Julio Iglesias Facts for Kids

This page is about the singer Julio Iglesias. For his father, see Julio Iglesias Puga. For his son, see Julio Iglesias Jr.. For other uses, see Julio Iglesias (disambiguation).

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal family name is Iglesias and the second or maternal family name is de la Cueva.

Quick facts for kids

Julio Iglesias

Born

Julio José Iglesias de la Cueva

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

Labels

Julio Iglesias
Personal information
Playing position	Goalkeeper
Youth career
	Real Madrid
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Gls)^†
1960–1964	Plus Ultra
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Julio José Iglesias de la Cueva (born 23 September 1943) is a famous Spanish singer, songwriter, and former professional football player. He is known as the most successful Spanish singer in the world. Julio Iglesias has sold over 150 million records globally in 14 different languages.

He has performed in more than 5,000 concerts for over 60 million people across five continents. In 2013, he was added to the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame. He also holds a Guinness World Records title as the best-selling male Latin artist of all time.

Julio Iglesias has won many music awards. These include the Grammy, Latin Grammy, and World Music Award. He has also received important honors from Spain and France. In 1989, UNICEF named him a Special Ambassador for the Performing Arts. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame since 1985.

Early Life and Football Dream
- A Life-Changing Accident
Becoming a Music Star
Family Life
Honours and Awards
- Spanish National Honours
- Foreign Honours
Discography
See also

Early Life and Football Dream

Julio Iglesias was born in Madrid, Spain. His father, Julio Iglesias Sr., was a doctor. Julio studied law at the CEU San Pablo University in Madrid.

In his youth, he was a talented football goalkeeper. He played for Real Madrid Castilla. This team is part of the famous Real Madrid club.

A Life-Changing Accident

In 1963, Julio's football career ended suddenly. He was in a serious car accident. This accident left him unable to walk for two years. His lower spine was badly hurt. His legs needed therapy for several years to get stronger.

While recovering in the hospital, a nurse gave him a guitar. Learning to play helped him regain movement in his hands. It was during this time that he discovered his amazing musical talent. After getting better, he studied in England for a short time. Later, he finished his law degree in Madrid.

Becoming a Music Star

In 1968, Julio Iglesias won the Benidorm International Song Festival. His winning song was "La vida sigue igual". This song was even used in a movie about his life. He then signed a record deal with Columbia Records.

Julio Iglesias at the Eurovision Song Contest 1970

Early Success in Europe

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 huge hit in Europe. He sang it in the Galician language, honoring his father's home region.

He also found success singing in Italian and French. Some of his famous albums from this time include A flor de piel and El amor.

Moving to the United States

In 1979, Julio Iglesias moved to Miami, USA. He signed a new record deal with CBS International. This allowed him to sing in many more languages. He recorded songs in French, Italian, Portuguese, and German.

In 1981, he released the album De niña a mujer. He dedicated it to his daughter, Chabeli Iglesias. This album included his first English-language hit, "Begin the Beguine". It reached number one in the United Kingdom.

Julio Iglesias at the White House in 1984

International Breakthrough

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

In 1988, he won a Grammy Award for Best Latin Pop Album. This was for his album Un hombre solo. He also recorded "My Love" with Stevie Wonder.

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

Later Career and Recognition

In 2001, Julio Iglesias was named Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year. The next year, he joined the International Latin Music Hall of Fame. His 2003 album, Divorcio, was very successful. It sold 350,000 copies in Spain on its first day.

He went on a long world tour in 2003 and 2004. Many of his shows sold out quickly. In 2005, he became a citizen of the Dominican Republic. He also invested in the tourist area of Punta Cana.

In 2006, he released Romantic Classics. This album featured his versions of popular songs from the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. He promoted the album by appearing on many TV shows around the world.

In 2013, he received two special awards in China. He was named the First & Most Popular International Artist of All Time in China. He also got a Guinness World Records award for being the best-selling male Latin artist. That same year, he was inducted into the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame.

In 2015, Berklee College of Music gave him an Honorary Doctorate. This recognized his great achievements in music.