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Great Lives from History: Latinos, 2nd Edition

Julio Iglesias

by Tamela N. Chambers

Spanish-born singer

Best known as a hard-working, award-winning singer, songwriter, and humanitarian, Iglesias has earned the distinction of being one of Guinness Book of World Records’ best-selling artists.

Latino heritage: Spanish

Born: September 23, 1943; Madrid, Spain

Also known as: Julio Jose Iglesias de la Cueva

Areas of achievement: Music; philanthropy

EARLY LIFE

Julio Jose Iglesias de la Cueva (HOO-lee-oh ee-GLAY-see-uhs) was born in Madrid, Spain, on September 23, 1943, the son of Dr. Julio Iglesias and Rosario de la Cueva y Iglesias. He attended the College of the Sacred Heart religious school where he became interested in soccer. As a child, Iglesias spent time playing and practicing soccer and played for the Real Madrid soccer club as a teenager. He continued playing soccer as a student at Madrid University, where he studied law, with hopes of playing the position of goalkeeper in the World Cup.

Iglesias’s dream of becoming a professional soccer player ended abruptly on the night of his twentieth birthday after he suffered injuries in a car accident. A spinal injury sustained in the accident left him temporarily paralyzed. During his stay in the hospital and as the feeling returned to his extremities, Iglesias was given a guitar to play to help him regain dexterity in his fingers. He began writing songs to accompany his newly acquired ability to play the guitar.

After recovering from near paralysis, Iglesias’s parents sent him to Cambridge University in England to study English for a year. Iglesias continued playing the guitar and writing songs and began performing his work in Cambridge pubs, where his music was well received. He returned to Spain a year later with the desire to become a singer. He began writing more songs and shopping them in pursuit of a record deal.

Iglesias entered the Festival de la Cancion (Festival of Singing) in Spain in 1968. He won with a performance of a song he had written, “La vida sigue iqual” (“Life Goes On”). The song became successful in Spain and was later adapted as a film in which Iglesias played the lead role.

LIFE’S WORK

By the 1970’s, Iglesias had earned a reputation as a hardworking singer-songwriter. Drawing on the success of his first album Yo canto (I Sing), he began touring and performing in music festivals across Europe. He traveled extensively across Europe and Latin America. In 1971, he married Isabel Preysler Arrastia, with whom he had three children: Maria; Julio, Jr.; and Enrique.

Julio Iglesias (Jesús Carrero, ¡Hola! Magazine/via Wikimedia Commons)

GLLatin2e_p0533_1.jpg

In 1972, Iglesias recorded the song “Un canto a Galicia” (“A Song for Galicia”). The song was a chart-topper across Europe and Latin America and broadened his global appeal. Iglesias’s world travels exposed him to a variety of cultures and languages. He recorded his first non-Spanish language album, in German, in 1972. As his reputation and appeal as a crossover artist grew, Iglesias’s fans responded in kind by making him a top-selling and award-winning artist. He made history when he performed in front of 100,000 Chilean spectators. Iglesias won numerous awards in Latin America and Europe, including artist of the year honors in France and Italy.

Iglesias signed a deal with CBS International and worked toward achieving crossover success in the United States. In 1976, he performed at Madison Square Garden in New York City. This performance was noted for its record-breaking attendance and helped solidify Iglesias’s reputation as a global megastar. While his work ethic earned him the admiration of fans, other noted musicians, businessmen, and politicians worldwide, it also played a role in the dissolution of his marriage. Iglesias and his wife Isabel divorced in 1979.

The 1980’s ushered in more success for Iglesias. He became a certified diamond-selling artist, with more than 100 million records sold, which earned him the distinction of being named to the Guinness Book of World Records for having sold the most records in the most languages. Iglesias also recorded his first English-language album, 1100 Bel Air Place, released in 1985. This album, best known for the song “To All the Girls I’ve Loved Before,” a duet with country music artist Willie Nelson, sold four million copies.

By 1985, Iglesias was active in numerous humanitarian projects in addition to touring. His numerous philanthropic efforts included appearances at fund-raisers, telethons, and benefit concerts for earthquake victims in Mexico, the American Muscular Dystrophy Association, and Farm Aid. Iglesias received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1985. He later won a Grammy Award for Best Latin Pop Artist in 1988. In 2013, Iglesias was induced into the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame. That same year, Sony Music China honored him the First & Most Popular International Artist of All Time in China Award, and he was also entered into the Guinness World Records again, this time for Best-selling Male Latin Artist. In 2015, Berklee College awarded him with an honorary doctorate for lifetime achievement and influence in music. He is recognized as the Spanish artist who has sold the most records in history in his home country, with 23 million records sold and counting.

SIGNIFICANCE

A noted performer and humanitarian, Iglesias’s rise to fame and success was marked by his determination and steadfast work ethic. Few artists have achieved the global success of Iglesias, and he has created a legacy of achievement and unwavering dedication to his craft. His award-winning discography, which includes more than seventy albums recorded in six languages, his amiable persona, and his philanthropic spirit demonstrate his ability to reach people of all racial, ethnic, and social groups.

Citation Types

Type

Format

MLA 9th

Chambers, Tamela N. "Julio Iglesias." Great Lives from History: Latinos, 2nd Edition, edited by Trudy Mercadal, et al., Salem Press, 2021. Salem Online, online.salempress.com/articleDetails.do?articleName=GLLatin2e_0283.

APA 7th

Chambers, T. N. (2021). Julio Iglesias. In T. Mercadal, C. Tafolla & M. P. Cotera (Eds.), Great Lives from History: Latinos, 2nd Edition. Salem Press. online.salempress.com.

CMOS 17th

Chambers, Tamela N. "Julio Iglesias." Edited by Trudy Mercadal, Carmen Tafolla & Martha P. Cotera. Great Lives from History: Latinos, 2nd Edition. Hackensack: Salem Press, 2021. Accessed October 22, 2025. online.salempress.com.

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