José José (José Rómulo Sosa Ortiz, Mexico City, Mexico, February 17, 1948 —… Read Full Bio ↴José José (José Rómulo Sosa Ortiz, Mexico City, Mexico, February 17, 1948 — September 28, 2019) was a Mexican singer, musician and occasional actor.
Born into a family of musicians and raised in Mexico City, José began his musical career in his early teens playing guitar and singing in serenades. He later joined a jazz and bossa nova trio where he sang and played bass and double bass. José found success as a solo artist in the early 1970s. Demonstrating his tenor vocal ability with a stunning performance of the song "El Triste" at a Latin music festival held in Mexico City in 1970, he climbed the Latin charts during that decade. Having achieved recognition as a balladeer, his singing garnered universal critical acclaim from musical peers and media.
In the 1980s, after signing with Ariola Records, José rose to international prominence as one of the most popular and talented Latin performers. His 1983 album Secretos has sold over 7 million units. With many international hits, he received several Grammy nominations and recognition worldwide. He sold out in venues such as Madison Square Garden and Radio City Music Hall. His music reached non-Spanish-speaking countries like Japan, Israel and Russia. José has also forged a career as an actor, starring in movies such as Gavilán o Paloma and Perdóname Todo.
Also known in the entertainment world as El Príncipe de la Canción (The Prince of Song), his performance and vocal style have influenced many Latin pop artists in a career that has spanned more than four decades.[4][5][6] Because of his vocals and popularity, José José is considered by Latin audience and media as an icon of Latin pop music and one of the most emblematic Mexican singers of his time.
José Rómulo Sosa Ortiz was born on 17 February 1948 in Azcapotzalco, Mexico City. He was raised in a Roman Catholic family of gifted musicians. His father, José Sosa Esquivel, was an operatic tenor (tenor comprimario) and his mother, Margarita Ortiz, was a classical pianist; neither achieved much success. When José showed interest in singing, they tried to discourage him claiming that it was too difficult to be successful in show business. In 1963, when he was fifteen years old, his mother gave him his first piano. In that time, his reportedly alcoholic father abandoned the family forcing José to work to help his mother and younger brother.
In his early teens, José began his attempts to become a singer. He started his career with serenades. Later, he co-founded a bossa nova and jazz trio called Los PEG, in which he sang and played bass and double bass. The band played at Mexico City's major jazz venues where musicians including Dizzy Gillespie, Erroll Garner, Antonio Carlos Jobim and João Gilberto used to play.
In 1967, looking for a solo career, he signed a minor contract to produce two singles under the name "Pepe Sosa". As Pepe Sosa he released the songs "El mundo" (Jimmy Fontana's "Il Mondo") and "Ma Vie" without success. José returned to serenades and playing with Los PEG in night clubs. He left Los PEG, and took the artistic name "José José" in honor of his father, who had recently died of alcoholism. He joined his first name "José" with his father's first name - also José - from whom he says he inherited his voice. He signed a contract with RCA Victor and recorded his first album: José José (also known as Cuidado). The album featured songs by Rubén Fuentes and Armando Manzanero. It was arranged by Mario Patrón, who was considered the best jazz musician of Mexico, and employed Brazilian percussionist Mayuto Correa, who was in Mexico City playing with bossa nova stars João Gilberto, Carlos Lira, Leny Andrade and Tamba Trio. The album's sound is a combination of boleros and romantic ballads with a jazz and bossa nova influence. The quality of his debut album garnered praise from critics but did not achieve much popular success.
By the late 1960s his fame increased as he was featured on several TV shows performing his songs live. With songs such as "Una mañana" and "Cuidado", José started to get attention from the Mexican audience and media.
In early 1970 he released the song "La nave del olvido" which became his first big hit in Mexico and Latin America, and recorded his second album: La Nave Del Olvido. José's big break came on March 15, 1970, when he represented Mexico in the international song festival the II Festival de la Canción Latina (Latin Song Festival II, predecessor of the OTI Festival) with a performance of the song "El Triste". He received standing ovations and cheers from Angélica María, Alberto Vázquez, Marco Antonio Muñiz, the judges and the audience in the Teatro Ferrocarrilero in Mexico City. José José finished in third place which shocked the audience. Thanks to "El Triste", his popular romantic ballad style mixed with a unique voice made him a major star in Mexico. His first international tour included Los Angeles, Miami, Puerto Rico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Brazil and Argentina. He played leading roles in such minor films as Sueño de amor and La carrera del millón. José performed concerts at the Hollywood Palladium and the Hollywood Bowl.
During the early 1970s, José José became one of the best known romantic ballad singers in Latin America. He was featured constantly on popular Mexican television shows, where he shared stage with icons of the Hispanic music scene such as Marco Antonio Muñiz, Pedro Vargas and Carlos Lico among others. In 1974, he performed at the Casino Royale & Hotel in Las Vegas.
He had many international hits and toured Latin America several times during the early to mid-1970s. His main hits were: "Del altar a la tumba", "Buscando una sonrisa", "De pueblo en pueblo", "Soy como quieras tú" (Mina's "Sono, come tu mi vuoi"), "Cuando tu me quieras", "Hasta que vuelvas", "Candilejas" (Charles Chaplin's "Terry's Theme"), "Paloma 'Cada mañana que te vas'", "Sentimientos", "Vive", "Dejame conocerte" (Paul Anka's "Let Me Get To Know You"), "Divina Ilusión" and "Sabrás que te quiero". "El Príncipe" (The Prince) is the song that earned him the nickname El Príncipe de la canción (The Prince of Song).
In 1977, José signed with Ariola Records (today part of Sony BMG) and recorded Reencuentro in London. The album's main hits " El amar y el querer" and "Gavilán o paloma" garnered universal acclaim and increased his popularity. Between 1978 and 1980, he achieved great success with the albums Volcán, Lo Pasado, Pasado and Si Me Dejas Ahora. The main hits from these were: "O tú o yo", "Farolero", "Volcán", "Lo que un dia fué no será", "Lo pasado, pasado", "Si me dejas ahora", "Te quiero tal como eres" and "Almohada".
In 1980, José released the album Amor Amor, recorded in Los Angeles. Singles released from it included: "Insaciable amante", "No me digas que te vas", "Amor Amor" and the classic bolero "No me platiques mas". He later recorded Romántico. On this album, he recorded classic boleros with a touch of romantic ballad, bringing some bolero songs back to mainstream. In 1981 Gracias was released. The songs "Me basta" and "Preso" were its main hits. José released the highly successful Mi Vida in 1982. The album featured the hits: "Desesperado" and "Mi vida" (an autobiographic song written by his future partner Rafael Pérez-Botija). José co-produced his albums and wrote songs like "Si alguna vez" and "Amor para los dos". He did a duet with Lani Hall on the hit "Te quiero así". José's performance was sold-out for seven days in a row at the National Auditorium and a month in the popular night club El Patio. He recorded the Spanish version of the hit "New York, New York", as a tribute to Frank Sinatra.
In 1983, José released what proved to be by far the biggest album of his career: Secretos. It was written and produced by Manuel Alejandro and recorded in Spain. This was also his first album with a music video produced for each song. Its main hits were: "Lo dudo", "El amor acaba", "Lagrimas", "He renunciado a ti", and "A esa". Secretos was nominated for Best Latin Pop Performance in the Grammy Awards of 1985. It has sold over 7 million copies. Following the release of Secretos, José continued the international success. He released Reflexiones in 1984. The album was written, produced and arranged by Rafael Pérez-Botija. The songs: "Payaso", "Seré", "Tu ganas", "De hombre a hombre", and "¿Y qué?" were the main hits. Reflexiones sold over 2 million copies worldwide, became his first number- one on the Billboard Latin Pop Albums, and was nominated for Best Latin Pop Performance in the 1986 Grammy Awards. Later, José José joined José Feliciano to release a duet that became a major hit for both: "Por ella". The song was nominated for Best Latin Pop Performance in the 1986 Grammy.
In 1985, José José along with performers such as Plácido Domingo, Julio Iglesias, Roberto Carlos, José Luis Rodríguez "El Puma", Pedro Vargas and Vicente Fernández sang "Cantaré, cantarás". It was recorded in Los Angeles in April 1985 at the A&M Studios, the same studio used for "We Are The World". The same year, José starred in his autobiographic film Gavilán o Paloma, alongside Christian Bach and the comedian Jorge Ortiz de Pinedo. Later that year, he released the album Promesas, written, produced and arranged by Pérez-Botija. Its main hits were "Amantes", "Me vas a echar de menos", "Más", and "Tú me estás volviendo loco". The single "Pruébame" was nominated for Best Latin Pop Performance at the 1987 Grammy Awards. Promesas became his second number-one album on the Billboard Latin Pop Albums. He received two Billboard awards: Top Latin Artist and Top Latin Album of 1985. On his next album Siempre Contigo in 1986 he worked with the Spanish producer and guitarist Paco Cepero. The songs: "Corre y ve con él", "Sin saber" and "¿Y Quién Puede Ser?" were its main hits. It was nominated for Best Latin Pop Performance in the Grammy Awards of 1988 and became his third number-one album on the Billboard Latin Pop Albums chart.
In 1987, he released Soy Así, again written and produced by Rafael Pérez-Botija. It was nominated for Best Latin Pop Performance in the 1989 Grammy Awards and became his fourth number-one album on the Billboard Latin Pop Albums. Soy Así included four successful singles: the title track reached the number-one position on the Billboard Hot Latin Tracks chart while "Mi Hembra" peaked at number five, "Salúdamela Mucho" reached number 22, and "Vergüenza Me Da Quererte" reached number 8.
During the 1980s, José José sold out Madison Square Garden, The Dunes and performed several sessions at the Las Vegas Hilton, Greek Theatre, Gibson Amphitheatre and the Tropicana Casino and Resort Atlantic City among others. He was referred to as Mexico's Top Singer in advertising for his shows. On 20 August 1988, he sold out Radio City Music Hall. That same year, José traveled to Israel and performed in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. In 1988, he played the role of the Mexican singer and composer Álvaro Carrillo in the movie Sabor A Mí, co-starring Angelica Aragón. In 1989, José sold out two massive concerts at the Plaza México, gathering over 100,000 people. The album ¿Qué Es El Amor? included the hit singles "Piel de azucar" and "Como Tú", and José reached to the top of popularity lists. The single "Como tú" spent ten weeks at number-one on the Billboard Hot Latin Tracks chart.
In 1990, Raúl Velasco made a special TV show to celebrate José's 25th career anniversary. The show, broadcast by Televisa, lasted over five hours and featured special guests such as Armando Manzanero, Libertad Lamarque, Vicente Fernández and Marco Antonio Muñiz. In 1990, he released the hit "Amnesia" of the album En las Buenas... y en las Malas. The single lasted 21 weeks on the charts and peaked at number-one on Billboard Hot Latin Tracks, while his next single "Atrapado", spent 16 weeks and peaked at number 7. In 1992, he released another hit: "40 y 20". From the same titled album, the song speaks about men who fall in love with women that are much younger than them and the reaction of the society to those situations. "40 y 20" lasted over 17 weeks on the charts and peaked at number four. His next single "Eso no más", spent 15 weeks and peaked at number five.
By the early 1990s, José's vocals began to deteriorate. It worsened over time and became evident in his live performances. His excessive drinking and unceasing activity of his career caused his voice to falter.
On August 1993, to commemorate the allegedly 30th anniversary of José's career, BMG hosted a tribute in the city of Puerto Vallarta. It was called 30 Años de ser el Príncipe (30 years of being the Prince). The tribute included some of the most prestigious artists of Spanish music such as Rocío Dúrcal, Camilo Sesto, Armando Manzanero, Marco Antonio Muñiz and Raúl di Blasio. The tribute coincided with his recent divorce, a serious relapse into alcoholism and a significant loss of vocal abilities. He appeared to be in poor physical shape, too thin and lacking energy. Camilo Sesto even took a break in the middle of the presentation to speak words of encouragement. The album was not released until 1994. At that time, José suffered the worst stage of alcoholism of his life. During 1993, he retired from the stage and went into rehab. Upon completion of his rehabilitation, he started seasons in places like the famous "Teatro Blanquita" of Mexico City, and the Gibson Amphitheatre in Los Angeles, among others.
In 1994, after the success achieved a decade before with Secretos, José re-teamed with Manuel Alejandro and released the album Grandeza Mexicana. The title track peaked at number 12 on Billboard Hot Latin Tracks and spent over seven weeks on the charts. He did a duet with his son José Joél in the song "La fuerza de la sangre", second single of the album. In 1995, he played the lead role in the movie Perdóname Todo, a drama about an alcoholic has-been and how he tries to survive against himself and the music business. That same year, his album "Mujeriego" was released. It sold more than 180,000 copies in its first two weeks and reached number 12 on the Billboard Latin charts. The song "Llora corazón" lasted 11 weeks on the charts and peaked at number 6, while the second single, the title track, spent only two weeks on the charts. On 9 May 1996, "Llora corazón" was nominated for Pop Song of the Year in the Lo Nuestro Awards.
In 1996, he performed a duet with Paul Anka on "Déjame Conocerte (Let me Get to Know You)" from Anka's Latin album Amigos. In 1997, he performed at the Bally's Atlantic City.[30] His last album of the decade, Distancia, was released in 1998. A video of the single "Ojala que te mueras" was released. On September 1999, he joined fellow countrymen Armando Manzanero, Marco Antonio Muñiz and Argentine pianist Raúl di Blasio for a series of concerts dubbed "Noche Bohemia" (Bohemian Night) at the Gibson Amphitheatre in Los Angeles.
In 2001, with a deteriorating voice he recorded Tenampa. It was his first studio album with mariachi and the last one of his career. It was written and produced completely by Juan Gabriel. The single "Cada vez y cada vez" lasted two weeks on the charts. Tenampa received poor reviews and sold only about 500,000 units. After that, he retired from recording full-length albums. His vocal problems worsened, affecting not only his ability to sing, but also to speak. In 2003, BMG released a collection of three albums entitled El Principe Con Trio with some of his greatest hits recorded between 1969 and 1983, separated from the original accompaniment, remastered and accompanied by the guitar trio "Los Tres Caballeros", transforming them into boleros. The technical work was overseen by José's long-time colleague Rafael Pérez Botija, who also directed and composed some of the original recordings. This collection of concept albums was a sales success.
In the mid-2000s, José appeared briefly as the Mystery Musician in the American movie Sueño and played the role of Erasmo Padilla (the father of Leticia "Lety" Padilla) in La Fea Más Bella, a successful Mexican version of the Colombian production Betty la Fea (adapted in the US as Ugly Betty). In 2006, José participated as a vocal coach in Televisa's hit show, Cantando por un sueño. In 2007, he won a TVyNovelas Award for best supporting actor for his work in La Fea Más Bella.
José released Mis Duetos in 2007, an album featuring duets he recorded in the past. However, it featured two new songs, "E-mail me" with his youngest daughter Sara, and "Aunque vivas con él" with pop singer Reyli. In 2008, José recorded an emotive song called "Volver a creer" ("Believe Again") with Yanni. The song is included on the album Yanni Voces. Yanni stated that he wanted to "help a true legend to fulfill his dream, to sing again". José José was invited by Yanni to sing their song live on Yanni's tour in Mexico. He published his autobiography Esta es mi vida (This is My Life).
In 2010, he released José José Ranchero, another concept album with some of his greatest hits, separated from the original accompaniment, remastered and accompanied with mariachi, giving his classics a traditional Mexican sound. The same year, José launched his own perfume, called simply "José José", the profits from sales help women and children sick with HIV/AIDS.
José was planning a new, untitled album, adding that it would consist of nine unreleased tracks and a melody he used to sing in serenades "Que viva mi tristeza", from songwriter Armando Manzanero. It was never completed due to his vocal problems. In 2011, he went on the short Mexican tour "José José y sus amigos" (José José and friends), with singers Dulce, Carlos Cuevas, Celso Piña, and Chamin Correa.
Throughout his career, José José has been very open about his personal life with the press and his audience. He constantly grants interviews and answers questions about his family, friends, alcoholism, financial problems, health issues, and other subjects.
In 1970 he started a relationship with TV hostess, actress, and model Ana Elena Noreña, known in show business as Anel. That year they split and he married Natalia "Kiki" Herrera Calles, a socialite twenty years older. He separated from Herrera and returned to Anel shortly after. He divorced Herrera in 1975 and married Anel in 1976. They had two children: their first-born José Francisco (known as José Joél) who was born in 1975, and their daughter Marysol Estrella, born in 1982.
José told Selecciones magazine that from 1985 to 1987, he underwent a serious personal crisis because his life "was spent on airplanes, tour buses and locked in a hotel room". In 1991 he divorced Anel. Several years before he finished his partnership with his manager Manuel Noreña, Anel's brother. In 1995 he married Sara Salazar, his third wife. The same year during a Latin American tour, his third child Sara was born. He lived in Miami, Florida with his wife.
José said that he started drinking at the age of fifteen, when his father (an alcoholic) left home.[43] As a result of his alcoholism, he developed a cocaine habit.
He stated that his addiction was because he "was frail, weak, innocent, ignorant, weak-willed and did not know how to say no". In the early 1970s, after the success of "El Triste", he fell into alcoholism but with help of his friends and family he managed to stop drinking for a while. His ongoing battle against alcoholism continued during the 1970s and 1980s. He attended AA meetings and stopped drinking for periods of time, but fell steadily into the addiction. After his divorce from Anel in 1991 he reached his lowest point, reportedly declaring that he wanted to die drinking. With the help of his friends, family and fellow artists, he decided to go to rehab. He went to the Hazelden clinic in Minnesota for rehab and remains a sober recovering alcoholic.
José suffered from a severe case of pneumonia in 1972 and his thoracic diaphragm was paralyzed. The disease almost ended his career. He recovered after months of therapy involving breathing exercises. One of his lungs was permanently damaged.
In 1987 he underwent an operation at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center to remove nodes in his vocal fold as a consequence of the excessive use of cortisone before singing, alcohol use, and the lack of rest after many of his performances. José would suffer dire consequences from his problem with alcoholism, as his health faltered dearly during the 1990s. He developed diabetes.
In 2001, he suffered from a case of emphysema.[45] The effects of alcoholism, the abuse of cortisone, and his hiatus hernia have not only affected his ability to sing but also to talk. In 2007, he suffered from Bell's palsy. As a result of all these problems, he has fought a serious depression in recent years. He acknowledged this during an interview on the Univision program Don Francisco Presenta..., hosted by Don Francisco. He struggled with diabetic retinopathy in one of his eyes undergoing a successful operation. In 2012, he underwent a stomach surgery due to gastritis. In November 2013, he underwent an operation to remove cataracts from one of his eyes.
José has made his current financial problems public. Despite being one of the most recognized Latin artists for decades, his alcoholism caused him serious monetary loss. His career declined when he lost his vocal ability, stopping income from live performances. He claims that during his career he was constantly defrauded by people close to him, including his former wife Anel and her brother. On November 2008, his current wife suffered from a cerebral haemorrhage, José stated that the medical bills nearly caused him to go bankrupt. He told TV Notas magazine that he and his family live "day by day" and in 2014, he sold his five-million-dollar house in Coral Gables, Florida and moved to an apartment in Miami.
In March 2017, he announced that he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
On 28 September 2019, José José died of the cancer on Miami, Florida at the age of 71.
Born into a family of musicians and raised in Mexico City, José began his musical career in his early teens playing guitar and singing in serenades. He later joined a jazz and bossa nova trio where he sang and played bass and double bass. José found success as a solo artist in the early 1970s. Demonstrating his tenor vocal ability with a stunning performance of the song "El Triste" at a Latin music festival held in Mexico City in 1970, he climbed the Latin charts during that decade. Having achieved recognition as a balladeer, his singing garnered universal critical acclaim from musical peers and media.
In the 1980s, after signing with Ariola Records, José rose to international prominence as one of the most popular and talented Latin performers. His 1983 album Secretos has sold over 7 million units. With many international hits, he received several Grammy nominations and recognition worldwide. He sold out in venues such as Madison Square Garden and Radio City Music Hall. His music reached non-Spanish-speaking countries like Japan, Israel and Russia. José has also forged a career as an actor, starring in movies such as Gavilán o Paloma and Perdóname Todo.
Also known in the entertainment world as El Príncipe de la Canción (The Prince of Song), his performance and vocal style have influenced many Latin pop artists in a career that has spanned more than four decades.[4][5][6] Because of his vocals and popularity, José José is considered by Latin audience and media as an icon of Latin pop music and one of the most emblematic Mexican singers of his time.
José Rómulo Sosa Ortiz was born on 17 February 1948 in Azcapotzalco, Mexico City. He was raised in a Roman Catholic family of gifted musicians. His father, José Sosa Esquivel, was an operatic tenor (tenor comprimario) and his mother, Margarita Ortiz, was a classical pianist; neither achieved much success. When José showed interest in singing, they tried to discourage him claiming that it was too difficult to be successful in show business. In 1963, when he was fifteen years old, his mother gave him his first piano. In that time, his reportedly alcoholic father abandoned the family forcing José to work to help his mother and younger brother.
In his early teens, José began his attempts to become a singer. He started his career with serenades. Later, he co-founded a bossa nova and jazz trio called Los PEG, in which he sang and played bass and double bass. The band played at Mexico City's major jazz venues where musicians including Dizzy Gillespie, Erroll Garner, Antonio Carlos Jobim and João Gilberto used to play.
In 1967, looking for a solo career, he signed a minor contract to produce two singles under the name "Pepe Sosa". As Pepe Sosa he released the songs "El mundo" (Jimmy Fontana's "Il Mondo") and "Ma Vie" without success. José returned to serenades and playing with Los PEG in night clubs. He left Los PEG, and took the artistic name "José José" in honor of his father, who had recently died of alcoholism. He joined his first name "José" with his father's first name - also José - from whom he says he inherited his voice. He signed a contract with RCA Victor and recorded his first album: José José (also known as Cuidado). The album featured songs by Rubén Fuentes and Armando Manzanero. It was arranged by Mario Patrón, who was considered the best jazz musician of Mexico, and employed Brazilian percussionist Mayuto Correa, who was in Mexico City playing with bossa nova stars João Gilberto, Carlos Lira, Leny Andrade and Tamba Trio. The album's sound is a combination of boleros and romantic ballads with a jazz and bossa nova influence. The quality of his debut album garnered praise from critics but did not achieve much popular success.
By the late 1960s his fame increased as he was featured on several TV shows performing his songs live. With songs such as "Una mañana" and "Cuidado", José started to get attention from the Mexican audience and media.
In early 1970 he released the song "La nave del olvido" which became his first big hit in Mexico and Latin America, and recorded his second album: La Nave Del Olvido. José's big break came on March 15, 1970, when he represented Mexico in the international song festival the II Festival de la Canción Latina (Latin Song Festival II, predecessor of the OTI Festival) with a performance of the song "El Triste". He received standing ovations and cheers from Angélica María, Alberto Vázquez, Marco Antonio Muñiz, the judges and the audience in the Teatro Ferrocarrilero in Mexico City. José José finished in third place which shocked the audience. Thanks to "El Triste", his popular romantic ballad style mixed with a unique voice made him a major star in Mexico. His first international tour included Los Angeles, Miami, Puerto Rico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Brazil and Argentina. He played leading roles in such minor films as Sueño de amor and La carrera del millón. José performed concerts at the Hollywood Palladium and the Hollywood Bowl.
During the early 1970s, José José became one of the best known romantic ballad singers in Latin America. He was featured constantly on popular Mexican television shows, where he shared stage with icons of the Hispanic music scene such as Marco Antonio Muñiz, Pedro Vargas and Carlos Lico among others. In 1974, he performed at the Casino Royale & Hotel in Las Vegas.
He had many international hits and toured Latin America several times during the early to mid-1970s. His main hits were: "Del altar a la tumba", "Buscando una sonrisa", "De pueblo en pueblo", "Soy como quieras tú" (Mina's "Sono, come tu mi vuoi"), "Cuando tu me quieras", "Hasta que vuelvas", "Candilejas" (Charles Chaplin's "Terry's Theme"), "Paloma 'Cada mañana que te vas'", "Sentimientos", "Vive", "Dejame conocerte" (Paul Anka's "Let Me Get To Know You"), "Divina Ilusión" and "Sabrás que te quiero". "El Príncipe" (The Prince) is the song that earned him the nickname El Príncipe de la canción (The Prince of Song).
In 1977, José signed with Ariola Records (today part of Sony BMG) and recorded Reencuentro in London. The album's main hits " El amar y el querer" and "Gavilán o paloma" garnered universal acclaim and increased his popularity. Between 1978 and 1980, he achieved great success with the albums Volcán, Lo Pasado, Pasado and Si Me Dejas Ahora. The main hits from these were: "O tú o yo", "Farolero", "Volcán", "Lo que un dia fué no será", "Lo pasado, pasado", "Si me dejas ahora", "Te quiero tal como eres" and "Almohada".
In 1980, José released the album Amor Amor, recorded in Los Angeles. Singles released from it included: "Insaciable amante", "No me digas que te vas", "Amor Amor" and the classic bolero "No me platiques mas". He later recorded Romántico. On this album, he recorded classic boleros with a touch of romantic ballad, bringing some bolero songs back to mainstream. In 1981 Gracias was released. The songs "Me basta" and "Preso" were its main hits. José released the highly successful Mi Vida in 1982. The album featured the hits: "Desesperado" and "Mi vida" (an autobiographic song written by his future partner Rafael Pérez-Botija). José co-produced his albums and wrote songs like "Si alguna vez" and "Amor para los dos". He did a duet with Lani Hall on the hit "Te quiero así". José's performance was sold-out for seven days in a row at the National Auditorium and a month in the popular night club El Patio. He recorded the Spanish version of the hit "New York, New York", as a tribute to Frank Sinatra.
In 1983, José released what proved to be by far the biggest album of his career: Secretos. It was written and produced by Manuel Alejandro and recorded in Spain. This was also his first album with a music video produced for each song. Its main hits were: "Lo dudo", "El amor acaba", "Lagrimas", "He renunciado a ti", and "A esa". Secretos was nominated for Best Latin Pop Performance in the Grammy Awards of 1985. It has sold over 7 million copies. Following the release of Secretos, José continued the international success. He released Reflexiones in 1984. The album was written, produced and arranged by Rafael Pérez-Botija. The songs: "Payaso", "Seré", "Tu ganas", "De hombre a hombre", and "¿Y qué?" were the main hits. Reflexiones sold over 2 million copies worldwide, became his first number- one on the Billboard Latin Pop Albums, and was nominated for Best Latin Pop Performance in the 1986 Grammy Awards. Later, José José joined José Feliciano to release a duet that became a major hit for both: "Por ella". The song was nominated for Best Latin Pop Performance in the 1986 Grammy.
In 1985, José José along with performers such as Plácido Domingo, Julio Iglesias, Roberto Carlos, José Luis Rodríguez "El Puma", Pedro Vargas and Vicente Fernández sang "Cantaré, cantarás". It was recorded in Los Angeles in April 1985 at the A&M Studios, the same studio used for "We Are The World". The same year, José starred in his autobiographic film Gavilán o Paloma, alongside Christian Bach and the comedian Jorge Ortiz de Pinedo. Later that year, he released the album Promesas, written, produced and arranged by Pérez-Botija. Its main hits were "Amantes", "Me vas a echar de menos", "Más", and "Tú me estás volviendo loco". The single "Pruébame" was nominated for Best Latin Pop Performance at the 1987 Grammy Awards. Promesas became his second number-one album on the Billboard Latin Pop Albums. He received two Billboard awards: Top Latin Artist and Top Latin Album of 1985. On his next album Siempre Contigo in 1986 he worked with the Spanish producer and guitarist Paco Cepero. The songs: "Corre y ve con él", "Sin saber" and "¿Y Quién Puede Ser?" were its main hits. It was nominated for Best Latin Pop Performance in the Grammy Awards of 1988 and became his third number-one album on the Billboard Latin Pop Albums chart.
In 1987, he released Soy Así, again written and produced by Rafael Pérez-Botija. It was nominated for Best Latin Pop Performance in the 1989 Grammy Awards and became his fourth number-one album on the Billboard Latin Pop Albums. Soy Así included four successful singles: the title track reached the number-one position on the Billboard Hot Latin Tracks chart while "Mi Hembra" peaked at number five, "Salúdamela Mucho" reached number 22, and "Vergüenza Me Da Quererte" reached number 8.
During the 1980s, José José sold out Madison Square Garden, The Dunes and performed several sessions at the Las Vegas Hilton, Greek Theatre, Gibson Amphitheatre and the Tropicana Casino and Resort Atlantic City among others. He was referred to as Mexico's Top Singer in advertising for his shows. On 20 August 1988, he sold out Radio City Music Hall. That same year, José traveled to Israel and performed in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. In 1988, he played the role of the Mexican singer and composer Álvaro Carrillo in the movie Sabor A Mí, co-starring Angelica Aragón. In 1989, José sold out two massive concerts at the Plaza México, gathering over 100,000 people. The album ¿Qué Es El Amor? included the hit singles "Piel de azucar" and "Como Tú", and José reached to the top of popularity lists. The single "Como tú" spent ten weeks at number-one on the Billboard Hot Latin Tracks chart.
In 1990, Raúl Velasco made a special TV show to celebrate José's 25th career anniversary. The show, broadcast by Televisa, lasted over five hours and featured special guests such as Armando Manzanero, Libertad Lamarque, Vicente Fernández and Marco Antonio Muñiz. In 1990, he released the hit "Amnesia" of the album En las Buenas... y en las Malas. The single lasted 21 weeks on the charts and peaked at number-one on Billboard Hot Latin Tracks, while his next single "Atrapado", spent 16 weeks and peaked at number 7. In 1992, he released another hit: "40 y 20". From the same titled album, the song speaks about men who fall in love with women that are much younger than them and the reaction of the society to those situations. "40 y 20" lasted over 17 weeks on the charts and peaked at number four. His next single "Eso no más", spent 15 weeks and peaked at number five.
By the early 1990s, José's vocals began to deteriorate. It worsened over time and became evident in his live performances. His excessive drinking and unceasing activity of his career caused his voice to falter.
On August 1993, to commemorate the allegedly 30th anniversary of José's career, BMG hosted a tribute in the city of Puerto Vallarta. It was called 30 Años de ser el Príncipe (30 years of being the Prince). The tribute included some of the most prestigious artists of Spanish music such as Rocío Dúrcal, Camilo Sesto, Armando Manzanero, Marco Antonio Muñiz and Raúl di Blasio. The tribute coincided with his recent divorce, a serious relapse into alcoholism and a significant loss of vocal abilities. He appeared to be in poor physical shape, too thin and lacking energy. Camilo Sesto even took a break in the middle of the presentation to speak words of encouragement. The album was not released until 1994. At that time, José suffered the worst stage of alcoholism of his life. During 1993, he retired from the stage and went into rehab. Upon completion of his rehabilitation, he started seasons in places like the famous "Teatro Blanquita" of Mexico City, and the Gibson Amphitheatre in Los Angeles, among others.
In 1994, after the success achieved a decade before with Secretos, José re-teamed with Manuel Alejandro and released the album Grandeza Mexicana. The title track peaked at number 12 on Billboard Hot Latin Tracks and spent over seven weeks on the charts. He did a duet with his son José Joél in the song "La fuerza de la sangre", second single of the album. In 1995, he played the lead role in the movie Perdóname Todo, a drama about an alcoholic has-been and how he tries to survive against himself and the music business. That same year, his album "Mujeriego" was released. It sold more than 180,000 copies in its first two weeks and reached number 12 on the Billboard Latin charts. The song "Llora corazón" lasted 11 weeks on the charts and peaked at number 6, while the second single, the title track, spent only two weeks on the charts. On 9 May 1996, "Llora corazón" was nominated for Pop Song of the Year in the Lo Nuestro Awards.
In 1996, he performed a duet with Paul Anka on "Déjame Conocerte (Let me Get to Know You)" from Anka's Latin album Amigos. In 1997, he performed at the Bally's Atlantic City.[30] His last album of the decade, Distancia, was released in 1998. A video of the single "Ojala que te mueras" was released. On September 1999, he joined fellow countrymen Armando Manzanero, Marco Antonio Muñiz and Argentine pianist Raúl di Blasio for a series of concerts dubbed "Noche Bohemia" (Bohemian Night) at the Gibson Amphitheatre in Los Angeles.
In 2001, with a deteriorating voice he recorded Tenampa. It was his first studio album with mariachi and the last one of his career. It was written and produced completely by Juan Gabriel. The single "Cada vez y cada vez" lasted two weeks on the charts. Tenampa received poor reviews and sold only about 500,000 units. After that, he retired from recording full-length albums. His vocal problems worsened, affecting not only his ability to sing, but also to speak. In 2003, BMG released a collection of three albums entitled El Principe Con Trio with some of his greatest hits recorded between 1969 and 1983, separated from the original accompaniment, remastered and accompanied by the guitar trio "Los Tres Caballeros", transforming them into boleros. The technical work was overseen by José's long-time colleague Rafael Pérez Botija, who also directed and composed some of the original recordings. This collection of concept albums was a sales success.
In the mid-2000s, José appeared briefly as the Mystery Musician in the American movie Sueño and played the role of Erasmo Padilla (the father of Leticia "Lety" Padilla) in La Fea Más Bella, a successful Mexican version of the Colombian production Betty la Fea (adapted in the US as Ugly Betty). In 2006, José participated as a vocal coach in Televisa's hit show, Cantando por un sueño. In 2007, he won a TVyNovelas Award for best supporting actor for his work in La Fea Más Bella.
José released Mis Duetos in 2007, an album featuring duets he recorded in the past. However, it featured two new songs, "E-mail me" with his youngest daughter Sara, and "Aunque vivas con él" with pop singer Reyli. In 2008, José recorded an emotive song called "Volver a creer" ("Believe Again") with Yanni. The song is included on the album Yanni Voces. Yanni stated that he wanted to "help a true legend to fulfill his dream, to sing again". José José was invited by Yanni to sing their song live on Yanni's tour in Mexico. He published his autobiography Esta es mi vida (This is My Life).
In 2010, he released José José Ranchero, another concept album with some of his greatest hits, separated from the original accompaniment, remastered and accompanied with mariachi, giving his classics a traditional Mexican sound. The same year, José launched his own perfume, called simply "José José", the profits from sales help women and children sick with HIV/AIDS.
José was planning a new, untitled album, adding that it would consist of nine unreleased tracks and a melody he used to sing in serenades "Que viva mi tristeza", from songwriter Armando Manzanero. It was never completed due to his vocal problems. In 2011, he went on the short Mexican tour "José José y sus amigos" (José José and friends), with singers Dulce, Carlos Cuevas, Celso Piña, and Chamin Correa.
Throughout his career, José José has been very open about his personal life with the press and his audience. He constantly grants interviews and answers questions about his family, friends, alcoholism, financial problems, health issues, and other subjects.
In 1970 he started a relationship with TV hostess, actress, and model Ana Elena Noreña, known in show business as Anel. That year they split and he married Natalia "Kiki" Herrera Calles, a socialite twenty years older. He separated from Herrera and returned to Anel shortly after. He divorced Herrera in 1975 and married Anel in 1976. They had two children: their first-born José Francisco (known as José Joél) who was born in 1975, and their daughter Marysol Estrella, born in 1982.
José told Selecciones magazine that from 1985 to 1987, he underwent a serious personal crisis because his life "was spent on airplanes, tour buses and locked in a hotel room". In 1991 he divorced Anel. Several years before he finished his partnership with his manager Manuel Noreña, Anel's brother. In 1995 he married Sara Salazar, his third wife. The same year during a Latin American tour, his third child Sara was born. He lived in Miami, Florida with his wife.
José said that he started drinking at the age of fifteen, when his father (an alcoholic) left home.[43] As a result of his alcoholism, he developed a cocaine habit.
He stated that his addiction was because he "was frail, weak, innocent, ignorant, weak-willed and did not know how to say no". In the early 1970s, after the success of "El Triste", he fell into alcoholism but with help of his friends and family he managed to stop drinking for a while. His ongoing battle against alcoholism continued during the 1970s and 1980s. He attended AA meetings and stopped drinking for periods of time, but fell steadily into the addiction. After his divorce from Anel in 1991 he reached his lowest point, reportedly declaring that he wanted to die drinking. With the help of his friends, family and fellow artists, he decided to go to rehab. He went to the Hazelden clinic in Minnesota for rehab and remains a sober recovering alcoholic.
José suffered from a severe case of pneumonia in 1972 and his thoracic diaphragm was paralyzed. The disease almost ended his career. He recovered after months of therapy involving breathing exercises. One of his lungs was permanently damaged.
In 1987 he underwent an operation at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center to remove nodes in his vocal fold as a consequence of the excessive use of cortisone before singing, alcohol use, and the lack of rest after many of his performances. José would suffer dire consequences from his problem with alcoholism, as his health faltered dearly during the 1990s. He developed diabetes.
In 2001, he suffered from a case of emphysema.[45] The effects of alcoholism, the abuse of cortisone, and his hiatus hernia have not only affected his ability to sing but also to talk. In 2007, he suffered from Bell's palsy. As a result of all these problems, he has fought a serious depression in recent years. He acknowledged this during an interview on the Univision program Don Francisco Presenta..., hosted by Don Francisco. He struggled with diabetic retinopathy in one of his eyes undergoing a successful operation. In 2012, he underwent a stomach surgery due to gastritis. In November 2013, he underwent an operation to remove cataracts from one of his eyes.
José has made his current financial problems public. Despite being one of the most recognized Latin artists for decades, his alcoholism caused him serious monetary loss. His career declined when he lost his vocal ability, stopping income from live performances. He claims that during his career he was constantly defrauded by people close to him, including his former wife Anel and her brother. On November 2008, his current wife suffered from a cerebral haemorrhage, José stated that the medical bills nearly caused him to go bankrupt. He told TV Notas magazine that he and his family live "day by day" and in 2014, he sold his five-million-dollar house in Coral Gables, Florida and moved to an apartment in Miami.
In March 2017, he announced that he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
On 28 September 2019, José José died of the cancer on Miami, Florida at the age of 71.
Más
José José Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
El fantasma del pasado llegó
Un retrato de lo que ya acabó
Algún día regresarán esos tiempos
¿O los damos por muertos?
Suma puntos la edad
La parca avanza cada vez más
En este gran abismo de lo que pudo haber sido
Y no lo fue jamás
Antes todo era mejor
Antes todo era color
Eso es un error
Pues de nada sirve idealizar lo anterior
Esto que siento es temor
Me gusta mucho el verbo de aferrar
Si se trata de memorias además
A los 30 miras sólo hacia atrás
Importa poco la posteridad
Viviendo el ayer
Nada nuevo podrá suceder
Tengo edad, tengo años
Mas la juventud es lo que paso a carecer
Cómo quisiera valor
Al tiempo le tengo pavor
Siento el ardor
Pues los años convierten en fuego mi alrededor
Esto que siento es temor
Esto que siento es dolor
Esto que siento es amor
Un retrato de lo que ya acabó
Algún día regresarán esos tiempos
¿O los damos por muertos?
Suma puntos la edad
La parca avanza cada vez más
En este gran abismo de lo que pudo haber sido
Antes todo era mejor
Antes todo era color
Eso es un error
Pues de nada sirve idealizar lo anterior
Esto que siento es temor
Me gusta mucho el verbo de aferrar
Si se trata de memorias además
A los 30 miras sólo hacia atrás
Importa poco la posteridad
Viviendo el ayer
Nada nuevo podrá suceder
Tengo edad, tengo años
Mas la juventud es lo que paso a carecer
Cómo quisiera valor
Al tiempo le tengo pavor
Siento el ardor
Pues los años convierten en fuego mi alrededor
Esto que siento es temor
Esto que siento es dolor
Esto que siento es amor
The song "Más" by José José deals with the theme of nostalgia and the fear of aging. In the first verse, the singer talks about the ghost of the past coming back to haunt him. He sees a portrait of what has already ended and wonders if those times will ever return or if they should be considered dead and buried. The second verse describes the passage of time and how death comes closer with each passing day. The singer is stuck in the abyss of what could have been but never was. He realizes that looking back is pointless and that he should instead embrace the present moment.
The chorus reflects the common notion that everything was better in the past, but the singer argues that idealizing the past is a mistake. He fears aging and realizes that his youth has passed him by. The use of the verb "aferrar" (to hold onto) shows how the singer is desperately trying to hold onto his memories and his youth but ultimately knows that he cannot stop the passage of time.
In the bridge, the singer expresses his desire to value time and his fear of it at the same time. He feels the burning pain of getting older and realizes that his surroundings are changing rapidly. The final line shows the complexity of the emotions the singer is experiencing. He feels fear, pain, and love all at once.
Line by Line Meaning
El fantasma del pasado llegó
A memory from the past has resurfaced
Un retrato de lo que ya acabó
It's a reminder of what has ended
Algún día regresarán esos tiempos
Will those times ever come back?
¿O los damos por muertos?
Or should we consider them gone forever?
Suma puntos la edad
Age keeps adding up
La parca avanza cada vez más
Time keeps moving forward and death is approaching
En este gran abismo de lo que pudo haber sido
The endless void of what could have been
Y no lo fue jamás
And what was not meant to be
Antes todo era mejor
The past always seems better
Antes todo era color
Things were more colorful in the past
Eso es un error
But romanticizing the past is a mistake
Pues de nada sirve idealizar lo anterior
It serves no purpose to idealize the past
Esto que siento es temor
I feel scared
Me gusta mucho el verbo de aferrar
I really like the verb 'to hold on'
Si se trata de memorias además
Especially when it comes to memories
A los 30 miras sólo hacia atrás
At 30, you tend to look back
Importa poco la posteridad
Posterity is not very important
Viviendo el ayer
Living in the past
Nada nuevo podrá suceder
Nothing new can happen
Tengo edad, tengo años
I am getting older
Mas la juventud es lo que paso a carecer
But what I am lacking is youth
Cómo quisiera valor
How much I wish to value
Al tiempo le tengo pavor
But I am afraid of time
Siento el ardor
I feel the burn
Pues los años convierten en fuego mi alrededor
Because the passing years engulf everything in flames
Esto que siento es temor
I feel scared
Esto que siento es dolor
I feel pain
Esto que siento es amor
I feel love
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOSE MADERO VIZCAINO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Cristian Creed
Tengo 21 y mi novia 38 neta no saben lo bien que me siento con ella nos entendemos perfecto nos amamos pero todos nos tiran de habladas y nos hablan mal no nos quieren juntos ni su propia familia aunque ella sea de lo más feliz y esta cansion es más que perfecta para nosotros❤️
Henry Collaguaso Diaz
Hágale conpadre, q la vida se encargue ustedes vivan a todo motor ese Amor la edad es solo mental, buena ventura para los dos, a darle de frente delante de todos, el amor de ustedes es más fuerte que todo lo que opine la gente.
sol luna
tu musica seria ideal de jose jose I QUE?
Jefte Gabino benjamin Carmona maya
Ánimo muchos aveces no soportan la felicidad de otros
wal rod
Cristian, que no te importe la gente, luchá por tu amor.
Creo que la letra de esta bella canción es ad hoc a tu situación.
ᦔ𝘳ꫀꪖꪑ𖧷
La de 40 y 20 les queda
Edgar Mora Segura
muy linda canción se la dedico a todas las mujeres bellas que han pasado por facetas muy duras y que han sido maltratadas por la sociedad por su nivel económico y social que suele pasar mucho.
mamarockera80era
Esta canción está inspirada en el pasado de Anel Noreña. 2da. esposa del Principe, y madre de sus hijos mayores. Rafael Perez Botija aparte de su compositor de cabecera era amigo intimo y presenciaba de cerca los problemas de la entonces joven familia Sosa
Nina Nike
Ohhh hermoso 💞🤗💞🤗💞
mamarockera80era
Eres un encanto