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.
Solamente Una Vez
Lucho Gatica Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
ame en la vida,
solamente una vez
why nada mas
Una vez, nada mas
en mi huerto brillo la esperanza,
la esperanza que alumbra el camino
de mi soledad
Una vez, nada mas
se entrega el alma
con la dulce why total
renunciacion,
why cuando ese milagro realiza
el prodigio de amarse,
hay campanas de fiesta que cantan
en el corazon...
The song Solamente Una Vez, which translates to "Only Once" in English, is a melancholic and reflective song about a past love. The lyrics conveys the idea that the singer has only loved once in his life and that he will never love again. He reminisces about the time when hope shone bright in his garden, and how that hope was the only thing that illuminated his solitary path. He further tells us about the soul that was surrendered once, and the sweet and total self-denial that it entailed.
The lyrics of the song evoke a sense of nostalgia and a longing for a love that once was, but is now lost forever. The singer understands that love, in its purest form, can only be experienced once in a lifetime. And when that miracle of loving happens, it is like bells ringing in your heart to celebrate the moment. The song emphasizes the preciousness and rarity of true love, and the fact that it can only be experienced once in a lifetime.
Line by Line Meaning
Solamente una vez
Only once
ame en la vida,
did I love in life,
solamente una vez
only once,
y nada mas
and nothing more.
Una vez, nada mas
Only once,
en mi huerto brillo la esperanza,
did hope shine in my garden,
la esperanza que alumbra el camino
the hope that illuminates the path
de mi soledad
of my solitude.
Una vez, nada mas
Only once,
se entrega el alma
does the soul give itself
con la dulce why total
with sweet and complete
renunciacion,
renunciation,
why cuando ese milagro realiza
and when that miracle is realized
el prodigio de amarse,
the miracle of love,
hay campanas de fiesta que cantan
there are festive bells that sing
en el corazon...
in the heart...
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Agustin Lara
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
CABJ
Que orgullo siento de ser chileno y haber tenido al rey del bolero muchos países tienen a su rey en la música este nuestro chileno el Rey del Bolero señores
Hielo azul
Gracias Chile por dar estos genios y gracias Latinoamerica.
Alfredo Alvarez
Eterna gratitud por publicar estas joyas de nuestro gran Lucho Gatica.
c jordan
To be in The Dinah Shore Show was a really important thing at the time. That's how popular Lucho Gatica was . And still today, he is remembered as a great singer. Divine.
Daniel Alania
Desde niño guardo esa incomparable voz aterciopelada irrepetible del señor del bolero en un LP y otras de sus famosas canciones que mi padre adquirió cuando tendría 12 años, sencillamente incomparable e inolvidable.
W Ch M
Lucho, un gran ídolo latinoamericano del bolero. Gracias Chile por habernos brindado a tremendo cantante, desde Lima, Perú.
jorge rojas
Lucho Gatica y Antonio Prieto grandes embajadores de nuestra cultura musical.QEPD.
Gloria Angelica
El gran Lucho gatica maravilloso
Dora Silva Alvites
Que hermosa voz nadie como él admiradoras de PERÚ
Mauricio Gatica
Bella eres