Julio Iglesias facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Julio Iglesias
Born	Julio José Iglesias de la Cueva (1943-09-23) 23 September 1943 (age 81) Madrid, Spain
Years active	1968–present
Spouse(s)	Isabel Preysler ​ ​ (m. 1971; div. 1979)​ Miranda Rijnsburger ​ (m. 2010)​
Children	8, including Chabeli, Julio Jr., and Enrique
Relatives	Julio Iglesias Puga (father)
Awards	Full list
Musical career
Genres	Latin Latin pop dance-pop adult contemporary
Labels	Columbia Sony
Association football career Position(s) Goalkeeper Youth career Real Madrid Senior career* Years Team Apps (Gls) 1960–1964 Plus Ultra *Club domestic league appearances and goals
Signature

Julio José Iglesias de la Cueva is a famous Spanish singer and songwriter. He was born on September 23, 1943. Julio Iglesias is known as the most successful Spanish singer in the world.

He has sold over 300 million records in 14 different languages. This makes him one of the top-selling music artists ever. He has performed in more than 5,000 concerts for over 60 million people.

In 1983, he was recognized for recording songs in the most languages. In 2013, he was named the best-selling male Latin artist of all time. He also received an award in China as the most popular international artist.

Julio Iglesias has won many music awards. These include the Grammy and Latin Grammy Awards. He has also received special honors from Spain and France. UNICEF named him a Special Ambassador in 1989. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame since 1985.

Julio Iglesias's Early Life

Julio Iglesias was born in Madrid, Spain. His father, Julio Iglesias Sr., was a doctor. His mother was María del Rosario de la Cueva y Perignat. His family had roots in Galicia, Spain, and Puerto Rico.

The name "Iglesias" means "churches" in Spanish. Julio has said that his mother's family had Jewish ancestry. Her family name, "de la Cueva," means "of the cave." This name was sometimes used by Jewish people who were in hiding.

From Football to Music

Before becoming a singer, Julio played professional football. He was a goalkeeper for Real Madrid Castilla. This team is part of the famous Real Madrid club. He also studied law at a university in Madrid.

In 1963, a serious car accident changed his life. He could not walk for two years. The accident hurt his lower spine and weakened his legs. While recovering in the hospital, a nurse gave him a guitar. Learning to play helped him regain movement in his hands. This is how he discovered his amazing musical talent.

After getting better, he studied English in Cambridge, England. He then returned to Spain to finish his law degree.

Julio Iglesias's Music Career

Julio Iglesias at the Eurovision Song Contest 1970

In 1968, Julio Iglesias won the Benidorm International Song Festival. He won with his song "La vida sigue igual." This song was later used in a movie about his life. He then signed a record deal with Columbia Records. His first album, Yo Canto, was very popular in Spain.

In 1970, he represented Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest. He sang "Gwendolyne" and finished in fourth place. Soon after, his song "Un canto a Galicia" became a hit in many European countries. He sang it in Galician, honoring his father's home region.

Becoming a Global Star

In 1979, Julio moved to Miami, USA. He signed with CBS International. This helped him start singing in many different languages. He sang in French, Italian, Portuguese, and German.

Two years later, he released the album De niña a mujer. This album was in five languages. He dedicated it to his daughter, Chabeli. The album included his first English-language hit, "Begin the Beguine." This song reached number one in the United Kingdom.

Julio Iglesias at the White House in 1984

In 1984, he released 1100 Bel Air Place. This album made him a huge star in English-speaking countries. It sold over three million copies in the United States. The album featured duets with famous singers. He sang "To All the Girls I've Loved Before" with Willie Nelson. He also sang "All of You" with Diana Ross.

Julio Iglesias won a Grammy Award in 1988 for his album Un hombre solo. That same year, he recorded "My Love" with Stevie Wonder. He also appeared on the TV show The Golden Girls.

Later Career and Achievements

Julio continued to collaborate with other stars. In 1993, he recorded "Summer Wind" with Frank Sinatra. In 1994, his album Crazy included duets with Dolly Parton, Sting, and Art Garfunkel.

He received the Excellence Award at the Lo Nuestro Awards in 1995. In 2001, he was named Person of the Year by the Latin Recording Academy. He was also inducted into the International Latin Music Hall of Fame in 2002.

In 2003, Julio released his album Divorcio. It sold very well in Spain and other countries. He then went on a long world tour in 2003 and 2004. Many of his shows sold out quickly.

In 2006, he released Romantic Classics, an English-language album. It featured his versions of classic songs from the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. This album was very successful worldwide. He promoted it on many TV shows.

In 2013, Julio Iglesias received two special awards in Beijing, China. He was named the First & Most Popular International Artist of All Time in China. He also received a Guinness World Records award for being the Best-selling Male Latin Artist. He was inducted into the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame that same year.

In May 2015, Berklee College of Music gave Julio Iglesias an honorary doctorate. This was to recognize his achievements and influence in music.

Julio Iglesias's Personal Life

Julio Iglesias in the Museo de la Música Etnica in 2020

On January 29, 1971, Julio Iglesias married Isabel Preysler. She was a television host from the Philippines. They had three children:

• Chábeli (born 1971)
• Julio Jr. (born 1973)
• Enrique (born 1975)

All three of his children have become well-known. Enrique Iglesias is a very successful singer. Julio and Isabel's marriage ended in 1979.

A bust dedicated to Julio Iglesias, in Benidorm, Spain

After his divorce, Julio Iglesias lived with Dutch model Miranda Rijnsburger. They married on August 26, 2010. They have five children together:

• Miguel Alejandro (born 1997)
• Rodrigo (born 1999)
• Twins Cristina and Victoria (born 2001)
• Guillermo (born 2007)

The family lives in the Dominican Republic. Julio Iglesias also became a citizen of the Dominican Republic in 2005. He has invested in tourist areas there, like Punta Cana.

In 2005, Julio's father passed away at age 90. His father had another child, Ruth, born in 2006, with his second wife.

In 2019, a court in Spain made a ruling about a paternity claim against Julio Iglesias. A man named Javier Sánchez claimed to be his son. Julio Iglesias denied this claim. The case went to the Supreme Court, which dismissed Sánchez's claims in April 2021.

Honours and Awards

Julio Iglesias' star at Hollywood Walk of Fame

Spanish National Honours

• Gold Medal of Merit in the Fine Arts
• Gold Medal of the Community of Madrid

Foreign Honours

•  France
  • Knight of the Legion of Honor
  • Medal of the City of Paris

Discography

See also

In Spanish: Julio Iglesias para niños

• List of music artists by net worth
• List of best-selling Latin music artists
• List of best-selling music artists
• List of best-selling Latin albums