Raúl Velasco facts for kids

Raúl Velasco Ramírez (born April 24, 1933 – died November 26, 2006) was a very famous Mexican TV host and producer. He is best known for hosting the TV show Siempre en Domingo (which means Always on Sunday). This show became very popular in Latin America and in other parts of the world where Spanish-speaking entertainment was shown.

Velasco started his TV journey in 1969. He was a co-host for a Sunday afternoon show called Domingos Espectaculares (Spectacular Sundays). One of his most famous sayings was, "Aún hay más" ("There's more to follow"). He would say this before commercials, often with a special hand gesture. This phrase and gesture became very well known in Mexico.

Raúl Velasco's Life Story

Raúl Velasco was born in Celaya, Mexico on April 24, 1933. His family did not have much money, so he started working when he was young. He helped at his family's small grocery store called La Violeta. He also worked as a messenger, a tractor operator, and a driver.

When he was young, he married Hortensia Ruiz. They had three children: Raúl, Claudia, and Arturo. Later, he divorced Hortensia and married Dorle Klokow. With Dorle, he had two more children, Karina and Diego.

At age twenty, he moved to Mexico City. This was a big dream for him. He started working as an accountant at a bank. At the same time, he began to write. He wrote many sports articles. Then, he started writing for magazines like Novelas de la radio, Cine Universal, Cine Novelas, and Cine Álbum.

Velasco became important in the world of entertainment. He became the head of the entertainment section for the El Heraldo de Mexico newspaper. He also worked at the Radio Variedades station. Later, he started hosting TV shows for Independent Television of Mexico (TIM). His first show was La reseña cinematografica de Acapulco. He also appeared on other TV programs like Confrontación 68, Media Noche, and Domingos espectaculares.

On December 13, 1969, Siempre en Domingo began. This show became one of the most popular music TV programs ever. It was shown in the United States, Central and South America, Europe, and Asia. It was broadcast by the Televisa Company. Over time, Velasco became a famous international TV personality. He also created other TV shows, such as Estrellas de los ochenta, Juguemos a Cantar, Festival OTI, and Galardón a los grandes.

Raúl Velasco's Career Journey

Raúl Velasco's career began with journalism. He wrote articles about a sport called frontenis for a sports magazine in Celaya. When he was 20, Velasco moved to Mexico City. He worked for the magazine Radio Novels. After that, he wrote for Cine Universal, Cine Novelas, and Cine Álbum. He then worked for newspapers like Novedades and El Heraldo. At El Heraldo, he was the editor of the entertainment section.

In 1969, he joined Television Independiente de México, which is now Televisa. Besides his famous show, he also acted in programs like Medianoche, Domingos espectaculares, Reseña cinematográfica de Acapulco, Confrontación 68, and El tigre. In 1998, he left Televisa. Even though his show was very popular, there were some disagreements with his co-workers. Many important artists honored him for his amazing career. They thanked him for being a part of Mexican homes for almost 30 years.

In 2002, he published his first book, Reflexiones, para vivir mejor (Reflections, to live better). The book had stories and thoughts about good values and spiritual life. He wrote it for people who want to find good feelings within themselves.

Siempre en Domingo TV Show

On September 13, 1969, a new music variety show started on television. It was called Siempre en Domingo (Always on Sunday). This show quickly became the most popular and traditional in Mexico. It gained fame in the USA, Latin America, Asia, and Europe.

Siempre en Domingo was a TV show where many artists performed. It was a place where new singers often got their start. At first, many artists on the show were from Spain, Central, and South America. But as the show grew, many Mexican singers also wanted to perform.

The show was sometimes criticized for its quality. Some people said it used pre-recorded music and lip-syncing.

Velasco, as the host, helped many singers become famous. These included Luis Miguel, Chayanne, Ricardo Arjona, Emmanuel, Manuel Mijares, Yuri, Timbiriche, Lynda Thomas, and Maná. He also introduced foreign artists like Julio Iglesias, Raphael, Miguel Bosé, and Ricky Martin. Many of these artists became famous around the world. Velasco also helped announcers, producers, and writers.

Siempre en Domingo became one of the most popular TV shows in Latin America. Velasco had a popular phrase, "patada de la suerte" (lucky kick). He would use this to encourage many artists who performed on his show every Sunday. According to Televisa, Siempre en Domingo had about 420 million viewers worldwide.

Many singers, choreographers, and recording companies found their start because of this TV show. Some people believe that Siempre en Domingo helped the entertainment business in Mexico grow a lot.

The show aired until 1998. Raúl Velasco was diagnosed with Hepatitis C and decided to retire. The last shows were held at Teatro Alameda in Mexico City.

Years later, in 2003, Marco Antonio Regil planned a new TV show similar to Siempre en Domingo. It aimed to keep the same "family values" and "originality." This new show, called Gran Musical, wanted to feature both popular and new acts.

Many international artists also performed on the show from 1969 until early 1998. These included Tina Turner, The Bee Gees, Whitney Houston, Bryan Adams, Cyndi Lauper, Olivia Newton-John, Barry Manilow, Donna Summer, Spice Girls, and Sting, among many others.

Raúl Velasco's Later Years and Passing

Raúl Velasco faced several health issues with his heart and liver. He was in the hospital many times. The last time he became ill, he chose to be cared for at home. On November 26, 2006, he passed away from complications of hepatitis C. He was 73 years old. He died at 7:15 am, surrounded by his family at his home in Polanco, Mexico City.

Velasco's funeral was a big event in Mexico. His body was buried in the “Panteón Francés” cemetery. Many fans, performers, and news reporters gathered to say their final goodbyes.

Raúl Velasco was survived by his wife, Dorle, whom he had been married to for 31 years. He also left behind three sons and two daughters. His son Arturo works as a director for Televisa Music in Mexico. Claudia is an interior designer. Raúl owns a landscaping company. Diego works as an independent TV producer in Mexico and the US. Karina followed her father's path and became a TV host, but she was active mostly when her father was at the peak of his career. At the time of his death, he had five grandsons and one granddaughter.

See also

In Spanish: Raúl Velasco para niños