiming he had throat surgery to treat cancer. Eventually he would return several years later, but his exposure was limited; as he always communicated he was devoted to his family.

Sesto has or had homes in Torrelodones, near Madrid, and Coconut Grove (Miami area), Florida.

Legacy

During the 70s and 80s Sesto created many hit songs and a great fortune, and almost every song came from his sole inspiration, being the author, interpreter, composer, and producer of all of his works.^[26]

Most of Camilo's works are in Castilian Spanish, but he has also recorded songs in Catalan, Valencian, Italian and Portuguese as well. Camilo has also released at least one album in English,^[27] and some of his classic songs have been translated to languages such as Portuguese, German and Italian and covered respectively by many celebrities.^[28] With a frenetic activity level in the 1970s and 1980s, he remains one of the artists with the most number 1 hits (totaling 52).^[29] His number of "top 40" list-songs being 18.

Influences

Sesto stated to Jaime Baily that his largest influences among English-speaking acts were The Beatles, particularly Paul McCartney.^[30]

Discography

• 1971: Algo de mí
• 1972: Sólo un hombre (Amor ...Amar in the U.S.)
• 1973: Algo Más (Camilo Sesto in the U.S.)
• 1974: Camilo
• 1975: Amor Libre
• 1975: Jesucristo Superstar
• 1976: Memorias
• 1977: Rasgos
• 1977: Entre Amigos
• 1977: Look in the Eye
• 1978: Sentimientos
• 1979: Horas de Amor
• 1980: Amaneciendo
• 1981: Más y más
• 1982: Camilo (English Edition)
• 1983: Con Ganas
• 1984: Amanecer/84
• 1985: Tuyo
• 1986: Agenda de Baile
• 1991: A Voluntad del Cielo
• 1992: Huracán de Amor
• 1994: Amor sin Vértigo
• 1997: Camilo Superstar (Greatest Hits Compilation) (100,000+ sales) ^[31]
• 1999: Lo Mejor De Lo Mejor (Greatest Hits Compilation)
• 2000: El Fantasma de la Ópera (Unknown sales number)
• 2002: Alma
• 2004: Camilo Sesto Nº 1
• 2005: Jesucristo Superstar (30th Anniversary Edition)
• 2006: Camilo Sesto Canta a Bujalance (Unknown sales number)

He also has published several collections of hits, including some double CD, which have had record sales.^[32][33][34]

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Camilo Sesto.

• International Jose Guilermo Carrillo Foundation
• siemprecamilosesto.com (Spanish)
• www.camilosestoweb.com
• http://camilosestonumero1.galeon.com/
• http://www.famososvalencianos.com/camilo-sesto/
• http://www.cmtv.com.ar/biografia/show.php?bnid=2019
• http://escribeya.com/Foro/7131
• http://www.elimparcial.es/cultura/camilo-sesto-maximo-orgullo-hispano--85366.html