Camilo Sesto

Sesto sang in two pop bands during the 1960s and won a contest in a Madrid television show. He played a part in the Spanish filming of Hamelín. Later, he teamed up with singer and producer Juan Pardo, but success would come on its own accord, with his own music works. From the 1970s to 2000s Sesto created many hit songs, with almost everyone coming from his own inspiration, being the author, performer, composer, and producer of all his works.^[6] Camilo Sesto has the record of two presentations daily for 20 consecutive days at Madison Square Garden in the 1980s.^{[citation needed]}

Most of Sesto's works are in Spanish, but he also recorded songs in English, Valencian, Italian, German, Japanese and Portuguese. Camilo released at least one album in English.^[7] His albums had sold over 180 million copies by 2019.^[8]

As a composer, Sesto wrote songs for artists such as Ángela Carrasco, Miguel Bosé, Lucía Méndez, Charytín Goyco and José José, among others.^[9] He also produced and translated to Spanish the lyrics of an album by the popular Australian rock band Air Supply. Throughout his career, he remained one of the most influential pioneer artists of pop and rock in Spanish, that would inspire many newer acts in the Latin music world as well as across Europe, the Americas and Asia.^[10]

The mid-sixties marked the beginning of Sesto's career. After producing his first record with his band Los Dayson, in 1965 they traveled to Madrid to appear on Televisión Española's Salto a la Fama. In 1966, Sesto joined another band, Los Botines, whose music was influenced by The Beatles.^[11] In 1967, the band appeared in the film Los chicos del Preu. At the beginning (1969) he participated in the chorus of the song "O Tren" by Andrés do Barro, produced by Juan Pardo.^[12] In 1970, he recorded various singles including: "Llegará el Verano" and "Sin Dirección", with the artistic name "Camilo Sexto". He became his own producer, as well as the producer of other artists. His solo career started in 1970, the same year he won the "Revelación" price, at the "Olés de la Canción" festival.^[13]

After meeting producer, Juan Pardo in 1972, he launched a solo career under the stage name Camilo Sesto.^[11] He appeared on Spanish TV's program "Buenas Noches" singing "Algo de Mí" (his first No.1 record). Algo de Mi reached the Number 1 slot in Spain and most of the Spanish speaking world, and it maintained that top position for a whole year in most of Latin-America.^[14] In 1973, he represented Spain with the song "Algo Más" in the second edition of the OTI Festival, which was held in the Brazilian city of Belo Horizonte.^[15] In 1974, his success as a pop singer continued with record sales escalating rapidly. His concerts took him around the world with such songs as "¿Quieres ser mi amante?", "Llueve sobre mojado", "Yo soy así", "Isabel", "Déjame participar en tu juego" and "Mienteme".^[16]

On 6 November 1975, Sesto starred in the role of Jesus on the Spanish version/adaptation by Jaime Azpilicueta of the rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar at the Alcalá-Palace Theatre in Madrid (Spain).^[17] The production was very costly^[18] as he financed it entirely.^[19] His work was a success and received positive reviews. The public filled the theatre and shows were extended to four months.^[20] Both in terms of interpretation and musically speaking, Sesto's show was considered of great quality. Andrew Lloyd Webber admitted that this was the only production that could equal the original American version.^{[citation needed]}

After successfully starring in the Spanish version of "Jesus Christ Superstar" catapulted him to superstardom, Sesto continued gaining fame as a singer and composer. Notable hits from Sesto include "Vivir Así es Morir de Amor", "Jamás", "Perdóname", "Melina" (a song about Melina Mercouri),^[21] and "Donde Estes, Con Quien Estes".^[22]

Nomination 26th Annual Grammy Awards (1984): Nominated for Best Latin Pop Album Lani Hall. This recognition was linked to Camilo Sesto, who composed and produced the album and also performed a duet Corazón Encadenado for Lani's album.^[23] Sesto went through a retirement in 1987 until he returned to the music scene in 1991. That year, he released A Voluntad del Cielo (Heaven Willing).^[24] The album's lead single, "Amor Mío, ¿Qué Me Has Hecho?" (My love, what have you done to me?), reached number one on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart in the United States. The track was nominated for Pop Song of the Year at the Lo Nuestro Awards of 1992 and the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers Latin Awards of 1993, respectively.^[25]

He survived a liver transplant in August 2001 and released an album, Alma, two years later.^[26] Sesto returned to the stage in 2004 at the Viña del Mar International Song Festival in Chile. Sesto won many awards at Viña del Mar in 2004. His last musical work was the singing of Bujalance's football team's hymn.

In 2008, Camilo announced his retirement from the studio, and in September 2009 he announced that he would go on a farewell tour. He would tour the Americas (United States, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Ecuador, Colombia, and other countries) for the next two years. In October 2010, he gave his last two concerts in Madrid, which were released as his first "live" (and also last) album. A live DVD called "Todo de Mí" recorded in Madrid, was released around the same time.^[6]

In 2011, there were rumours of another Sesto "farewell tour", that some news media called "La Gira del Adiós" ("The Farewell Tour"). Allegedly, tour dates were made, radio stations spoke about it, tickets were sold, etc. There were many convincing ads in local newspapers, and magazines. However, Sesto later communicated that this was nothing but a "hoax" to get people to buy fake tickets for a tour that he himself was not even aware of. Many radio stations and music media threatened to take legal action against the singer if he would not "meet with the responsibility", and Sesto was forced to once again come back into the media to try to clear his name. The courts ruled in favour of some institutions that eventually did sue.^[27]

Sesto died on 8 September 2019 at a Madrid hospital from kidney failure, eight days shy of his 73rd birthday.^[28] He was due to release a new album on 13 September, as well as embark in a tour in the United States the following month. Spain's acting Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez wrote on Twitter: "Spain and all of Latin America mourn the loss of Camilo Sesto. His melodies will always be part of our memory."^[29]

• Revelation Award (1971): Received at the Festival de los Olés de la Canción.^[30]
• Nomination 18th Annual Grammy (1976): Nominated in the category of Grammy Award for Best Latin Recording for ¿Quieres Ser Mi Amante?.^[31]
• Platinum Record (1979): He was the first Spanish artist to receive it for selling 13 million copies.^[30]
• Viña del Mar International Song Festival (1981): He was the first artist to receive the Silver Seagull by popular acclaim at the event.^[30]
• A.C.E. Awards New York (1984): Following his performances at Radio City Music Hall, he was awarded Best Foreign Artist and Best Foreign Show.^[30]
• Camilo Sesto Day (1985): February 21 was officially proclaimed in Puerto Rico by Governor Rafael Hernández Colón.^[30]
• Lo Nuestro Awards (1992): Amor Mío, ¿Qué Me Has Hecho? was nominated for Lo Nuestro Award for Pop Song of the Year.
• Destino Awards (1997): He Named Ambassador of Latin American Tourism.
• Golden Heart (2001): Awarded to the best male artist by *Diez Minutos* magazine.^[32]
• Viña del Mar International Song Festival (2004): He returned to the festival and received the Festival Medal, Silver Torch, Gold Torch, and again the Gaviota de Plata.^[33][34]
• 50 Diamond Records (2004): Recognition awarded by BMG of his career and for 50 million records sold.^[35]
• Cultural Ambassador (2007): He Named Ambassador of the Alto Guadalquivir region for his work in culture and sports.^[36]
• Maximum Hispanic Pride Gold Medal (2011): Awarded in Las Vegas, U.S., for his 50-year career.^[37][38]
• Camilo Sesto Day (28 May): An official day proclaimed by the state of Nevada, U.S..^[39]
• Mr. Gay Pride Spain (2011): On 1 July, during the Madrid Pride celebrations, Camilo Sesto received the Mr. Gay Pride award in Plaza de Callao, in recognition of his musical career.^[40]
• Charlotte Excellence Award (2014): Awarded in North Carolina, U.S., for his artistic career.^[41]
• Favorite Son and Gold Medal (2016): Highest honors granted by his hometown, Alcoy, in recognition of his entire international career.^[42]
• Sony Music Spain Honorary Recognition (2016): For his 70th birthday and for surpassing 100 million records sold.^[43]
• Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame (2017): Official induction in recognition of his prolific career as an author (La Musa Awards).^[44]
• International Gold Excellence Award (2018): Peruvian American National Council, Washington D.C.^[45]
• Alameda Camilo Sesto (2018): The main artery of his hometown was renamed in his honor (formerly Alameda de Alcoy).^[46]
• Honorary Member of the Círculo Industrial de Alcoy (2018): Tribute to Camilo Sesto on the 150th anniversary of the institution.^[47]
• Latino de Oro (2019): Granted by the Foundation City World at the Latino Awards, in recognition of his impact on Ibero-American culture (posthumous).^[30]
• Gold Medal of Merit in the Fine Arts (2019): Granted from the Spanish government as a essential figure in the national arts (posthumous).^[48]
• Cultural Ambassador (2019): He is Posthumously named Ambassador of the Valencian Community.^[49]
• Ondas Award (2019): For his artistic career, granted posthumously.^[50]
• Adoptive Son of Torrelodones (2019): Granted posthumously; he lived there for more than 30 years.^[51]
• Camilo Sesto Park (2020): Unanimously approved to rename the "Casa Rosa" park in Torrelodones in honor of Camilo Sesto, including a commemorative plaque (posthumous).^[52]
• Statue in his hometown (2025): A 1.90m bronze statue was inaugurated at the Camilo Sesto Museum in Alcoy.^[53]
• Camilo Sesto Museum (2026): On 11 June, a museum dedicated to his personal and professional life inaugurated in Alcoy, Spain, featuring 2,000 objects.^[54][55]

Studio albums, live, remastered and compilations.^[56]

• List of best-selling Latin music artists