Biography of Julio Iglesias
Julio Iglesias is a legendary Spanish singer and songwriter, known worldwide for his tenor voice. He shot to fame with "Life Goes On the Same," taking home the prize at Benidorm's international festival in Spain. Later, audiences worldwide fell in love with the Spanish crooner's "Nathalie." A two-time Grammy Award winner, he also has a personal star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Childhood, Youth, Family
Julio José Iglesias de la Cueva (the singer's full name) was born in the fall of 1943 to a Spanish father, Julio Iglesias Puga, and a Jewish mother, María del Rosario de la Cueva y Perignat, in Madrid. Later, he had a younger brother named Carlos. His father was a well-respected gynecologist in Madrid, so his mother could dedicate herself to home and family.Julio was a bundle of energy from day one. As a teenager, he engaged in sports and showed promise as a football player. After finishing at Sagrados Corazones School and St. Paul's College, he was studying law at the University of Madrid while seriously considering going pro in sports. He played for Real Madrid's junior team and then served as a reserve goalkeeper for Real.
At 19, a devastating car crash shattered those dreams. He was driving home from a party with two friends when he lost control and slammed into a tree. The passengers were unharmed. At first, Julio seemed okay. Then paralysis set in below his chest from a pinched spinal nerve.
Julio began writing music and poetry, despite having no clue what he was doing. After being discharged from the hospital, he went to England for a while, where he studied English. His law degree took years to finish because music had completely captured his heart.
Music Career
While in London, Julio and his friends hit up a pub where he performed a famous Cuban song, accompanying himself on guitar. The crowd loved it, and he started coming back on weekends, even earning some cash for his impromptu performances.Back home, the young artist entered the Benidorm International Song Festival and took the top prize performing "La Vida Sigue Igual" ("Life Goes On the Same"), a song he'd written himself. He immediately signed a contract with the Spanish branch of Columbia Records.
In 1969, Iglesias dropped his debut album "Yo Canto," and the following year he competed in Eurovision, landing fourth place with "Gwendolyne."
Julio Iglesias's Personal Life
From a young age, Julio was a magnet for women, and he never shied away from admitting his passion for romance. He juggled countless flings alongside several serious relationships. He's been linked with singers, actresses, and stunning women he simply couldn't resist charming. The same happened with journalist Isabel.Isabel Preysler was a model and worked as an interviewer for glossy magazines. Her first major assignment was interviewing Julio Iglesias, who was rapidly rising to stardom. The singer swept her off her feet – and found himself falling just as hard. In 1971, the couple married and had three children – Enrique, Julio, and Maria Isabel.
Trouble started when Isabel refused to give up her career to become a full-time wife and mother. She wanted to keep working, while the singer – despite his own wandering eye – grew jealous.
The couple's marriage ended in divorce in 1979. The children initially moved with their father to Miami, then relocated with their mother to the States for safety reasons – Julio's own father had been kidnapped for ransom in Spain, making the singer fear for his children's security.
From the early nineties, former lover and ballerina Maria Edite Sanchez fought for paternity recognition and child support for her son Javier, claiming Julio was the father.
Julio refused genetic testing and denied paternity. The case lasted many years. Ultimately, Spain's Supreme Court ruled against recognizing Iglesias as Sanchez's biological father.
Julio's longest relationship was with Dutch model Miranda Rijnsburger. Despite their 22-year age gap, love conquered all. Together, they had five children – Miguel Alejandro, twins Cristina and Victoria, Rodrigo, and Guillermo.
After twenty years together, Iglesias finally married Miranda in 2010, declaring his commitment to spending the rest of his life with her.
Julio Iglesias Now
In 2023, the legendary Spanish crooner turned 80. He now lives quietly in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, having retired from touring and recording in 2018. Still, his catalog is so vast that even die-hard fans haven't heard every song.Julio holds multiple records, including being the first Spanish artist to perform 41 concerts in 41 cities within just 30 days. By 2013, he'd sold over 300 million records worldwide – another milestone achievement.
The singer is currently working on writing an autobiographical book.
Interesting Facts
- In an interview, Iglesias revealed he can sing in any language in the world—whether it's Chinese or an Australian Aboriginal language—without actually knowing the language. This incredible talent actually landed him a spot in the Guinness World Records. The secret? Julio's incredible musical ear and natural sense of rhythm. He memorizes lyrics with such perfect intonation that listeners swear he's been speaking that language his entire life.
- Besides his native Spanish, Julio speaks Italian, Portuguese, French, and English.
- In early 2024, customs officials at a Dominican airport confiscated a huge chunk of the singer's luggage when he tried to bring over forty kilograms of vegetables, fruits, and chicken meat into the country.
