Camilo Sesto facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Camilo Sesto
Sesto in 2017
Background information
Birth name	Camilo Blanes Cortés
Born	(1946-09-16)16 September 1946 Alcoi, Spain
Died	8 September 2019(2019-09-08) (aged 72) Madrid, Spain
Genres	Canción melódica Latin pop Synthpop Rock
Occupation(s)	Singer Songwriter
Instruments	Vocals Guitar Drums
Years active	1964-2019
Associated acts	José José Rocío Dúrcal Ángela Carrasco Juan Gabriel Miguel Bosé Lucía Méndez Charytín Goyco

Camilo Blanes Cortés (born September 16, 1946 – died September 8, 2019), known as Camilo Sesto, was a famous Spanish singer, songwriter, and music producer. People often called him "El Rey del Amor" (The King of Love) because of his romantic songs. He sold millions of records around the world during his career.

About Camilo Sesto

Camilo Sesto started his music journey in the 1960s. He sang in two pop bands and won a TV show contest in Madrid. He even acted in a Spanish movie version of Shakespeare's Hamlet. Later, he worked with singer and producer Juan Pardo, but his biggest success came from creating his own music.

Camilo was also a talented songwriter. He wrote songs for many other artists like Ángela Carrasco, Miguel Bosé, and José José. He even helped translate songs into Spanish for the Australian rock band Air Supply. Camilo Sesto was a very important artist in Spanish pop and rock music. He inspired many musicians in Europe, the Americas, and Asia.

His Music Career

Camilo Sesto's career began in the mid-1960s. After making his first record with his band Los Dayson, they went to Madrid in 1965 to appear on a TV show called Salto a la Fama. In 1966, Camilo joined another band, Los Botines, who were inspired by The Beatles.

His solo career began in 1970. That same year, he won an award at the "Olés de la Canción" festival. He started producing his own music and also helped other artists produce theirs.

Becoming a Star

In 1972, Camilo Sesto launched his solo career. He appeared on Spanish TV singing "Algo de Mí," which became his first number one hit song. This song stayed at the top of the charts for a whole year in many Spanish-speaking countries. In 1973, he represented Spain at the OTI Festival with the song "Algo Más".

By 1974, Camilo was a huge pop star. His songs like "¿Quieres ser mi amante?", "Llueve sobre mojado", and "Mienteme" were very popular, and he toured all over the world. His song "¿Quieres ser mi amante?" was even nominated for a Grammy Award in 1976. He received many awards for selling so many records.

Jesus Christ Superstar

On November 6, 1975, Camilo Sesto took on a big role. He starred as Jesus in the Spanish version of the rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar in Madrid. Camilo paid for the entire show himself, which was very expensive. His performance was a huge success and received great reviews. The theater was full every night, and the shows ran for four months. The original creator of Jesus Christ Superstar, Andrew Lloyd Webber, even said that Camilo's production was as good as the original American version.

Later Years and Legacy

After the success of Jesus Christ Superstar, Camilo Sesto continued to gain fame as a singer and composer. Some of his most famous songs include "Vivir Así es Morir de Amor", "Jamás", and "Perdóname".

Camilo took a break from music in 1987 but returned in 1991 with a new album called A Voluntad del Cielo. The main song from this album, "Amor Mío, ¿Qué Me Has Hecho?", reached number one on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart in the United States.

In 2001, Camilo had a liver transplant. Two years later, he released another album called Alma. He returned to the stage in 2004 at the Viña del Mar International Song Festival in Chile, where he won many awards.

In 2008, Camilo announced he would stop recording new music. In 2009, he began a farewell tour across the Americas. He gave his last two concerts in Madrid in October 2010, which were released as his first and last "live" album. A live DVD called "Todo de Mí" was also released.

Sesto in 2017

In 2011, he received the "Highest Hispanic Pride" medal in Las Vegas, U.S.. May 28th was even named Camilo Sesto's Day in Nevada.

Death

Camilo Sesto passed away on September 8, 2019, in a Madrid hospital due to kidney failure. He was almost 73 years old. He was planning to release a new album and go on a tour in the United States the following month. Many people, including Spain's Prime Minister, shared their sadness about his passing, saying his music would always be remembered.

His Impact

From the 1970s to the 2000s, Camilo Sesto created many hit songs. He often wrote, performed, composed, and produced all his own music. He holds a record for performing two shows daily for 20 days in a row at Madison Square Garden in the 1980s.

Camilo received many awards and honors throughout his life. In 2018, an avenue in his hometown of Alcoy was named "Alameda Camilo Sesto" in his honor. This happened two years after he received the Alcoyana Gold Medal and was named a Favorite Son of the city.

Most of Camilo Sesto's songs are in Spanish, but he also recorded music in English, Valencian, Italian, German, Japanese, and Portuguese. He even released at least one album entirely in English. Camilo Sesto had an amazing career, with a total of 52 number one hit songs. By 2019, his albums had sold over 180 million copies. In 2017, Camilo Sesto was honored by being added to the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Discography

Studio albums

See also

In Spanish: Camilo Sesto para niños