The death of the illustrious designer Oscar de la Renta has touched the hearts of his greatest fans around the world.
His longtime friend and singer Julio Iglesias paid tribute to the late 82-year-old designer who died Monday night after a long battle with cancer.
“Oscar, my soulmate. Now who’s going to tell me about the nice things in life, who will give me advice?” Iglesias wrote on Twitter with a photo of the two.
The duo have been friends for many years, both having neighboring homes in the beach resort area of Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
Iglesias, 71, took part in a celebration to honor De La Renta with the Medal of Excellence this past May in New York.
At the time, De la Renta called the singer “like a brother.”
“I imagine you’ve taken with you the sea of Punta Cana, the sea of memories, the sea of joy, the sea of magic, the sea that you invented,” Iglesias continued in his tribute. “There will not a day in my life that the sea you brought to me will not return a smile for you. I love you forever.”
De la Renta died in his home in Connecticut surrounded by family, friend and “more than a few dogs,” according to a handwritten statement signed by his stepdaughter Eliza Reed Bolen and her husband, Alex Bolen.
"While our hearts are broken by the idea of life without Oscar, he is still very much with us.
Oscar's hard work, his intelligence and his love of life are at the heart of our company," the statement said. "All that we have done, and all that we will do, is informed by his values and his spirit."
Monday night also marked the start of Fashion Week in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. In a pre-planned honor, the Hotel Santo Domingo inaugurated a room named after De la Renta.
Brasilia, São Paulo, Río de Janeiro, Curitiba are only a few of the cities where Julio has
performed and charmed the Brazilians, within a broad tour in that
country. The audience´s high demand of tickets led to extra concerts.
Juliosurprised
the audience with special guests, the Brazilian singers Paula
Fernandes, Alexandre Pires, Luiza Possi and Vina Calmon, with whom he
performed touching duets which enchanted the spectators.
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic – Spanish crooner Julio Iglesias, the Latino entertainer who has sold the most albums worldwide, performed on the weekend in a more intimate setting in Punta Cana, a resort city in the eastern Dominican Republic. The 70-year-old singer took the stage at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino's Fillmore Ballroom at 9:45 p.m. Saturday, leading off with "Amor," and running through a list of 19 more of his hits. "Good evening. Thank you very much," the artist told the public, who at the beginning appeared to be a little timid in their response to him but who quickly warmed up and then didn't stop applauding him for a moment. Iglesias, who owns a home in Punta Cana, talked about the "deep" love he feels for the Dominican Republic, a love he said he inherited from his father, Julio Iglesias Puga, to whom he dedicated the song "Un campo a Galicia," to the applause of the crowd. "I deeply love this land," the singer said, adding that the children he has had with Miranda Rhysburger have grown up in this Caribbean country. In fact, two of those children, twins Victoria and Cristina, were in the audience to see their father perform. Also on hand for the concert were Iglesias' friends Frank Rainieri, the president of the Grupo Puntacana, and well-known Dominican fashion designer Oscar de la Renta. Iglesias, who last year set a Guinness record for being the male Latino artist who has sold the most albums worldwide, wrapped up the concert with "Me va," but he returned to do an encore that included "Corazon partio" by Alejandro Sanz and the well-known "A mi manera" (My Way) made famous by Frank Sinatra. (Source:http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/entertainment/2014/06/08/julio-iglesias-thrills-fans-with-intimate-concert-in-dominican-republic/)
With a trajectory reaching nearly five decades crooning love songs
that have been the soundtrack for the lives of hundreds of millions,
it’s no surprise that Julio Iglesias is among the 10 best-selling
artists in the world. The Spanish iconic singer was presented with a unique award by Sony
Music to celebrate the title as “The Most Successful Latin Artist of All
Time” on Monday. Iglesias received the recognition for sales of more than 300 million
records in a presentation at the Royal Albert Hall in London, also the
venue where he first appeared in 1982. “I’m so glad to be receiving this award, and especially in London, a
place that has so many memories for me, where I’m surrounded by so many
friends,” Julio Iglesias said upon receiving the award, according to a press release.
“I would like to take this opportunity and say a big
thank you to all the people who have bought my albums over the years, as
well as to all those who have come to see me in concert,” he added,
stating that they made the award possible. “Although I admit that the most important prize I’ve ever got is people’s love.”
Iglesias was presented the acknowledgement by Doug Morris, CEO Sony
Music, along with Edgar Berger, Chairman & CEO, Sony Music
International, and Afo Verde, Chairman & CEO Sony Music Latin
Iberia.
Morris said the singer from Madrid is without question one of the most beloved and successful recording artists of all time.
“You are a talent like no other who continues to thrill fans around
the world. I couldn’t think of a worthier recipient for this special
award,” he stated.
This YouTube video captures Julio's performance (in the round) of "Crazy" "Abrazame" "Hey!" and "Me Va, Me Va" the Arena Theater in Houston, Texas on April 4, 2014.
(Source: YouTube)
Friday, April 4, 2014
Alexander Kogan will appear as a Special Guest at the following Julio concerts: April 4th – Houston, TX April 10th – Valley Center, CA April 11th – Reno, NV April 12th – West Wendover, NV May 2nd – Mashantucket, CT May 29th – Highland, CA June 19th – Rama (Orillia), ON June 21 & 22 – Montreal
Julio Iglesias will release ‘1 The Collection’ on May 19, consisting of love ballads and remastered songs.
Last year, Iglesias entered the
Guinness Book of World Records for the second time as the biggest
selling Latin artist in the world. Citing sales of 300 million albums in
14 languages, his records have sold a total of 5.3 million copies in the US alone.
'1 The Collection' tracklisting below:
1. Begin the Beguine (Volver A Empezar) (Remastered Version) 2. Crazy (Remastered Version) 3. When I Need You (Remastered Version) 4. Vincent (Starry Night) (Remastered Version) 5. 99 Miles From L.A. 6. And I Love Her 7. Always On My Mind 8. Crazy In Love (Remastered Version) 9. Fragile (Remastered Version) 10. Caruso (Remastered Version) 11. To All The Girls I've Loved Before (Remastered Version) 12. All Of You (Remastered Version) 13. My Love (Remastered Version) 14. When You Tell Me That You Love Me 15. Summer Wind (Duet With Frank Sinatra) 16. Let It Be Me 17. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes (duet with All-4-One) 18. As Time Goes By (From The Motion Picture "Casablanca") (Live Version)
Alexander Kogan
will appear as a Special Guest at the upcoming Julio concerts in
Scottsdale, AZ (Fri. March 28th), Albuquerque (Sat. March 29th), Valley
Center, CA (April 10th), Reno, NV (April 11th) and West Wendover, NV
(April 12th).
1- Austin, Texas 3- San Antonio, Texas 4- Houston, Texas 10- Valley Center, California 11- Reno, Nevada 12- West Wendover, Nevada 24- New York City, New York 26- North Bethesada, Maryland 27- Newark, New Jersey 29- Red Bank, New Jersey
May-
2- Mashantucket, CT 3- Atlantic City, NJ 9- Amsterdam, Netherlands 13- London, United Kingdom 15- Dublin, Ireland 18- Belfast, United Kingdom 19- London, United Kingdom 29- Highland, California 31- Leon, Mexico
Superstar Julio Iglesias was recently named by the Guinness Book
of World Records as the Best-Selling Latin Artist in history, with more
than 300 million in sales. On April 1, 2013, he received another
historic award: First and Most Popular Artist of All Time in China.
In the 45 years of his unstoppable career, Iglesias has received
approximately 2,600 platinum and gold awards, performed more than 5,000
concerts in 600 cities around the world, and more than 60 million have
seen him perform around the world.
Phoenicians will have another opportunity to see
Iglesias live when he appears March 28 at Talking Stick Resort. The
romantic balladeer, whose hits include “All of You,” “Nathalie,” and “To
All The Girls I’ve Loved Before,” spoke to GetOut about his passions
and record-setting career.
Q: Congratulations are in order on your recent achievement of being listed in the Guinesss Book of World Records. JI: Thank you kindly for the compliment, but the
reality for me is that was yesterday and this is today. Today I want to
say hello to Arizona, a place that I love. I have played there maybe 30
to 40 times in my career, and I like it so much that I want to come
back. Q: With that accomplishment in the rear view mirror, what are your future goals and milestones? JI: You know, I’m 70 years old now, and my goal
is to keep the passion going in my life. It’s no longer about making
money — I have all the money I need — but it’s a question of what
fulfills me. I try to be professional, and I love my career, and without
discipline I would have none of this. It’s true that I do the best that
I can to make people happy. It doesn’t mean that I am a saint or a
perfect person at all. Time for me goes by very fast, and I want to
spend that time being happy and passionate. Q: Were you strategic in your career about wanting to become an international artist? JI: It was probably more strategic on the part of
CBS Records, who made me move to the United States in 1979. I shouldn’t
say made me move, because I love the United States. I have a home there
and spend three months a year in America. The record company also had
me record music with many American artists and learn the industry here. I
can’t complain because it all turned out so well. Q: How do American audiences differ from those, say, in Europe? JI: When I play in Europe, when I play in China,
when I play in Russia, or anywhere else in the world, the audience
ranges from ages 20 to 60 years old. When I play in America, the age
range is 50 to 70 years old, which is great. It doesn’t matter to me who
shows up because I play the same way. All I want to do is entertain and
try and make people happy. Q: You remind me of a diplomat or an ambassador
because you are a world traveler, speak so many languages, and you bring
goodwill wherever you go. JI: Funny you should say that, because I was once
a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
for 20 years. I did it for the kids, and it was a great time in my life.
But my job as a singer is greater than an ambassador, because I will
never fall out of favor because of my politics. To be a singer is very
easy, but to be an artist is very difficult. I have the easiest job in
the world.
Spanish crooner Julio Iglesias performed some of his classics and other songs for fans in Miami, where he has long had a home. The 70-year-old singer received numerous ovations Saturday night at
the American Airlines Arena, where the audience went wild at times and
sang along with many of the old standards. The suave Iglesias showed that he knows how to connect with an audience with his unique style. Iglesias performed songs like "Caruso" and "El Amor," engaging the audience with his thoughts between songs. "I've been asked so many times about what it is that an artist likes.
What we like most is coming back. Being in Miami is a privilege for me,
as it is to continue being loved," Spain's best known singer told the
audience at the sold-out American Airlines Arena. Iglesias performed "Manuela," "Me Olvide de Vivir," "Un Canto a
Galicia" and "Abrazame," among other hit songs, on the Miami stop of his
world tour. "If the passion I feel from you was not there, I would be working at a
law firm," Iglesias said with a smile before performing "Hey." The singer, who has sold more than 300 million records worldwide,
opened the show with "Amor, Amor, Amor" and closed with "Me Va, Me Va," a
song that got the audience on its feet. Iglesias returned for a long encore after the audience lured him back
on the stage with shouts of "One more! One more!" and "Julio, don't
go!"
(CNN) -- Before the interview for Talk Asia, all I
knew about Julio Iglesias was that he sings love songs -- and that the
ladies seem to love him.
What I didn't know, was
this is a man who was born to be famous and not even a life-threatening
injury from a car accident would stop him.
His story is one made for
the silver screen. It has all the elements that tug at your heart
strings: family drama, near-death experience, triumph over adversity,
ultimate success, and a plot that just keeps on going.
Iglesias' renowned voice
has made him a superstar worldwide but his first foray into the
spotlight wasn't through his voice, it was his feet.
The football pitch was where he got his first taste of what it feels like to be adored by the crowds.
Real deal
From a young age,
Iglesias showed his fancy footwork in Real Madrid's junior league.
Rising through the ranks, he would eventually become goalkeeper for
Real's reserve team.
Iglesias humbly admits he
was never a real football talent but he had the discipline which would
see him play with the biggest names of that generation.
While his dream to play
for the Primera Division would never be realized, just being in close
proximity to the players and playing in the same stadium was enough to
feel the call of something big.
"You feel 50,000 people
in the stadium and you go on the grass and the magic starts. You feel
like are something else. All the dreams that you have for years come
back in a reality and you are in front of so many people playing a match
and you win, you lose. It's passion, it's courage," he said.
Accident
Perhaps it's that
courage that saw him through one of the most challenging times of his
life. When he was 19, a drive home after a party with two friends ended
in tragedy.
While taking a curve in
the road, the car he was driving crashed, leaving him clinging on to
life. What would come would crush his dreams of ever playing football
again. The crash compressed a nerve in his spine leaving him paralyzed
from the chest down; a paralysis that would see him bed-ridden for two
years.
"All I felt at that time was 'Why? Why has this happened to me?'
"I'm someone who
believes there's a reason for everything. Sometimes that belief is
challenged but more often than not, I believe events take place that
force you to think, feel, and act in ways you may never have before. I
believe people come into your life for a reason."
For Iglesias, that belief was crystallized in that devastating moment, and those challenging two years changed his life.
What he did not realize at the time was that it would all change for the better.
Musical discovery
A nurse who was treating
him brought Julio a guitar. The gesture was two-fold: a distraction
from the depression of what kind of a life would lie ahead, and a means
to exercise the dexterity and strength in his fingers and hands.
He discovered a passion for music that he didn't know he had. And perhaps more than anything, a renewed purpose in life.
"I started to move my
toes. I started to get up, I started to walk albeit painfully, and I
started to realize that I could survive ... I started to think that I
could be alive again ... So from that day I took chances. I disciplined
my life. Without discipline I would not be here. I would not be talking
to you, I would not be a singer, and I would be nothing. Discipline woke
up my life again."
The rest as they say is history.
Devoted following
Eighty albums released
in 14 languages, over 300 million records sold worldwide, and a devoted
following of women who hear that something in his voice that knows no
boundaries of language. Despite claiming to be "not that great" of a
singer, Iglesias' ability to connect to a global audience has served him
well. He says it's his passion for music and for people.
Perhaps, though, what
they see is his vulnerability, a quality he himself says "is the most
attractive thing that an artist can have."
"Since that time I
understood that music, and the passion for music, was my life ... I was
not a good singer, I didn't even know how to write a song ... but I
realized what an incredible opportunity I had. The life came back to my
eyes and I became a singer."
SAN ANTONIO – When superstar Julio Iglesias is on the telephone and
it’s close to Valentine’s Day, one has to ask the international king of
the romantic ballad for some insights into the ways of love. He’s a
good sport about it, too. “No, it’s not silly,” said Iglesias in late January in that
inimitable voice. “I understand that the readers, if you do not ask me
that question, they will kill you.”
Iglesias is set to perform at Majestic Theatre on April 3. This year
marks the 30th anniversary of his smash hit with Willie Nelson, “To All
the Girls I’ve Loved Before.”
What makes for perfect Valentine romance? “You know, Hector, if I
would have the formula and I would write the book, I will give you 30
percent of the book for the rights, OK? You will write, and I will tell
you. And I promise you, we will have a No. 1 book all over the world.” Then, after a perfectly timed pause for effect, Iglesias ‘fessed up: “I don’t have any (expletive) idea,” he joked. But seriously, does Iglesias enjoy Valentine’s Day? “For me, I’ve
been on a honeymoon all my life. No, no, no. I think it’s much better to
surprise somebody not on the 14th of February, the 14th of January, for
example. The 25 of September or whatever. Say it to somebody with the
eyes, with the eyes, not with the words, that you love her,” he said. “That’s important. To wait until the 14th of February (is a
commercialized custom) . . . the reality is, I don’t think, really, the
14th of February means a lot. You don’t have to waste so many days for
one day a year to tell somebody that you love her, OK?” This writer’s personal memo to guys about heeding Iglesias’ advice:
Don’t forget Valentine’s Day — accidentally or on purpose. Only Julio
Iglesias can get away with that.
Julio Iglesias has been wooing audiences for more than 45 years and
even after selling more than 300 million albums worldwide, at 70, he is
still firmly holding the mic.
Julio Iglesias On this edition of Talk Asia, CNN’s Monita Rajpal catches up with the
man known as the ‘Latin Lover’ as he croons his way through China. In a frank conversation, Iglesias and Rajpal cover decades of his
colorful career cornerstones in music and his time as a professional
footballer. The singer shares memories of family and friends, and
vividly recalls the devastating accident that became pivotal in changing
the course of his life.
CNN’s Talk Asia will be seen on Jan. 23 at 4:30 p.m.; Jan.y 24 at
1:30 p.m.; Jan. 25 at 3:30 p.m.; Jan. 26 at 12:30 a.m.; Feb. 1 at 8:30;
and on Feb. 2 at 3:30 p.m. CNN International is available from your favorite cable and satellite TV provider.
