El veintitrés de septiembre/September 23rd

¡Feliz cumpleaños a ... Julio Iglesias! (1945-      )

One of the most successful singer and songwriters of all time, Iglesias was born in Madrid, Spain. His father's family was from Galicia, while his mother's mother was a native of Puerto Rico, and his mother's father, José de la Cueva y Orejuela, was Spanish of Jewish descent (de la cueva, or "from the cave," is a common Jewish last name in Spain because of the years Jews were persecuted and had to go into hiding during the Inquisition). Iglesias was originally a professional soccer player, but his career ended when he was in a serious auto accident and left unable to walk for two years. While in the hospital recuperating, a nurse gave him a guitar, and it is then that he discovered his talent for music. Iglesias started his career by winning the Benidorm International Song Festival in 1968. He went on to record in English, Italian, French, German, Portuguese, and other languages. It is estimated that he has performed for more than 60 million people on 5 continents during his more than 5000 concerts. He has won a Grammy, Latin Grammy, World Music Award, Billboard Music Award, and Premio lo Nuestro. Iglesias is father of singer songwriter Enrique Iglesias, the youngest of his three children with socialite Isabel Preysler, to whom he was married from 1971 to 1979. He has long had a house in Miami, Florida, where he spent time when not touring. To see his song Amor, Amor, Amor, click HERE.

For resources for teaching Spanish, Level 1 through AP, CLICK HERE.