Lucho Gatica (Luis Enrique Gatica Silva, 11 August 1928 – 13 November 2018)… Read Full Bio ↴Lucho Gatica (Luis Enrique Gatica Silva, 11 August 1928 – 13 November 2018) was a Chilean bolero singer, film actor, and television host. It is estimated that Gatica released more than 90 recordings. He toured a vast portion of the world, having performed in concerts in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. He was the uncle of the record producer Humberto Gatica.

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.

Piel Canela
Lucho Gatica Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Que se quede el infinito sin estrellas
O que pierda el ancho mar su inmensidad
Pero el negro de tus ojos que no muera
Y el canela de tu piel se quede igual

Si perdiera el arcoiris su belleza
Y las flores su perfume y su color
No sería tan inmensa mi tristeza

Como aquella de quedarme sin tu amor

Me importas tú y tú y tú
Y solamente tú y tú y tú
Me importas tú y tu y tú
Y nadie más que tú

Ojos negros piel canela
Que me llegan a desesperar
Me importas tú y tú y tú
Y solamente tú y tú y tú
Me importas tú y tú y tú
Y nadie más que tú

Que se quede el infinito sin estrellas
O que pierda el ancho mar su inmensidad
Pero el negro de tus ojos que no muera
Y el canela de tu piel se quede igual

Si perdiera el arcoiris su belleza
Y las flores su perfume y su color
No sería tan inmensa mi tristeza
Como aquella de quedarme sin tu amor

Me importas tú y tú y tú
Y solamente tú y tú y tú
Me importas tú y tu y tú
Y nadie más que tú

Ojos negros piel canela
Que me llegan a desesperar
Me importas tú y tú y tú
Y solamente tú y tú y tú

Me importas tú y tú y tú
Y nadie más que tú

Overall Meaning

Lucho Gatica's "Piel Canela" is a beautiful and romantic song that speaks about the deep love the singer has for his beloved. The lyrics describe how the singer values his lover more than anything in the world, even more than the beauty of nature. He says that he would rather have the stars disappear from the sky or the sea lose its immensity than lose the beauty of his lover's dark eyes and cinnamon skin.

The singer goes on to explain that even if the rainbow lost its colors and the flowers their fragrance, it would not compare to the immense sadness he would feel if he lost his lover's love. He repeats throughout the song that he only cares about his lover and that no one else matters in his life. The chorus is particularly beautiful, where the singer croons about how his lover's dark eyes and cinnamon skin drive him to despair.

Overall, the song is a beautiful ode to love that captures the passion and devotion that the singer has for his beloved.

Line by Line Meaning

Que se quede el infinito sin estrellas
Even if the infinite universe loses all its stars

O que pierda el ancho mar su inmensidad
Or if the wide sea loses its vastness

Pero el negro de tus ojos que no muera
But the darkness in your eyes should never fade away

Y el canela de tu piel se quede igual
And the cinnamon color of your skin must remain the same

Si perdiera el arcoiris su belleza
Even if the rainbow loses its beauty

Y las flores su perfume y su color
And the flowers lose their fragrance and color

No sería tan inmensa mi tristeza
My sadness wouldn't be as immense as

Como aquella de quedarme sin tu amor
The one I'd feel if I lose your love

Me importas tú y tú y tú
You, and only you, matter to me

Y solamente tú y tú y tú
And solely you, you, and you

Me importas tú y tu y tú
You, and only you, matter to me

Y nadie más que tú
And no one else but you

Ojos negros piel canela
Dark eyes, cinnamon skin

Que me llegan a desesperar
That make me desperate