José José
Also known as El Príncipe de la Canción (The Prince of Song),[1] his performance and vocal style have influenced many Latin pop artists in a career that spanned more than four decades.[5][6] Born into a family of musicians, José began his musical career in his early teens playing guitar and singing in serenade.[citation needed] In the 1980s, after signing with Ariola Records, José rose to international prominence as one of the most popular and talented Latin performers.With many international hits, he received several Grammy nominations, sold more than 100 million albums and was once courted by music legend Frank Sinatra, who wanted to win him for his own label.In that time, his reportedly alcoholic father abandoned the family forcing José to work to help his mother and younger brother.[14][15] In 1965, under the name of "Pepe Sosa" and pursuing a solo career encouraged by his mother, he recorded the singles "Ma vie" and "El Mundo", which did not sell well either."Lo Dudo" ("I Doubt It") and "El Amor Acaba" ("The Love is Over") were major hits from the album and Secretos became the best selling recording in his career with four million copies sold.[28] The same year, José starred in his autobiographic film Gavilán o Paloma, alongside Christian Bach and the comedian Jorge Ortiz de Pinedo.The show, broadcast by Televisa, lasted over five hours and featured special guests such as Armando Manzanero, Libertad Lamarque, Vicente Fernández and Marco Antonio Muñiz.[35] Two years later, he released 40 y 20 in which the title track speaks about men who fall in love with women that are much younger than them and the reaction of the society to those situations.The tribute included some of the most prestigious artists of Spanish music such as Rocío Dúrcal, Camilo Sesto, Armando Manzanero, Marco Antonio Muñiz and Raúl di Blasio.Upon completion of his rehabilitation, he started seasons in places like the famous "Teatro Blanquita" of Mexico City, and the Gibson Amphitheatre in Los Angeles, among others.[47] In 1995, he played the lead role in the movie Perdóname Todo, a drama about an alcoholic has-been and how he tries to survive against himself and the music business.[51] In September 1999, he joined fellow Mexican singers Armando Manzanero, Marco Antonio Muñiz and Argentine pianist Raúl di Blasio for a series of concerts dubbed "Noche Bohemia" (Bohemian Night) at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles.[59] José was planning a new, untitled album, adding that it would consist of nine unreleased tracks and a melody he used to sing in serenades "Que viva mi tristeza", from songwriter Armando Manzanero.[61] In 2012, as a celebration for his 50-year career, José gave a concert at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Miami,[62] his final live performance.In 1970 he started a relationship with TV hostess, actress, and model Ana Elena Noreña, known in show business as Anel.[17] In 1987, he underwent an operation at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center to remove nodes in his vocal fold as a consequence of the excessive use of cortisone before singing, alcohol use, and the lack of rest after many of his performances.[citation needed] The effects of alcoholism, the abuse of cortisone, and his hiatus hernia not only affected his ability to sing but to talk, as well.[72] In the early 1970s, after the success of "El Triste" and missing a collaboration with Frank Sinatra, he fell into depression and alcoholism, but with help of his friends and family he managed to stop drinking for a while.[80] On 9 October, half of his ashes were flown back to Mexico City aboard a Mexican Air Force military plane early in the day.A black hearse picked up the gold plated casket bearing his ashes at the airport and drove to the city's downtown where admirers tossed flowers and waved to the passing vehicle as it made its way to the Palace of Fine Arts.A three-hour long tribute was held at the Fine Arts Palace planned by the Mexican Culture Ministry with members of the National Symphony Orchestra played renditions of some of the icon's ballad songs including "El Triste".Artists from Mexico's the Opera Studio of Fine Arts and the Saloma Quartet also honored the singer's musical legacy during the ceremony.He listened to performers such as Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Johnny Mathis and such popular Mexican composers as Consuelo Velázquez and María Grever.[9] The son of an operatic tenor and a pianist, he grew up listening to composers such as Chopin and Mozart, but never got the chance to play classical music.Inheriting the singing qualities of his father, he was able to reach high and low notes easily with a practically flawless intonation.[88] Many artists have acknowledged José as an influence, including Cristian Castro,[89] Vicente Fernández,[90] Alejandro Fernández,[91] Nelson Ned, Pepe Aguilar, Kalimba, Erik Rubin, Manuel Mijares,[92] Lupita D'Alessio, Diego Verdaguer, Reyli, Chayanne, Luis Fonsi and Marc Anthony.Stars such as Marco Antonio Solís, Ana Bárbara, Alicia Villarreal, Olga Tañon, Luis Fonsi, David Bisbal, and Aventura performed some of his greatest hits live.Stars such as Plácido Domingo, Ricky Martin, Enrique Iglesias, Pepe Aguilar, Pedro Fernández, and RBD, showed their admiration with messages and greetings.
Spanish namesurnameAzcapotzalcoMexico CityHomestead, FloridaLatin balladbolerobossa novaRCA VictorAriola RecordsSony BMGdouble bassEl TristeballadeerSecretosGrammyFrank SinatraMadison Square GardenRadio City Music HallGavilán o PalomaPerdóname TodoJosé Sosa Esquiveloperatic tenorguitarchurchserenadesOrfeón RecordsJosé JoséRubén FuentesArmando ManzaneroMayuto CorreaCarlos LyraLeny AndradebolerosLa Nave Del OlvidoOTI FestivalReprise RecordsReencuentroAmor AmorRománticoGraciasMi VidaNew York, New YorkManuel AlejandroBest Latin Pop PerformanceGrammy Awards of 1985ReflexionesBillboard Latin Pop Albums1986 Grammy AwardsPlácido DomingoJulio IglesiasRoberto CarlosJosé Luis Rodríguez "El Puma"Vicente Fernándezcharity singleCantaré, cantarásJosé FelicianoChristian BachJorge Ortiz de PinedoPromesas1987 Grammy AwardsSiempre ContigoPaco Cepero¿Y Quién Puede Ser?Billboard Hot Latin SongsGrammy Awards of 1988Seleccionesmanageralcoholismthe title track1989 Grammy AwardsPop Album of the Year1st Annual Lo Nuestro AwardsPop Male Artist of the YearÁlvaro CarrilloAngelica AragónComo TúHot Latin SongsPop Song of the Year1990 Lo Nuestro AwardsRaúl VelascoTelevisaLibertad LamarqueEn las Buenas... y en las MalasAmnesiaPuerto VallartaRocío DúrcalCamilo SestoRaúl di BlasioLo Nuestro AwardsBally's Atlantic CitymariachiJuan GabrielLa Fea Más BellaBetty la FeaUgly BettyTVyNovelas Award for best supporting actorYanni VoicesautobiographyCelso PiñaChamin CorreaHard Rock Hotel & CasinoSony Music MexicoSpotifyLondonLo Pasado, PasadoMiami, Floridacerebral haemorrhageCoral Gables, Floridapneumoniathoracic diaphragmparalyzedCedars-Sinai Medical Centernodes in his vocal foldcortisonediabeteshiatus herniaBell's palsyDon Franciscodiabetic retinopathygastritiscataractscocaineHazeldenMinnesotapancreatic cancer