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Luis Miguel
Background information
Birth name	Luis Miguel Gallego Basteri
Born	April 19, 1970 (1970-04-19) (age 38)
Occupation(s)	Singer
Instrument(s)	Vocal
Years active	1981–present
Label(s)	WEA
Website	Luis Miguel Oficial

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 (according with Warner) 90 million albums worldwide ^{[1] [2]}, but other sites claim that Luis Miguel has sold 100 million albums ^[3]

Early life

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 if he recognizes the fact that he was born in Puerto Rico, he goes on to say that he still considers himself 100% Mexican.

He is the son of the late Spanish singer Luisito Rey and Italian-born actress Marcela Basteri. Luis Miguel's mother disappeared some time in 1987, with her whereabouts unknown to the public ever since, although she is claimed to be still alive and living in a mental institute. 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.

Career

Luis Miguel in concert

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, Un Sol 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. That same year, he was also presented with the "Antorcha de Plata" 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. 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 records and was a number one hit all through Latin America for over five months.

Luis Miguel in El Concierto

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 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 Romance, 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.

Luis Miguel at the Hollywood Walk of Fame

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, the main theme for Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

In 1997 Luis 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 Luis Miguel a World Music Award and another Grammy Award.

Luis Miguel at the Amarte Es Un Placer Tour

In 1999, Luis Miguel released Amarte Es Un Placer which earned him three Latin Grammys. Its hit single O Tú, 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 album in the bolero series. With this album, which sold over two million copies worldwide, he launched Mis Romances Tour throughout the US, Europe, and Latin America.

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, and various sold-out shows at Buenos Aires', as well as other prestigious international venues such as Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas 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 just in Mexico.

In 2005, Luis Miguel released Grandes Exitos, his first greatest hits album, that featured his greatest songs he recorded during all his career, including two never-released singles: Misterios Del Amor and Si Te Perdiera.

Also, he launched his own line of Chilean wine, called "Unico", winning a "Gold Medal".

Luis Miguel singing in 2005

In 2005, the Mexico En La Piel Tour started. In 2006, Luis Miguel made a chain of 30-show completely sold out between 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 25-show run at the venue in 2004. The 123-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.

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 Llegó A la Ciudad (Santa Claus Is Coming to Town), and Mi Humilde Oración (My Grown-up Christmas List).

Luis Miguel's new studio album is called Complices and was released on May 6, 2008. Produced by Luis Miguel and written by the Spanish composer Manuel Alejandro. The first single, "Si tú te atreves" was released on April 7, 2008. The 2008 Complices Tour started in Seattle at September 3rd, 2008.

Personal life

Luis Miguel in Mexico City

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:

• During the 1980s, he was involved with Lucero and Lucía Mendez, and in the 1990s he was involved with Daisy Fuentes, Rebecca de Alba, Luz Elena Gonzalez, Adriana Fonseca, Isabella Camil, Mariana Seoane and Sofia Vergara.
• A high-profile relationship with singer/songwriter Mariah Carey from 1998 to 2001.^[4].
• From 2002 to 2005, he was involved with, and for a time, engaged to Cuban-American journalist Myrka Dellanos.
• His unrecognized daughter Michelle is 18 years old in 2008.
• 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 a television show of babies.
• On July 8, the couple announced they are expecting their second child, who is expected to born in December 2008.

Awards and recognitions

Luis Miguel has been awarded and have reached:

References ^[5]

Discography

Main article: Discography of Luis Miguel

Total career : 107.5 million copies sold worldwide.
3 Diamond certifications, 304 Platinum certifications, 34 Gold certifications

Videography

Album certifications

Luis Miguel receiving a Platinum disc for Romance in 1992

• Soy Como Quiero Ser 5 Platinum discs, 8 Gold discs
• Romance 70 Platinum discs, 3 Gold discs
• Aries 40 Platinum discs 6 Gold discs
• Segundo Romance 50 Platinum discs
• Nada es Igual 30 Platinum discs
• Romances 50 Platinum discs
• Amarte es un Placer 4 Platinum discs, 4 Gold discs
• Mis Romances 8 Platinum discs, 3 Gold discs
• 33 11 Platinum discs, 2 Gold discs
• México en la Piel 1 Diamond disc, 11 Platinum discs, 1 Gold disc
• Grandes Exitos 5 Platinum discs, 3 Gold discs
• Grandes Exitos Videos 1 Platinum discs, 1 Gold disc
• Navidades Luis Miguel 1 Diamond, 10 platinum, 2 gold disc.
• Complices 1 Diamond disc, 9 Platinum discs, 1 Gold disc

Total career: 3 Diamond discs, 304 Platinum discs, 34 Gold discs

References: ^{[5] [6] [7]}

Notable tours

Luis Miguel on Mexico En La Piel Tour

Main article: List of Luis Miguel concert tours

• (1990-1991) Gira 20 Años
• (1991-1992) Gira Romance
• (1993-1994) Gira Aries
• (1994) Gira Segundo Romance
• (1996) Tour America (a.k.a. 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-) Complices Tour

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 ^[8].

References

1. ^ Warner Music Latino
2. ^ Luis Miguel pondra su disco en preventa
3. ^ Los 40 Principales
4. ^ Mariah Carey Biography : People.com
5. ^ ^{a b} LUIS MIGUEL. _ "Complices", el ídolo Latinoamericano sorprende nuevamente!
6. ^ "Luis Miguel y su disco Cómplices vende 320 mil copias"
7. ^ Obtiene Luis Miguel Disco de Diamante en México por "Cómplices" — La Jornada
8. ^ Billboard.com - Artist Chart History - Luis Miguel

External links

• Official Site