Iglesias, Julio, << ee GLAY see ahs, HOO lee oh >> (1943-…), is one of the world’s most popular singers. He has attracted an international audience with his warm, romantic style. Iglesias was born in Spain and began his singing career performing in Spanish. He broadened his appeal by singing in English and several other languages. Iglesias performed his first hit song in 1968, and since then he has sold millions of recordings. He has also expanded his popularity through hundreds of live performances each year.
Iglesias was born in Madrid on Sept. 23, 1943. His full name is Julio José Iglesias de la Cueva. He planned to be a soccer player until he was injured in an automobile accident in 1963, ending his athletic career. He turned to singing and had the number-one hit in Spain in 1968 with his first song, “La Vida Sigue Igual,” which he also composed. By the late 1970’s, Iglesias had become world famous.
Iglesias entered the United States market with the album Julio (1983), a collection of previous recordings that was an enormous success. In 1984, he recorded “To All the Girls I’ve Loved Before,” a duet with American country singer Willie Nelson that became a huge hit. In 1994, Iglesias issued another best-selling album, Crazy, that included duets with Dolly Parton and Sting. Iglesias’s son Enrique is a popular Spanish singer and composer.
