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What makes part 2 of this list different from part 1 is that all the singers are still alive. However, they are still legendary and a treasure trove to all Latin and Spanish music. One of the things that make them stand out is that these are the singers that most Latinos and Hispanics listen to with their families and are a hit at family gatherings.
Vicente Fernandez
Vicente Fernandez (February 17, 1940 - Present) is a Mexican singer, actor, and film producer. He is a cultural icon known as El Rey de la Música Ranchera," meaning the King of Ranchera Music, with more than 50 albums under his name. When many think of Mariachi and Ranchera music, Vicente's face comes to mind due to his contribution to the genre. He had to drop out of school when he was in 5th grade and worked as a janitor, dishwasher, waiter, and any other job that he could find. From that he grew to become one of the greatest stars in the Latin music world, proving that with enough perseverance and faith anyone can be successful.
Raphael
Raphael (May 5, 1943 - Present) is a Spanish singer and actor who has appeared in television, film, and theater. He is known as "El Ruiseñor de Linares," meaning the Nightingale of Linares, and "El Divo de Linares," meaning the Divo of Linares. He has been a singer since he was a child and even won best child voice in Europe at a Salzburg, Austria. He has represented Spain in many song contests such as Eurovision two times and giving Spain placement in the top ten in both 1966 and 1967. He appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1970 several times to great success and sang with the likes of Tom Jones. Raphael is definitely a triple threat and his shows are always enjoyable because of the feeling that he sings with.
José Luis Rodriguez (El Puma)
José Luis Rodriguez (January 14, 1943 - Present) is a Venezuelan singer and actor who is known for his distinctive tenor voice and appearance leading to his nickname "El Puma." He has had international successes in both music and telenovelas and has sung with singers like Julio Iglesias and Il Volo. He has been a judge and voice trainer for several The Voice shows in Argentina and Peru called La Voz... Argentina and La Voz Perú.
Paloma San Basilio
Paloma San Basilio (November 22, 1950 - Present) is a Spanish singer, songwriter, producer, and actress. She has sung various different genres from melodic songs to pop to musical theater. She has even performed in the Spanish-language version of musicals Andrew Lloyd Webber's Evita, My Fair Lady, Man of La Mancha, Victor/Victoria, and Sunset Boulevard. One of the things that make her stand out is her powerful voice and the artistry in her shows.
Juan Luis Guerra
Juan Luis Guerra (June 7, 1957 - Present) is a Dominican singer, musician, composer, and record producer who is heavily influenced by the Bachata and Merengue. Most of his songs have lyrics that are full of metaphors or slang that reflect the deep and personal human perspective. He is also one of the tallest Spanish-language singers at 6'8 ft (2.03 meters) tall. It's not surprising that he has been one of the biggest influences for the Bachata and Merengue revival in recent times inspiring artists like Romeo Santos.
Isabel Pantoja
Isabel Pantoja (August 2, 1956 - Present) is a Spanish-Gypsy singer and actress who has released music in several genres throughout her long career. However, specializes in Copla, a sub-genre of Flamenco, and it has served her well as it is her interpretation that gives the art form new life. She comes from a long line of singers and began performing at the age of 7. One thing that can be said about her is that she represents the virtue of perseverance at its best because of all the difficulties that she has had to overcome. Yet, she hasn't let that bring her down and continues to awe and inspire everyone who hears her sing.
Ricardo Montaner
Ricardo Montaner (September 8, 1957 - Present) is an Argentine-Venezuelan singer and songwriter who began his career in the late 1970s. His songs are very poetic and wonderful due to his range and meaningful interpretation. He even did the Spanish-language pop version of "A Whole New World," Un Mundo Ideal," in 1992's Aladdin. Ricardo is one of those artists who work in different genres, yet everything always sounds great. He is a very noble and approachable artist who is also known for his philanthropic work and dedication to children. In fact, Billboard Awards honored him with the Hope Award due to his work with his charity La Ventana de Los Cielos, that works with kids that have Down Syndrome, Autism, and Cerebral Palsy.
Willie Colon
Willie Colon (April 28, 1950 - Present) is an American Salsa singer, songwriter, producer, trombonist, writer, and actor of Puerto Rican descent. He recorded his first album at age 17 and has worked with the likes of Salsa legends Johnny Pacheco, Celia Cruz, and Héctor Lavoe. His music has elements of Jazz, Rock, Salsa, and ethnic music from different parts of the world to make his own signature blend of music. He has received many honorary degrees in music and letters, as well as receiving many awards in recognition for his contributions to music.
Julio Iglesias
Julio Iglesias (September 23, 1943 - Present) is a Spanish singer, songwriter, and former professional goalkeeper for Real Madrid's reserve team. He is one of the most successful continental European singers in the world and has songs in 14 languages with many awards and honors. His beginnings in music happened when he was in a car accident and couldn't walk for two years. However he learned how to play the guitar to regain movement in his hands, and that became his emotional therapy. He has songs with stars in both the English and Spanish languages such as Willie Nelson, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, José Luis Rodriguez, and etc. A little known fact is that he has a law degree from the Complutense University of Madrid.
Luis Miguel
Luis Miguel (April 19, 1970 - Present) is a Mexican singer also known as "El Sol de México" due to his love for Mexico and his wonderful voice. His father was a Spanish singer Luisito Rey and his mother was Italian model Marcela Basteri. Luis Miguel has been a singer since he was 11 years old, which definitely shows in his stage presence and in how much he enjoys being onstage. His music is really timeless ranging from Pop, Boleros, Rancheras, Ballads, Boleros, Tangos, Jazz, Big Band. His voice has influenced singers such as David Bisbal, Alejandro Sanz, and many more. Given his wide range of musical styles, it is only fair that the video above shows his range as a singer and artist.
#VicenteFernandez #Raphael #JoseLuisRodriguez #ElPuma #PalomaSanBasilio #JuanLuisGuerra #IsabelPantoja #RicardoMontaner #WillieColon #JulioIglesias #LuisMiguel #LatinMusic #MusicIndustry
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