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.
Moliendo Café
Lucho Gatica Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Renacen las sombras
Y en la quietud los cafetales
Vuelven a sentir
Esta triste canción de amor
De la vieja molienda
En el letargo de la noche
Parece gemir
Cuando la tarde languidece
Renacen las sombras
Y en la quietud los cafetales
Vuelven a sentir
Esta triste canción de amor
De la vieja molienda
En el letargo de la noche
Parece gemir
Una pena de amor
Una tristeza
Lleva el zambo Manuel
Y en su amargura
Pasa incansable la noche
Moliendo café
Una pena de amor
Una tristeza
Lleva el zambo Manuel
Y en su amargura
Pasa incansable la noche
Moliendo café
The song "Moliendo Café" by Lucho Gatica is a melancholic love song that reflects the hard life in the coffee plantations. The lyrics describe the daily life of a coffee grinder, the zambo Manuel, who works all night and expresses his sorrow through singing the song of the old mill. The song portrays a sense of sadness, longing, and nostalgia, as the shadows of the night fall and the coffee plantations come to life. The repetitive phrases "Cuando la tarde languidece/ Renacen las sombras" emphasize the cyclical nature of life in the plantation, where every day is the same, and the monotony is only broken by the painful emotions of the people who work there.
The emphasis on "tristeza" (sadness) and "amargura" (bitterness) represents the difficult living conditions of the plantation workers, who were often exploited, mistreated, and marginalized. The lyrics paint a picture of the hardship, struggle, and poverty that characterized the coffee industry. The song has become a symbol of resilience, hope, and the human spirit that survives despite the adversities.
"Moliendo Café" has become a classic Latin American song, covered by many artists, and used in movies and commercials. The song's popularity and recognition have contributed to the appreciation of folk music and the recognition of the struggles of the working class. The song's plaintive melody and poetic lyrics have made it a timeless cultural expression of Latin American identity and emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
Cuando la tarde languidece
As the afternoon fades away
Renacen las sombras
The shadows come to life once again
Y en la quietud los cafetales
And in the stillness of the coffee fields
Vuelven a sentir
They feel once again
Esta triste canción de amor
This sad love song
De la vieja molienda
Of the old coffee mill
En el letargo de la noche
In the lethargy of night
Parece gemir
It seems to moan
Una pena de amor
A sorrow of love
Una tristeza
A sadness
Lleva el zambo Manuel
Carried by Zambo Manuel
Y en su amargura
And in his bitterness
Pasa incansable la noche
He spends the night tirelessly
Moliendo café
Grinding coffee
Lyrics © Tratore, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: JOSE MANZO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Arturo Flores
Lucho Gatica, el rey del bolero, el mas grande. Qué maravilla.
Soy Realista
Una interpretación sublime 😊😊👍👍👍👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
Oscar Luna
este tema lo hizo famoso HUGO BLANCO y su arpa viajera y lucho lo canta como los dioses y pensar que la gente lo conoce por RICARDO MONTANER que injusticia si
yolau
NO DESMEREZCAMOS A XIOMARA ALFARO.
JULIO CESAR ZABALA
Ismael rivera la interpretó, muy bien a su estilo (el sonero mayor)
juan ricardo bravo bravo
La mejor versión
thefatalveli1
My fav version !
Nathalie Cabrera
Excellent!
Villo
El autor de Moliendo café es Hugo Blanco.
Oscar Luna
Gracias AUORORA por compartir mi página si