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Lucho Gatica

Source: Freebase

Luis Gatica, better known as Lucho Gatica, is a Chilean bolero singer. It is estimated that Gatica has released more than 90 recordings. He has toured a vast portion of the world, having made concerts in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Born in Rancagua, Chile in 1931, he and his brother Arturo were struggling singers before they released their first album, in 1949, when Gatica was 21 years old.

Gatica’s 1951 record, 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, year in which he produced two more albums, Las Muchachas de la Plaza España (The Girls from the Spain Square) and Sinceridad (Sincerity).

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 Capital 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,” “Sabrá Dios,” and “Si Me Comprendieras,” to name three. 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)”).

In 2007 Luis signed a record deal with Aurafonic Records and will soon release a new album with his greatest hits and new material never recorded by the singer.

• Born: August 11, 1931 Rancagua, Chile (Aged 78)
• Occupation: Singer

Read more about Lucho Gatica at Wikipedia or at the Internet Movie Database