Manolo Escobar

Manolo Escobar
Born Manuel García Escobar
(1931-10-19)19 October 1931
Berja, Almería, Andalucía, Spain
Died 24 October 2013(2013-10-24) (aged 82)
Benidorm, Alicante, Spain
Cause of death Colon Cancer
Occupation Singer, actor, presenter
Years active 1956–2013
Website www.ManoloEscobar.net

Musical career

Genres Copla, rumba, pasodoble, bolero, tango, vals
Instruments Vocals
Labels Orpheo, Saef, Belter, BMG, Horus, Vamm

Manuel García Escobar (19 October 1931 – 24 October 2013), better known as Manolo Escobar, was a Spanish singer of Andalusian copla and other Spanish music. He was also an actor and performed in multiple musicals. His popular songs include "El porompompero" (1962), "Mi carro" (1969), "La minifalda", and "Y viva España".

Biography

Manuel García Escobar was born to Antonio García and María del Carmen Escobar on 19 October 1931, the fifth of ten children. Early in Escobar's life, his father left the family tradition of farming to devote himself to hospitality and culture. Antonio then met a retired teacher who had lost his family in the Spanish Civil War. Antonio gave the teacher room and board in exchange for teaching all of his children music. Escobar started playing the flute and the piano in his early years.

When he was 14, he moved from Almería to Barcelona with his brothers, working as an apprentice in various trades. He began his career in show business between Badalona and Barcelona's red-light district (currently known as El Raval), with the group Manolo Escobar y sus guitarras (Manolo Escobar and his guitars). His brothers Salvador and Baldomero were also in the group. Later, when the group started to become successful, Juan Gabriel, another brother, joined. Juan Gabriel and sister, Maria José, would later write songs for the group.

In 1962, he rose to fame with Canciones del Maestro Solano, his debut in Madrid and Barcelona, and the premiere of the movie filmed in the town of Arcos de la Frontera, Cádiz: Los Guerrilleros.

Even after 1965, when the copla genre's popularity was in decline, Escobar topped record sales lists, and was one of the few artists who had his own company and show.

In the early 1990s, he moved in to his "Porompompero" chalet in Benidorm, named after his acclaimed song. He appeared in more than 20 films and recorded almost 80 albums, 24 of which are gold records He also had a platinum selling cassette. His best-selling album was Y viva España, which sold 6 million (10 million in subsequent official reprints) copies. It was the best-selling album in Spain from 1973 to 1992.[1]

Personal life

In 1959, three months after meeting German-born Anita Marx, Escobar married her. They were married in Cologne, Germany, without knowing how to speak each other's language. They were married for 53 years until his death. He adopted her daughter, Vanessa and dedicated the song "Mi pequeña flor" (My little flower) to her.

Death

Manuel García Escobar died of colon cancer on 24 October 2013, at the age of 82.[2][3]

Discography

Filmography

Year Title Role Other notes
1963 Los Guerrilleros
1965 Mi canción es para ti Manolo de Lorca/Curro Lucena
1966 El padre Manolo Padre Manolo Ramírez
1966 Un beso en el puerto
1967 Pero, ¿En qué país vivimos? Antonio Torres
1968 Relaciones casi públicas
1969 Juicio de faldas
1970 En un lugar de la Manga
1971 Me debes un muerto
1972 Entre dos amores Gabriel Rivera
1973 Me has hecho perder el juicio
1974 Cuando los niños vienen de Marsella
1975 Eva, ¿qué hace ese hombre en tu cama?
1976 La mujer es un buen negocio
1977 Préstamela esta noche
1978 Donde hay patrón... Manolo
1979 Alejandra mon amour Manolo Sandoval Known as Operación Comando in South America.
1980 ¿Dónde está mi niño? Manolo Andújar
1981 Todo es posible en Granada Manolo Remake of José Luis Sáenz de Heredia's 1974 film.

References

  1. ↑ Sevilla (2011-04-29). "Manolo Escobar receives the golden medal to the merit in the work". 20minutos.es. Retrieved 2013-03-25.
  2. ↑ "Muere Manolo Escobar" El País. Retrieved 24 October 2013. (Spanish)
  3. ↑ "Y Viva Espana singer dies aged 82". BBC News. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
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