Dúo Dinámico
Encyclopedia
Dúo Dinámico is a Spanish musical duo, which was very popular in Spain
and Latin America
in the 1960s. It is formed by Manuel de la Calva and Ramón Arcusa, singers, songwriters, record producers and actors. They were the main precursors of pop music
in Spain.
Manolo and Ramón met when they were 16 years old, working as aeronautical engineering apprentices
. The duo officially formed on December 28, 1958 in Barcelona
. Their first performance before a live audience was on Radio Barcelona; they wanted to be called The Dynamic Boys, but the show host, Enrique Fernández, said he didn't speak English and introduced them as Dúo Dinámico, a name the musicians accepted. After that came more radio performances and a contract to sing at "La Masía", a famous restaurant in Barcelona, all while they still worked as engineers. Finally, in the summer of 1959 they quit their day jobs to dedicate themselves to their nascent music career.
They recorded their first EP in the fall of 1959, and it was a sales success. From then on, their ascent was spectacular, and they frequently topped the Spanish charts throughout the 60s with hits like "Quince años tiene mi amor", "Quisiera ser", "Perdóname", "Bailando el twist", "Mari Carmen", "Esos ojitos negros", "Amor de verano" or "Mi chica de ayer". They also starred in four films. Their popularity among Spanish music fans was comparable, if not superior, to the one achieved by The Beatles
.
The Duo often participated in the various music festivals that took place in Spain at the time. They won the Mediterranean Song Festival in Barcelona in 1966 with "Como Ayer"; the Costa Verde Festival in Gijón
with "Somos Jóvenes"; and they were twice second in the Benidorm International Song Festival
, in 1962 and 1966, with "Quisiera ser" and "Amor Amargo". But their greatest achievement came as composers, when their song "La, la, la" won the 1968 Eurovision Song Contest, performed by Massiel
. This was the first time that Spain won this festival, and the only time that Spain has been the sole winner (Spain won again in 1969, but tied with other three countries). The song was originally going to be performed by the duo's friend Joan Manuel Serrat
, but he insisted in singing in Catalan
, something that Franco
's regime would not allow.
After the sales failure of their 1972 album Mejor Que Nunca, recorded in London
with the collaboration of George Martin
, the duo decides to retire, but they keep composing for other artists such as Camilo Sesto
and Nino Bravo
, and producing for Julio Iglesias
, Miguel Gallardo or José Vélez
.
Due to the continuing popularity of their songs, included in the soundtracks of many popular Spanish films and TV shows, and the insistence of various entrepreneurs, the duo made a comeback in 1978. A greatest hits album was released in 1980, and in 1986, they start to record new songs under a new contract with Sony Music. In 1987, one of them, "Resistiré", was included in the soundtrack of Pedro Almodóvar
's film Átame.
As of 2007, the duo are still active, performing their hits in yearly live tours throughout Spain.
On September 21, 2007, the musical play Quisiera Ser, featuring 24 hits of the Dúo Dinámico, premiered at the Teatro Nuevo Apolo in Madrid
.
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
in the 1960s. It is formed by Manuel de la Calva and Ramón Arcusa, singers, songwriters, record producers and actors. They were the main precursors of pop music
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
in Spain.
Manolo and Ramón met when they were 16 years old, working as aeronautical engineering apprentices
Engineering apprentice
An engineering apprenticeship is an apprenticeship in mechanical engineering or electrical engineering. A typical example is the apprenticeships formerly available at the BTH and EEC at Rugby in England...
. The duo officially formed on December 28, 1958 in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
. Their first performance before a live audience was on Radio Barcelona; they wanted to be called The Dynamic Boys, but the show host, Enrique Fernández, said he didn't speak English and introduced them as Dúo Dinámico, a name the musicians accepted. After that came more radio performances and a contract to sing at "La Masía", a famous restaurant in Barcelona, all while they still worked as engineers. Finally, in the summer of 1959 they quit their day jobs to dedicate themselves to their nascent music career.
They recorded their first EP in the fall of 1959, and it was a sales success. From then on, their ascent was spectacular, and they frequently topped the Spanish charts throughout the 60s with hits like "Quince años tiene mi amor", "Quisiera ser", "Perdóname", "Bailando el twist", "Mari Carmen", "Esos ojitos negros", "Amor de verano" or "Mi chica de ayer". They also starred in four films. Their popularity among Spanish music fans was comparable, if not superior, to the one achieved by The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
.
The Duo often participated in the various music festivals that took place in Spain at the time. They won the Mediterranean Song Festival in Barcelona in 1966 with "Como Ayer"; the Costa Verde Festival in Gijón
Gijón
Gijón , officially Gijón / Xixón, is a coastal industrial city and a municipality in the autonomous community of Asturias in Spain. Early mediaeval texts mention it as "Gigia". It was an important regional Roman city, although the area has been settled since earliest history...
with "Somos Jóvenes"; and they were twice second in the Benidorm International Song Festival
Benidorm International Song Festival
The Benidorm International Song Festival or Festival Internacional de la Canción de Benidorm is an annual song contest which takes place each summer, since 1959, in the city of Benidorm, Spain. The contest, based on the Italian Sanremo Music Festival, was born to promote Benidorm and the Spanish...
, in 1962 and 1966, with "Quisiera ser" and "Amor Amargo". But their greatest achievement came as composers, when their song "La, la, la" won the 1968 Eurovision Song Contest, performed by Massiel
Massiel
María de los Ángeles Felisa Santamaría Espinoza , professionally known as Massiel, is a Spanish pop singer...
. This was the first time that Spain won this festival, and the only time that Spain has been the sole winner (Spain won again in 1969, but tied with other three countries). The song was originally going to be performed by the duo's friend Joan Manuel Serrat
Joan Manuel Serrat
Joan Manuel Serrat i Teresa is a Catalan Spanish singer-songwriter.Serrat is considered one of the most important figures of modern, popular music in both the Spanish and Catalan languages...
, but he insisted in singing in Catalan
Catalan language
Catalan is a Romance language, the national and only official language of Andorra and a co-official language in the Spanish autonomous communities of Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and Valencian Community, where it is known as Valencian , as well as in the city of Alghero, on the Italian island...
, something that Franco
Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco y Bahamonde was a Spanish general, dictator and head of state of Spain from October 1936 , and de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain from 1947 until his death in November, 1975...
's regime would not allow.
After the sales failure of their 1972 album Mejor Que Nunca, recorded in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
with the collaboration of George Martin
George Martin
Sir George Henry Martin CBE is an English record producer, arranger, composer and musician. He is sometimes referred to as "the Fifth Beatle"— a title that he often describes as "nonsense," but the fact remains that he served as producer on all but one of The Beatles' original albums...
, the duo decides to retire, but they keep composing for other artists such as Camilo Sesto
Camilo Sesto
Camilo Blanes Cortés , better known as Camilo Sesto, is a Spanish singer , composer and producer who enjoyed fame during the 1970s and the 1980s...
and Nino Bravo
Nino Bravo
Luis Manuel Ferri Llopis , better known by his stage name Nino Bravo, was a Spanish pop singer.-Early life:...
, and producing for Julio Iglesias
Julio Iglesias
Julio José Iglesias de la Cueva , better known simply as Julio Iglesias, is a Spanish singer who has sold over 300 million records worldwide in 14 languages and released 77 albums. According to Sony Music Entertainment, he is one of the top 15 best selling music artists in history,...
, Miguel Gallardo or José Vélez
José Vélez
José Vélez is a Canarian singer.In the late 1960s, a music teacher from the Organización Juvenil Española had the idea to create the music group Grupo Marabilla with some of his students, among them José Velásquez. When the group was dissolved, he began his solo career...
.
Due to the continuing popularity of their songs, included in the soundtracks of many popular Spanish films and TV shows, and the insistence of various entrepreneurs, the duo made a comeback in 1978. A greatest hits album was released in 1980, and in 1986, they start to record new songs under a new contract with Sony Music. In 1987, one of them, "Resistiré", was included in the soundtrack of Pedro Almodóvar
Pedro Almodóvar
Pedro Almodóvar Caballero is a Spanish film director, screenwriter and producer.Almodóvar is arguably the most successful and internationally known Spanish filmmaker of his generation. His films, marked by complex narratives, employ the codes of melodrama and use elements of pop culture, popular...
's film Átame.
As of 2007, the duo are still active, performing their hits in yearly live tours throughout Spain.
On September 21, 2007, the musical play Quisiera Ser, featuring 24 hits of the Dúo Dinámico, premiered at the Teatro Nuevo Apolo in Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
.