Julio Iglesias Biography

Julio Iglesias was born in Madrid on September 23, 1943, and is Spain's best-selling singer in history, as well as one of the best-selling Hispanic singers of all time. Julio Iglesias has sold 250 million records worldwide and released nearly 80 albums. During his career, he has given approximately 5,000 concerts. He was a professional soccer player who played goalie for Real Madrid. During this time, he was also attending law school. He was in an accident that ended his dreams of becoming a great soccer player, but while he was in bed, he began to compose songs. Later, he received a certificate as a lawyer from Cambridge University. In 1968, he won a songwriter's contest in Spain and signed a contract with Discos Columbia, a Columbia Records Latin music label. In 1970, he represented Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest, finishing fourth behind Irish singer Dana and English singer Mary Hopkins. He wrote the song Gwendolyne, which became the title of his debut album. During the 1970s, he married Isabel Preysler, a half-Spanish, half-Filipina woman, and they had three children: Chabeli Iglesias, a former show host who is now a news reporter in Washington D.C., Enrique Iglesias, a world-famous singer who followed in his father's footsteps, and Julio José Iglesias, a model who has released two CDs. The Iglesias family's private life became public knowledge during the 1970s, with Julio and the rest of the family frequently appearing on the covers of various international magazines. In 1978, he signed a contract with CBS International, prompting him to expand his language repertoire to include English, French, as well as Italian, as he recorded in those languages as well under his new management. In 1983, he had his first English hit with a cover of Begin The Beguine and a compilation album Julio, which helped him establish his reputation. In 1984, he released the smash hit album 1100 Bel Air Place, which catapulted him to fame in English-speaking markets. The album sold three million copies in the United States alone, with the first single, To All The Girls I've Loved Before, a duet with Willie Nelson, peaking at number five on the Billboard Hot 100. All Of You, a hit duet with Diana Ross, was also included on the album. His father was kidnapped in 1985, but he was found alive and well after two agonising weeks. Julio, who had already divorced Preysler, relocated his family to Miami, where they settled in a mansion on Miami Beach. He also recorded duets with Diana Ross and Willie Nelson that year. Julio was rumoured to have been found walking around the streets of Cayey in 1986, possibly to get away from all the fame and hoopla for a week. After going missing for seven days, he reappeared in Puerto Rico. Julio feels a strong connection to Puerto Rico because one of his grandmothers was born there. In 1988, Iglesias received a Grammy Award for Best Latin Pop Album for his album Un Hombre Solo or A Single Man. He also recorded a duet with Stevie Wonder on My Love from his Non Stop album, which charted in the United States in 1988. During that decade, stories about Julio's expensive private jets, boats, and houses became legend, and his world tours took him to places like Indonesia and Malaysia. Julio returned to his Spanish music roots in the 1990s, releasing the CD Tango in 1996. He is gradually stepping out of the spotlight and enjoying his son Enrique's popularity, along with his long-term partner Miranda and their baby daughter. Julio is very willing to sign autographs, though he can be a little difficult to reach at times due to his and his family's security detail, which they have had since Julio's father was kidnapped in 1985. In October 2003, Iglesias made headlines again when he travelled to Argentina and kissed show host Susana Gimenez three times on the lips during a live telecast of her show. This list includes all original material albums as well as notable compilations.

As a renowned expert and highly sought-after speaker, Julio Iglesias's expertise is in high demand. To book Julio Iglesias for your next event, conference, or workshop, please contact our speaker booking agency. Our experienced team will work closely with you to understand your specific needs and help secure Julio Iglesias's participation. With our professional guidance and seamless booking process, you can ensure a memorable and impactful experience for your audience. Don't miss the opportunity to engage your audience with Julio Iglesias's compelling insights and inspire positive change within your organization. Fill out the booking request form to take the first step in securing Julio Iglesias for your next speaking engagement.