Luis Gatica Silva was born in Rancagua, Chili. He attended school at Instituto O'Higgins. He and his brother Arturo were struggling singers before they released their first album, in 1949, when Gatica was 21 years old.
Chileans generally experienced a change in their taste in music during the 1950s, when bolero music overtook tango as Chileans' preferred music genre for some time. Singers like Cuba's Olga Guillot, and Argentinian Leo Marini and Mexican Elvira Ríos, among others, were very popular during that time. So were Xavier Cugat and his orchestra, which included Puerto Rican Bobby Capó. These singers would influence Gatica.
Gatica's first record, 1951's Me Importas Tú (You Matter to Me) became a mega hit across Latin America, opening many doors for Gatica. He followed that with 1952's Contigo en la Distancia (With You in the Distance). Gatica recorded his version of Consuelo Velázquez's Bésame Mucho (Kiss Me a Lot) in 1953, a year in which he produced two more albums, Las Muchachas de la Plaza España (The Girls from Spain Square) and Sinceridad (Sincerity). The following year his hit "Sinceridad" was released.
By 1957, Gatica moved to Mexico, a country that would be of great importance in his life. In Mexico, he released No me Platiques Más (Don't Talk to me Anymore), Tú me Acostumbraste (You Accustomed Me) and Voy a Apagar la Luz (I'm Turning the Lights Off), which was released in 1959.
In 1956, Gatica's songs were recorded in North America on LP albums for the first time by Capitol Records ('Capitol of the World' series). Three albums were released within 14 months by Capitol. The third one in that group with Capitol was El Gran Gatica, which featured such songs as Somos (We Are),' Sabrá Dios (God Will Know), and Si me Comprendieras (If You Understood Me). One of the three Lucho Gatica albums released in 1958 was a greatest hits compilation; the third was named Envenenados (Poisoned). He also recorded a song entitled Encadenados (Chained (We Are)).
Gatica had important changes in his personal life after arriving in Mexico for the first time. He decided to become a permanent resident of that North American country, and married Puerto Rican actress Mapita Cortés, who had been a celebrity in Mexico (and Puerto Rico) for some years, and who also resided in Mexico. The couple had two sons named Luis and Alfredo. Luis went on to become a telenovela and rock star during the 1980s and Alfredo (Alfie) became a music entrepreneur. Gatica remarried an American woman and had one daughter named Lily, as well. One of Gatica's last known releases was 1963's Recuerdos de Amor (Memories of Love). He had seven children.
He also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording.
Gatica Died in Mexico on November 13, 2018.
Contigo en la Distancia
Lucho Gatica Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
en que pueda apartarme de tí
el mundo parece distinto
cuando no estás junto a mí - i .
No existe melodía
en que no surjas tú
y no quiero escucharla
Es que te has convertido
en parte de mi alma
ya nada me conforma
si no estás tú también
Más allá de tus labios
del sol y las estrellas
contigo en la distancia
amada mía estoy.
The lyrics of Lucho Gatica's song "Contigo en la distancia" are full of romance and love. The song reflects the sentiment of not being able to live without the special person in one's life. The singer confesses that there is not a single moment of the day when he can stay away from his loved one. The world appears different, and the melody doesn't seem charming when the person he loves is not by his side. This is a song of true love where the artist admits that his beloved has become a part of his soul, and nothing seems to satisfy him without her presence.
The singer also admits that the love he has for the person is beyond the material things. He doesn't care about the stars, the sun or the lips because he can feel the same love by being with the distance of his loved one. He believes that he is with her despite the distance, and he feels content and in love. The song "Contigo en la distancia" attains its uniqueness by heartfelt lyrics, and it has become a timeless classic in the Latin American world.
Line by Line Meaning
No existe un momento del día
There isn't a single moment of the day
en que pueda apartarme de tí
that I can distance myself from you
el mundo parece distinto
the world appears different
cuando no estás junto a mí - i .
when you are not next to me - i.
No existe melodía
There isn't a melody
en que no surjas tú
where you don't appear
y no quiero escucharla
and I don't want to listen to it
si no la escuchas tú.
if you are not listening to it.
Es que te has convertido
It's because you have become
en parte de mi alma
a part of my soul
ya nada me conforma
nothing else satisfies me
si no estás tú también
if you are not here too
Más allá de tus labios
Beyond your lips
del sol y las estrellas
beyond the sun and the stars
contigo en la distancia
with you in the distance
amada mía estoy.
my beloved, I am.
Contributed by Sydney E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Braulio Muñoz
Mi padre hizo los arreglos vocales y guitarras (el hace el solo) de este tema con Lucho Gatica.
ROBOCOP RETRO
Que Honor
Fernando Saavedra Olivares dagur nire
Raro..lo que dices..porque su productor musical y artístico internacional fue el
Afamado hermano de lucho gótica
Que fue ARTURO GATICA....
A EL TODOS SUS EXITOS BINOMIO MUNDIAL
Josue Campos
Íraalooooo!!!
Mauricio Sagredo
Chuta. Que orgullo mas grande debes sentir. Genios de la música. Que majestuoso trabajo el que hizo su señor padre junto a don lucho.
Jenny Valdivieso
Que hermoso le felicito.. 💖
Nadia Garibaldi
Lindo Maestro⭐ 💝 La Voz aterciopelada del Bolero🎼,
Dalva Barcelos
Continuo ouvindo com muito prazer os boleros cantados por Lucho Gatica!!
Que bela voz!! Gracias...Gracias!!
Margarita Betancourt Riquelme
El bolero está de luto, su mejor intérprete partió físicamente pero queda para siempre en el recuerdo de todos los amantes del bolero, fue un ídolo para los cubanos y todos los latinos Descansa en Paz Lucho.
Ray Alberts
Lucho Gatica el más grande de los bolerista de todos los tiempos, nos acompañó desd nuestros primeros romances de nuestra adolescencia en aquellas fiestas de los años cincuenta. Sencillamente inovidable