Luis Miguel extracted from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia

Luis Miguel
Background information
Birth name	Luis Miguel Gallego Basteri
Born	April 19, 1970 (1970-04-19) (age 38)
Genre(s)	Latin pop, Bolero, Crooner, Mariachi, Ballad
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) 55 million albums worldwide ^{[1] [2]}, but another sites says that Luis Miguel has sold 90 million albums ^[3]

Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Personal life 4 Awards and recognitions 5 Discography 6 Videography 6.1 Available on VHS 6.2 Available on DVD 7 Album certifications 8 Notable tours 9 Billboard #1 Hot Latin Tracks 10 References 11 External links

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 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 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.

Career

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 records and was a number one hit all through 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 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.

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 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, 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 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.

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 26-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. 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 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 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 Complices Tour is confirmed to start in the United States, and he revealed that he will be in USA, Mexico, Central America, Argentina, Chile, Uuruguay, Peru, Spain, Italy and Brazil

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:

• During the 1980s, he was involved with Lucerito 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:

Almost 100 million copies worldwide. 5 Grammy Awards 4 Latin Grammy Awards 12 Premio Lo Nuestro awards 4 World Music Awards 13 Billboard Awards 3 prizes Antorcha de Plata in the "Festival de la Cancion de Viña del Mar in 1985 and 1990. Second place in the Sanremo Music Festival in Italy with the song "Noi Ragazzi di Oggi" in 1985 He becomes the youngest Latin artist to receive a Grammy Award in 1985 (he had 15 years at that time) Receives European Excellence prize in 1990 South Korea International Music Award in 1991 for Romance Special award from the RIAA for selling 2 millions copies of Romance and Segundo Romance In 1992 establishes a world record by selling 10,000 tickets (for a concert in the National Auditorium in Mexico City) in 3 hours, with an average sale of 52 tickets per minute. First Latin artist to perform a sold-out concert in the Madison Square Garden in New York (Gira Aries in 1993). First Latin artist to perform 7 consecutive sold-out concerts in the Circus Maximus Theater in the Caesars Palace of Las Vegas in 1993. In 1994 he is invited to record an special-edition duet of "Come Fly With Me" with Frank Sinatra for his album Duets II In 1995 he is the only Latin artist invited to sing in the show "SINATRA: 80 Years My Way" along with another celebrities as Bruce Springsteen, Natalie Cole and Bob Dylan In 1996 he is the first Latin artist to receive a star in the Hollywood Walk of Fame In 1996 he records the song "Sueña" (Spainsh version of Someday) for the Disney's movie The Hunchback of Notre Dame In 1997 he is invited to perform in the 30th Anniversary of the Caesars Palace in Las Vegas

Romances debuts on the #14 of the Billboard Top 200. Romances is believed to be the Spanish-speaking best-selling album in the history (just after Raphael and his album Ayer, Hoy y Siempre) Since 1999 he is the highest-paid Latin artist in concert. In 2001 he is invited by Michael Jackson to record the Spanish version of "What More Can I Give" called "Todo Para Ti" for the people that died in the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York In 2002 receives the Premio Luna de Mexico (Moon of Mexico Award) for being the artist with the best career (at that time of 20 years) In 1999 Warner Music recognizes him as the best-selling artist in the history of Argentina, with almost 3 million copies sold in that country. In 2003 Warner Music recognizes him as the best-selling artist in the history of Chile The 33 Tour peak #1 in the Billboard World Top Boxscore In 2005 with the Mexico En La Piel Tour give 6 consecutive sold-out concerts in the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles, CA. Receives a special award (Estela de Plata) for being the best-selling artist in the history of the National Auditorium in Mexico City. The Mexico En La Piel Tour peak #1 in the Billboard World Top Boxscore Navidades Luis Miguel become the first Christmas album ever to be nominated for a prize in the Pop category. He performed the longest tour ever made by a Latin artist (Amarte Es Un Placer Tour in 1999, and after Mexico En La Piel Tour in 2005). In 2008, the web-store Amazon, announced that the album Complices had peaked number 1 in the list of the worldwide best-selling albums in the website 2 weeks before the release of the album. Complices debuts on the #10 of the Billboard Top 200. This is the highest-charted Latin album in the history of the list. Complices gives Luis Miguel his eighth #1 on the Billboard Top Latin Albums, the most of any artist in the history of the list. Complices broke records in Mexico, by selling over 320,000 copies in that country during the first 12 hours of the album's release.

References ^[5]

Discography

Main article: Discography of Luis Miguel

Discography (1987 - present)
Name	Information
Soy Como Quiero Ser	Released: 1987 Label: WEA Producer: Juan Carlos Calderon Review: Allmusic link Certification: 5x Platinum, 8x Gold Sales: 2,000,000 Singles: "Ahora Te Puedes Marchar", "No Me Puedo Escapar De Ti", "Soy Como Quiero Ser", "Cuando Calienta El Sol", "Yo Que No Vivo Sin Ti"
Busca Una Mujer	Released: 1988 Label: WEA Producer: Juan Carlos Calderon Review: Allmusic link Certification: 40x Platinum Sales: 7,500,000 Singles: "La Incondicional", "Fria Como El Viento", "Separados", "Esa Niña", "Culpable O No"
20 Años	Released: 1990 Label: WEA Producer: Juan Carlos Calderon Review: Allmusic link Certification: 25x Platinum Sales: 5,000,000 Singles: "Entregate", "Tengo Todo Excepto A Ti", "Amante del Amor"
Romance	Released: 1991 Label: WEA Producer: Armando Manzanero, Luis Miguel Review: Allmusic link Certification: 70x Platinum, 3x Gold Sales: 14,500,000 Singles: "Inolvidable", "No Sé Tú", "Contigo En La Distancia"
America & En Vivo	Released: 1992 Label: WEA Producer: Luis Miguel Review: Allmusic link Certification: Sales: 1,500,000 Singles: "América, América"
Aries	Released: 1993 Label: WEA Producer: Luis Miguel Review: Allmusic link Certification: 40x Platinum, 6x Gold Sales: 5,500,000 Singles: "Ayer", "Suave", "Hasta Que Me Olvides"
Segundo Romance	Released: 1994 Label: WEA Producer: Luis Miguel, Juan Carlos Calderon, Armando Manzanero Review: Allmusic link Certification: 50x Platinum Sales: 6,000,000 Singles: "Delirio", "El Día Que Me Quieras", "La Media Vuelta"
El Concierto	Released: 1995 Label: WEA Producer: Luis Miguel, Juan Carlos Calderon, Armando Manzanero Review: Allmusic link Certification: Sales: 2,500,000 Singles: "El Rey", "Amaneci En Tus Brazos", "Si Nos Dejan"
Nada Es Igual	Released: 1996 Label: WEA Producer: Luis Miguel Review: Allmusic link Certification: 30x Platinum Sales: 6,000,000 Singles: "Dame", "Cómo Es Posible Que A Mi Lado", "Sueña"
Romances	Released: 1997 Label: WEA Producer: Luis Miguel Review: Allmusic link Certification: 50x Platinum Sales: 15,000,000 Singles: "Por Debajo de la Mesa", "El Reloj", "Sabor A Mi", "De Quererte Asi"
Todos Los Romances	Released: 1998 Label: WEA Producer: Luis Miguel, Juan Carlos Calderon, Armando Manzanero Review: Allmusic link Certification: Sales: 1,500,000
Amarte Es Un Placer	Released: 1999 Label: WEA Producer: Luis Miguel, Armando Manzanero Review: Allmusic link Certification: 4x Platinum, 4x Gold Sales: 6,000,000 Singles: "Sol, Arena y Mar", "O Tu O Ninguna", "Dormir Contigo"
Vivo	Released: 2000 Label: WEA Producer: Luis Miguel Review: Allmusic link Certification: Sales: 2,500,000 Singles: "La Bikina", "Y"
Mis Romances	Released: 2001 Label: WEA Producer: Luis Miguel Review: Allmusic link Certification: 8x Platinum, 3x Gold Sales: 6,000,000 Singles: "Amor, Amor, Amor", "Como Duele", "Al Que Me Siga"
Mis Boleros Favoritos	Released: 2002 Label: WEA Producer: Luis Miguel Review: Allmusic link Certification: Sales: 2,500,000 Singles: "Hasta Que Vuelvas"
33	Released: 2003 Label: WEA Producer: Luis Miguel Review: Allmusic link Certification: 11x Platinum, 2x Gold Sales: 6,000,000 Singles: "Te Necesito", "Un Te Amo", "Vuelve"
Mexico En La Piel	Released: 2004 Label: WEA Producer: Luis Miguel, Armando Manzanero Review: Allmusic link Certification: 1x Diamond, 11x Platinum, 1x Gold Sales: 8,000,000 Singles: "El Viajero", "Que Seas Feliz", "Échame A Mi La Culpa"
Mexico En La Piel: Edicion Diamante	Released: 2005 Label: WEA Producer: Luis Miguel, Armando Manzanero Review: Allmusic link Certification: Platinum Sales: 2,000,000 Singles: "Mi Ciudad"
Grandes Exitos	Released: 2005 Label: WEA Producer: Luis Miguel Review: Allmusic link Certification: 5x Platinum, 3x Gold Sales: 1,500,000 Singles: "Misterios Del Amor", "Si Te Perdiera"
Navidades	Released: 2006 Label: WEA Producer: Luis Miguel, Juan Carlos Calderon Review: Allmusic link Certification: 1x Diamond, 10x Platinum, 2x Gold Sales: 5,500,000 Singles: "Mi Humilde Oración", "Santa Claus Llegó A La Ciudad"
Complices	Released: 2008 Label: WEA Producer: Luis Miguel, Manuel Alejandro Review: TBA Certification: 1x Diamond, 9x Platinum, 1x Gold Sales: 2,500,000 Singles: "Si Tú Te Atreves", "Te Desean"
Total career	107.5 million copies sold worldwide 3 Diamond certifications 304 Platinum certifications 34 Gold certifications

Videography

Available on VHS

Un Año De Conciertos 1989

Luis Miguel: 20 Años 1991

Romance 1992

El Concierto 1995

Los Videos 1996

Vivo 2000

Available on DVD

El Concierto 1995

Vivo 2000

Romances (DVD Audio) 2001

Mis Boleros Favoritos 2002

Mexico En La Piel: Edicion Diamante 2005

Grandes Exitos Videos 2005

Album certifications

• 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

• (1990) Gira 20 Años
• (1991-1992) Gira Romance
• (1993-1994) Gira Aries
• (1994-1995) 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].

1. "Ahora te puedes marchar" (1987, "Soy Como Quiero Ser")
2. "La incondicional" (1988, Busca Una Mujer)
3. "Fría como el viento" - (1988, "Busca Una Mujer")
4. Tengo todo excepto a ti - (1990, "20 Años")
5. Entrégate - (1990, 20 Años)
6. No sé tú - (1991, "Romance")
7. "Inolvidable" (1991, "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")

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

v • d • e Luis Miguel Studio albums Soy Como Quiero Ser · Busca Una Mujer · 20 Años · Romance · America & En Vivo · Aries · Segundo Romance · Nada Es Igual · Romances · Amarte Es Un Placer · Mis Romances · 33 · Mexico En La Piel · Navidades · Complices Live albums El Concierto · Vivo Compilations and box-sets Todos Los Romances · Mis Boleros Favoritos · Mexico En La Piel: Edición Diamante · Grandes Exitos Videos Un Año De Conciertos · Luis Miguel: 20 Años · Romance: En Vivo · El Concierto · Los Videos · Vivo · Mis Boleros Favoritos · Mexico En La Piel: Edición Diamante · Grandes Exitos Videos Another albums Un Sol · Directo Al Corazón · Decidete · Ya Nunca Más · Palabra De Honor · Fiebre De Amor · Meu Sonho Perdido · Canta In Italiano · Colezzione Privata · Tambien es Rock · Amándote A La Italiana Tours Gira 20 Años · Gira Romance · Gira Aries · Gira Segundo Romance · Gira Nada Es Igual / Tour America · Romances Tour · Amarte Es Un Placer Tour · Mis Romances Tour · 33 Tour · Mexico En La Piel Tour · Complices Tour Related articles Awards and recognitions · Discography