Jose Jose

José José was a Mexican singer, musician and occasional actor. Born into a family of musicians and raised in Mexico City, José began his musical career in his early teens playing guitar and singing in serenades. He later joined a jazz and bossa nova trio where he sang and played bass and double bass. José José found success as a solo artist in the early 1970s. Demonstrating his tenor vocal ability with a stunning performance of the song "El Triste" at a Latin music festival held in Mexico City in 1970, he climbed the Latin charts during that decade. Having achieved recognition as a balladeer, his singing garnered universal critical acclaim from musical peers and media. In the 1980s, after signing with Ariola Records, José rose to international prominence as one of the most popular and talented Latin performers. His 1983 album Secretos has sold over four million units. With many international hits, he received several Grammy nominations and recognition worldwide. He sold out in venues such as Madison Square Garden and Radio City Music Hall. His music reached non-Spanish-speaking countries like Japan, Israel and Russia. He forged a career as an actor, starring in movies such as Gavilán o Paloma (1985) and Perdóname Todo (1995). He had sold over 40 million copies internationally. José José was known for his romantic ballads and his expressive voice. He was also known as El Príncipe de la Canción (The Prince of Song), a nickname given to him by the media and his fans for his elegance and vocal style. He was influenced by classical music, jazz, bossa nova, pop and rock. He was one of the first Latin artists to experiment with different genres and musical arrangements. He collaborated with many renowned composers and producers, such as Manuel Alejandro, Rafael Pérez Botija, Armando Manzanero, Roberto Livi and Kiko Cibrian. He also recorded songs by Juan Gabriel, José Alfredo Jiménez, Roberto Carlos, Álvaro Carrillo, Juan Carlos Calderón and many others. Some of his most famous songs are "El Triste", "La Nave del Olvido", "El Amar y el Querer", "Lo Pasado, Pasado", "Gavilán o Paloma", "Almohada", "Lo Que No Fue No Será", "Volcán", "Lo Dudo", "40 y 20", "Amar y Querer", "Lágrimas", "Me Basta" and "O Tú o Yo". José José struggled with substance abuse and alcoholism for many years, which affected his health and career. He was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 1997 and with Lyme disease in 2007. In 2017, he revealed that he had pancreatic cancer, which caused his death in 2019 at the age of 71. He was buried in his hometown of Mexico City, after a series of tributes and homages in both Mexico and the United States. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential and best-selling Latin artists of all time. He is also considered a cultural icon and a source of inspiration for many singers of his generation and beyond.