Luz Casal facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Luz Casal
Casal in 2018.
Background information
Birth name	María Luz Casal Paz
Born	(1958-11-11) 11 November 1958 (age 66) Boimorto, Galicia (Spain), Spain
Genres	Pop rock
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter
Years active	1980–present
Labels	Hispavox Zafiro

Luz Casal, born María Luz Casal Paz on November 11, 1958, is a famous Spanish rock singer. She grew up in Boimorto, Spain. As a child, she learned singing, piano, and ballet. Later, she moved to Madrid to become a musician.

Luz became famous in the early 1980s. She was a key artist in Spanish pop music for many years. Her music slowly changed to a softer pop style. She sang a Spanish version of a French song, "Duel au Soleil". Her version, "Un nuevo día brillará", became a big hit. She has sold over five million albums throughout her career!

In 1992, Luz became even more famous. She sang "Piensa en mí" for the movie High Heels. This film was directed by Pedro Almodóvar. In 2007, Luz Casal shared that she had overcome a serious illness. Her middle name, Luz, means "light" in Spanish.

Luz Casal's Early Life

Luz Casal is the daughter of José Casal and Matilde Paz. When she was young, her family moved to Avilés. There, she studied at Paula Frassinetti School. Later, they moved to Gijón. This is where Luz first performed for an audience.

In Gijón, she studied piano and ballet. She also joined a rock group called Los Fannys. They played cover versions of other artists' songs. Luz was also part of another band that performed in different regions of Spain. But she always dreamed of being a solo singer.

Starting a Music Career

In 1977, Luz decided to move to Madrid. She wanted to start her music career there. She recorded her first song, "La guapa" (The Beautiful). Luz also met many record companies. An independent company gave her a chance as a backing singer. This was her start in professional music.

She sang backup for many artists. She also joined Juan Pardo for his live shows. During this time, Luz started writing her own songs. She recorded ten of them, but they were not released. She also acted in a musical called "Las Divinas" (The Divines).

In 1980, Luz released her first single with a big company. It was called "El ascensor" (The Elevator). This song had a strong reggae style, like a tribute to Bob Marley. She performed this song on "Tocata", a popular TV music show. After that, she took part in many music festivals. She also took dance classes with famous teachers.

First Albums and Growing Fame

In 1981, Luz joined the Zafiro music company. She wanted more control over her music. The next year, she started recording her first solo album. It was recorded in Madrid, Brussels, and Amsterdam. The album, named "Luz", came out in September 1982. It had songs she wrote and songs by Roque Navaja.

In 1983, she made a music video for "No aguanto más" (I Can't Stand Anymore). Then she started doing live concerts. She joined the "El rock de una noche de verano" (The Rock of a Summer Night) tour. She performed in 35 cities across Spain with Miguel Ríos and Leño.

In 1984, her second album, "Los ojos del gato" (The Eyes of the Cat), was released. It was recorded in Spain, Belgium, and Germany. Some songs from this album became popular in Europe. Luz kept studying piano, chorus, and performance. Her album Luz III, released in 1985, included the popular song "Rufino".

That year, she performed at a festival in Czechoslovakia. She was amazed to hear her songs played by an orchestra. In 1986, she gave over 90 concerts. She also recorded a song for an environmental campaign. It was called "The water is life" and featured stars like Mark Knopfler.

In 1987, she recorded an a cappella song. Her album "Quiéreme aunque te duela" (Love Me Even If It Hurts You) came out in May. On this album, she started singing more ballads and less rock. These ballads became big hits. Her song "A Cada Paso" became very popular in Latin America. It reached number one in Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, and Mexico.

Massive Success and New Sounds

In 1989, Luz Casal joined a new company, Hispavox. She released the album "V". This album sold over 300,000 copies. It made her a huge star. It included two of her most important songs: "Te Dejé Marchar" (I Let You Go) and "No Me Importa Nada" (Nothing Matters For Me). That year, she also performed at a human rights festival in Chile.

In 1991, Luz released A Contraluz (Backlight). This album sold over 400,000 copies. It featured the bolero "Piensa en mí" (Think Of Me) by Agustín Lara. It also had "Un año de amor". Both songs were chosen by Pedro Almodóvar for his film Tacones Lejanos (High Heels). These two songs made her a superstar in Europe, especially in France.

After this, Luz took a four-year break from recording. She thought about her career during this time. But she kept performing in Spain, Latin America, France, and other European countries.

In 1995, Luz went to London to work on her next album. It was called Como La Flor Prometida (Like The Promised Flower). This album sold over 800,000 copies. It became the most successful album of her career.

In 1996, she released a collection of her best songs, Pequeños Y Grandes Exitos. Two years later, she released another collection in France. It sold over 400,000 copies. This album included two songs in French. She performed these songs in famous theaters in Paris. She was the first Spanish pop singer to perform in La Cigale Theatre.

Later Albums and Awards

In 1999, Luz released "Un Mar De Confianza" (A Sea Of Trust). It sold over 600,000 copies. That year, her song "Mi Confianza" (My Trust) won an Ondas Award for Best Song. She then started a European tour. She also worked with Rosendo on his album. In 2001, she won a Goya Award for Best Original Song. This was for the animated film El Bosque Animado (The Living Forest).

In November 2002, Luz released Con Otra Mirada (With Another Look). In October 2004, she released Sencilla Alegría (Simple Happiness). This album included different music styles, from Flamenco to jazz. It also featured many guest artists. This album had "Negra Sombra" (Black Shadow). This song was part of the movie Mar Adentro.

Luz Casal promoting "La pasión" (2009)

After overcoming her illness, Luz released a new song in 2007. It was called "Se Feliz" (Be Happy). It was from her album Vida Tóxica (Toxic Life). This album was inspired by her experience. Vida Tóxica came out in November 2007.

On September 29, 2009, she released La Pasión (The Passion). In this album, Luz honored important bolero singers from the 1940s to the 1960s. She sang versions of songs like "Alma Mía" (My Soul) and "Historia De Un Amor" (The History of a Love). This album became very popular in Spain and France. Luz Casal also received the Medal Of Arts And Culture from France.

In 2011, she released "Un ramo de rosas". This was a collection of her love songs and boleros. Two years later, in 2013, she launched a new album called "Almas gemelas" (Twin Souls).

After a break, Luz released an album in France in 2017. It had covers of songs by Dalida, a French singer. One year later, in Spain, she released "Que corra el aire" (Let the Air Flow). Her fans and critics loved this album.

Discography

Albums / Singles

Compilation albums

• Pequeños y grandes éxitos (1996)
• The Best of Luz Casal (1998)
• Pequeños, medianos y grandes éxitos (2006) (also separate French edition for France)

Soundtracks

• Tacones lejanos [1] (1991)
• El Bosque animado [2] (2001)

See also

In Spanish: Luz Casal para niños