During his career, the famous Spanish singer Julio Iglesias gave more than 5,000 concerts on five continents (Reuters)

The famous Spanish singer Julio Iglesias agreed to turn the story of his life and career into a series in cooperation with Netflix, where the 80-year-old Iglesias participates in preparing for the project and participates in everything related to his life and musical career.

The series, which is currently being filmed, monitors how Iglesias became the first non-English artist to succeed in the American and Asian music market, and transformed into a global star among the top five best-selling, in his youth, and singing in 12 languages, becoming the first Spanish artist with great popularity in the world that guaranteed him Continuity over more than 55 years.

In a statement published by international media, Iglesias said that he had already received many offers to present documentaries or books about his career, and after negotiations with Netflix, he agreed to the matter, especially after the message from Bella Bajaria, the network’s chief content officer, which was enough to convince him to submit the experience, and Iglesias thanked him. To all those who supported him during his artistic journey.

As for Diego Avalos, vice president of original content on Netflix, he said during the statement, “Iglesias trusted us to narrate his career, and therefore we are grateful for his generosity, as we know his talent and perseverance are unique in the world.” He added that during the coming period, they will be able to see beyond the spotlight and pictures in magazines and get to know a person. exceptional.

Iglesias has the best-selling record in the history of music (Reuters)

An accident ended his sports career and changed his life

Although Iglesias did not intend in his early days to become a musician, he succeeded in becoming an artistic legend. He began by joining as a goalkeeper for the Spanish football team Real Madrid, and after suffering an accident that left him unable to walk for two years, he moved to music and singing.

This star, born on September 23, 1943, is considered the most commercially successful Spanish singer in the world, and the owner of the best-selling records in the history of music, as he sold more than 150 million copies. During his career, he gave more than 5,000 concerts on the five continents, and became the most foreign artist. Popular in China, he has shared the stage with such major stars as Frank Sinatra, Willie Nelson, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Sting, Dolly Parton, Placido Domingo, Charles Aznavour, and Johnny Hallyday.

“I Sing” is his first album, which was able to reach high ranks over a period of 15 weeks in Spain. As for his song “Un Canto A Galicia”, which he sang in the Galician language, it sold more than a million copies in Germany. This is the song he performed in honor of his father, who is of Galician origins.

He achieved great success in the cassette market in Italy with the song “If You Leave Me, I Cannot Be” (Se mi lasci Non vale). He succeeded with his album “1100 Bel Air Place” to top sales with about 3 million albums in the United States. During his career, he performed a number of duets, including the song “To All the Girls I’ve Loved Before,” a duet with Nelson, another duet entitled “My Love” with Wonder, and the song “Summer Winds.” "(Summer Wind) with Sinatra, and other lyrical releases that achieved him overwhelming popularity throughout an artistic career that spanned decades.

Iglesias won the Guinness Award as the Latin artist who sold the largest number of records in the world (Reuters)

Achievements and awards

During his career, Iglesias has won numerous awards in the music industry, and was honored during the 2019 Grammy Awards with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

He received the Gold Medal of Merit in Fine Arts in Spain, the Legion of Honor in France, and was appointed a Special Ambassador for the Performing Arts in 1989 from UNICEF, and he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1985.

In 2013, he was awarded the Guinness World Records Award as “the Latin artist who has sold the most records in the world.” In the same year, he was celebrated in Beijing as the most popular artist in China, and Berklee College of Music awarded him an honorary doctorate. In 2015, in recognition of his achievements, influence on music, and contribution to American and global culture.

In addition to his professional career and musical successes around the world, his talent was inherited by his two sons, the singer Julio Junior, and Enrique, who was able to achieve great success as a singer, songwriter, and actor.

Source: Al Jazeera + websites