Known to most by the mononym Emilio, he charted more than ten singles on the Billboard Hot Latin Tracks charts, in addition to six singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts. Emilio was also one of the few Tejano artists to have significant success in both the United States and Mexico, and was called the "Garth Brooks of Tejano". His biggest country hit was the No. 27 "It's Not the End of the World" in late 1995, and his highest-charting single on any chart is "Por Siempre Unidos," which peaked at No. 7 on Latin Pop Airplay in 1996. Along with Selena, Emilio was one of the most prominent artists that helped popularize Tejano music.
Emilio Navaira III was born on August 23, 1962, in San Antonio, Texas, to Mexican American parents, Emilio Navaira, Jr. and Mary Navaira. Growing up on the south side of San Antonio, Navaira found each influence in not only tejano legends such as Little Joe y la Familia, but also Lone Star country music heroes such as Willie Nelson, Bob Wills, and George Strait. As a student, Navaira graduated from McCollum High School in 1980, received a music scholarship to Texas State University, and majored in music with plans to become a teacher before ultimately deciding to pursue a career as an artist.
In 1983 at age 21, Emilio began his performing career by singing lead vocals for David Lee Garza y Los Musicales. In 1987, Cuantas Veces by David Lee Garza Y Los Musicales beat out Alpha by Mexican American singer Selena for Album of the Year at the Tejano Music Awards. In 1989, Navaira formed his own band, Emilio y Grupo Rio. That same year Emilio signed with Columbia Records (then known as CBS Records). This relationship resulted in Emilio recording more than fifteen studio albums to date, including several with his Rio Band.
By the mid 1990s, Emilio began crediting himself solely as Emilio, eventually switching his focus to country music. Between 1989 and 1996, Emilio had released seven Spanish albums with cumulative sales of about 2 million. This success lead to mainstream commercial exposure, with companies such as Coca-Cola and Wrangler Jeans using his songs in their advertisements in the 1990s. Emilio had also gained a sponsorship with Miller Lite beer, who had persuaded him to use their slogan at the time, "Life is good," as the title of his first country album.
Emilio signed with Capitol Records and released his first country music single called "It's Not the End of the World" which reached the Top 30 on the country charts in 1995. His album was a surprise success as well reaching No. 13 on the country charts and also a high placing on the Top 200. Several more singles including a Spanish version of "It's Not the End of the World" followed but none of these singles came close to the Top 40 except "Even If I Tried" which reached No. 41 in 1996. In 1997, he released a second country album, "It's On The House" but it was not as successful as his first country album. Two more minor country singles followed and gradually Emilio faded from country music and increasingly came back to Tejano music.
His 2002 album Acuérdate won the Grammy Award for Best Tejano Album and his 2007 album De Nuevo won the Latin Grammy Award for Best Tejano Album.
Navaira has five children. His three children from his first marriage to Cynthia Navaira also perform for Grupo Rio. Emilio Navaira IV plays drums, and Diego Navaira plays guitar and daughter Emely. He also has two from his second marriage to Maru Navaira, who he divorced in June 2011.
Navaira has two siblings: Raul "Raulito" Navaira, who performs back-up vocals for Grupo Rio; and Yvette Navaira. Navaira was a Republican.
He also was good friends with some of the best musicians in Texas, such as Selena Quintanilla Perez and drummer Edwardo Rivas to name a few.
Navaira was hospitalized in critical condition after his tour bus crashed early in the morning on March 23, 2008, in Bellaire (a small municipality partially surrounded by Houston, Texas). Navaira had performed the previous night at Hallabaloos, a Houston nightclub and he was at the wheel of the tour bus as it traveled north along west 610 Loop near the Southwest Freeway when it crashed into a set of freeway barrels shortly before 4 a.m. Emilio was taken by Life Flight to Memorial Hermann Hospital where a blood clot in his head was removed; Emilio's initial treatment included being kept in a medically induced coma and induced hypothermia to minimize brain swelling. Doctors cautioned that he might not survive.
A March 27, 2008 press release from Memorial Hermann Hospital reported that on the evening of March 26 Emilio "opened his eyes and moved his arms and legs." On April 4, 2008, the hospital announced that Emilio underwent a surgical procedure on March 31 to repair a pseudoaneurysm in his right lung and that he remained in critical condition. On April 16, 2008, he was upgraded to fair condition. On April 23, the hospital announced that Emilio was transferred to TIRR Memorial Hermann as part of his rehabilitative care.
On May 1, 2008, police released initial reports that indicated that Emilio was intoxicated at the time of the crash. On May 8, the full report was released which indicated that Emilio had a blood alcohol content of 0.19, more than twice the legal limit in Texas. Authorities also indicated that Emilio was not licensed to drive a bus.
On September 24, 2008, Emilio was involved in another car accident in San Antonio as a passenger while his wife was driving. According to a witness, the Navairas were stopped in a turn lane when a truck crossed at least two lanes of traffic and struck their vehicle. Both Emilio and his wife Maria were released from the hospital the following day. Emilio's agent, Joe Casias, stated that Emilio and his wife were headed home from a rehabilitation therapy appointment stemming from the March tour bus accident.
Emilio was found dead by his wife in his New Braunfels home on May 16, 2016. He was 53. Emilio performed his last known concert in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico, on May 11, 2016, as part of a concert celebrating Mother's Day in that city.
Naciste Para Mi
Emilio Navaira Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Naciste para mi ehh
Que bonito amanece el día
Despertando pensando en ti
Son tus modos que traen alegría
Es tu cuerpo me hace enloquecer
Esos labios con que tú me besas
Son tus ojos con que tú me miras
Que no aguanto tanto sonreír
Naciste para mi no hay nadie mas feliz
Contigo he de morir naciste para mi
Naciste para mi no hay nadie mas feliz
Contigo he de morir naciste para mi
Que bonito es la noche serena
Cuando duermo pensando en ti
Son tus modos que traen alegría
En mis sueños me hacen sonreír
Esos labios con que tú me besas
Dicen cosas que me hacen feliz
Son tus ojos con que tú me miras
Que no aguanto tanto sonreír
The lyrics to Emilio Navaira's "Naciste Para Mi" express the intense love and devotion the singer has for someone special. The song begins with the powerful statement that this person was born for him, and he will die with them by their side, signifying an unbreakable bond between the two. The beauty of the day and night, even his dreams, are all enhanced by the presence of his loved one, and their mannerisms bring him endless joy. The lyrics focus on the way this person looks at and touches the singer, using their eyes and lips to convey their adoration and happiness. The repetition of "Naciste para mi" emphasizes the singer's belief that this person was meant to be in his life and there is no one else who can make him as happy.
Overall, the lyrics paint a picture of a love that is all-consuming and overwhelming. The singer feels that without this person, life would be incomplete and they would be lost. Through their words and actions, this person has shown the singer what it truly means to love and be loved, bringing unending joy and happiness into their life.
Line by Line Meaning
Naciste para mi contigo he de morir
You were born for me, and I will die with you
Naciste para mi ehh
You were born for me, hey
Que bonito amanece el día
What a beautiful daybreak
Despertando pensando en ti
Waking up thinking of you
Son tus modos que traen alegría
It's your ways that bring joy
Es tu cuerpo me hace enloquecer
It's your body that drives me crazy
Esos labios con que tú me besas
Those lips with which you kiss me
Dicen cosas que me hacen feliz
They say things that make me happy
Son tus ojos con que tú me miras
It's your eyes with which you look at me
Que no aguanto tanto sonreír
That I can't stop smiling so much
Naciste para mi no hay nadie mas feliz
You were born for me, there's no one happier
Contigo he de morir naciste para mi
With you I will die, you were born for me
Que bonito es la noche serena
How beautiful is the calm night
Cuando duermo pensando en ti
When I sleep thinking of you
En mis sueños me hacen sonreír
You make me smile in my dreams
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: EMILIO NAVAIRA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Cobra Alaniz
Always loved this song 🎵
Amy Corona
I loved listening to Emilio growing up as a kid.. my grandma was a huge emilio fan! brings back memories! we lost a legend! RIP
Jan Gar
❤ this song! Enjoy listening to it ,drinking a beer.
Robert Diaz
Mr Navaira you will be missed , I had the pleasure of watching u perform while growing up loved your music My condolences to all your Family May u rest and your soul find peace . Always in our hearts Emilo from the Diaz Fam
djdetonator23
All these years, blows my mind he used a Boston song as a sample for this song. It fits so well too.
Guadalupe Hipolito
Loving this song 😍😍😍
Ruben Rocha
He is gone, his music lives on...Always in our hearts...Ruben& Angie..Funky Town..U.S.A.
Fonzo Hernandez
I love Tejano music since i was a kid, I listen and play heavy metal and classic rock does anyone else think the beginning to this song sounds almost identical to Boston's song- more than a feeling?
ajazmin68
Fonzo Hernandez i always hear Boston when i hear this song..love it.
ed lira
Emilio was a huge boston fan, its a tribute to them...