Gian Marco Javier Zignago Alcóver (born in Lima

Lima

Lima is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín rivers, in the central part of the country, on a desert coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Together with the seaport of Callao, it forms a contiguous urban area known as the Lima...

, Peru

Peru

Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....

 on August 17, 1970) is a singer-songwriter

Singer-songwriter

Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...

. He has won the Grammy Latino 2005 for the best 'álbum Cantautor' (Singer-Songwriter Album) and also the Grammy Latino Awards of 2011 for the best Singer-Songwriter Album "Días Nuevos". Gian Marco was named UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in Peru.
His mother is the well-known Peruvian actress and singer Regina Alcóver Ureta, and his father was the late Peruvian composer and singer Javier Zignago, known in the musical world as "Joe Danova".

Childhood beginnings

He pursued a career in singing. At the age of 5 he was brought to a station in Buenos Aires Argentina. And he did his first television commercial.

Gian Marco did his elementary and secondary education in the Santa Margarita school in the affluent neighborhood of Monterrico en Lima, Perú.

In 1981, at eleven years old, he participated alongside his mother in the musical work, Papito Piernas Largas (Daddy Longlegs

Daddy longlegs

-Biology:* Opiliones, an order of arachnids also commonly known as harvestmen* Crane fly, winged insects belonging to the family Tipulidae* Pholcidae, a family of spiders also commonly known as cellar spiders...

), recording a piece on the soundtrack.

During his youth, Gian Marco participated in a series of artistic events, singing and acting, developing his talent and preparing himself for what would later become, and still is, his successful professional career.

Years later, with guitar in hand, he would seek in various parts of the capital—among them La Estación in Barranco—what he would later call in his song Retrato, the applause for and recognition of his first songs and compositions.

At age 18 Gian Marco travelled to Santiago, Chile

Santiago, Chile

Santiago , also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of above mean sea level...

 (Chile

Chile

Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...

) to work on a specialization in Graphic Design

Graphic design

Graphic design is a creative process – most often involving a client and a designer and usually completed in conjunction with producers of form – undertaken in order to convey a specific message to a targeted audience...

. Even though everything seemed to be going well, he needed his music, and decided to showcase his art, appearing in the most frequented venues in Santiago and Viña del Mar

Viña del Mar

Viña del Mar , is a city and commune on central Chile's Pacific coast. Its long stretches of white sandy beaches are a major attraction for national and international tourists. The city is Chile's main tourist attraction. Known as "La Ciudad Jardín" , Viña del Mar is a Chilean Municipality located...

. His name began to be recognized since his personal style got the attention of those who heard him for the first time.

First album

A year and a half later he returned to Lima and one of his songs classified for the Peruvian version of the Festival OTI 1989. He managed to capture the attention of the press, being the most publicized artist at the event. It was there that Discos Independientes proposed recording his first album. At the beginning of 1990 his first production hit the national record market with the title Gian Marco, under the musical direction of Pepe Ortega.

In 1992 he recorded his second long play production with the title, Personal, produced in Santiago, Chile by Pepe Ortega. From this recording the songs Te Extrañaré (I will miss you) and Dame un Beso (Give Me a Kiss) made the charts that year.

In September 1993 he won first place in the national version of the Festival OTI, and gained the right to represent Perú in the XXII edition of the International Festival OTI with his song Volvamos a Empezar (Let's Start Over). The International Festival took place in Valencia, Spain.

Television and national recognition

In the mid to late 1990s he came back with other successful productions. He began to dedicate himself to composing songs, and he was called to conduct one of the most popular game shows, Campaneando, together with Bruno Pinasco. Conducting this program was crucial in gaining the recognition of the wider Peruvian public.

His television appearance combined with a prolific period of musical activity. He composed and recorded the discs, Entre la arena y la luna (Between the Sand and the Moon) (1994), Señora, cuénteme (Lady, Tell Me) (1994) and Al quinto día (On the Fifth Day) (1997). His fourth album, Señora, cuénteme, is a tribute to canción criolla in which he affirms with his music the appreciation that he has for the feeling of native peoples like those in Perú.

International success

Inspired by his own dreams and a blind faith in his talent, Gian Marco decided to travel to the United States, convinced that he needed to introduce his artistic talent to the international market. He got the attention of Emilio Estefan who contracted him as a composer and performer. He worked with Estefan on a couple tracks for Mandy Moore

Mandy Moore

Amanda Leigh "Mandy" Moore is an American singer-songwriter, actress and fashion designer. Moore became famous as a teenager in the late 1990s, after the release of her teen pop albums So Real, I Wanna Be with You, and Mandy Moore. In 2007, she took an adult pop-folk direction with the release of...

's self-titled album. This did not stop him from working on his own material, and he published A tiempo (On Time) (2002) under the seal of Crescent Moon / Sony.

This last disc was heard on the most significant radio stations in the world, and sold more than 50,000 copies in Spain and thousands more around the world. The album supplied him with 3 nominations to the Latin Grammys and confirmed him as the most significant Peruvian sing-songwriter of recent times.

In that same year, Gian Marco recorded the theme song for the Americas Cup (Soccer) that would be played in Perú in 2004. The song, entitled, Más allá de los sueños (Beyond Dreams), became a resounding success.

In 2003 he received the Artista Revelación Latino (Emmerging Latin Artist) prize in the Musical Arts Awards of the Sociedad General de Autores y Editores de España (SGAE) (Spanish General Society of Authors and Editors).

Later came the album Resucitar (Resurrection) (2004), a much more organic album that, as he says, doesn't sing as much about lost love as the previous one, it's a more positive album. This disc had unbelievable success, which brought him a Latin Grammy in 2005. Several singles sprang from this album: Resucitar (Resurrection), Sin querer (By Accident), Gota de lluvia (A Drop of Rain), Después de mi (After Me), Lejos de ti (Far from You), and Soy (I Am).

15 years of career

On 2005 Gian Marco made a great show for his 15 year career, which was held at the Estadio Monumental de Perú and had more than 40,000 spectators. Several guests including Regina Alcover (his mother), Mauricio y palo de agua, Pelo Madueño y Antonio Cartagena, among others, clothed in this emotional Gianmarco concert. The concert ended with a magnificent rendition ofHoy(Today), which ended with a mix of huaynos and recognition of the great Peruvian singer.

On 2006 publishes an album called Grandes Éxitos(Greatest Hits), with Phantom records, only in Peruvian territory. This album focuses at Gian Marco's fifth album Al Quinto Día(The Fifth Day), and also highlight the best songs of his other works.

Also that year, he recorded the song for the animated film Dragones: Destino de fuego (Dragons: Destiny of Fire), where is the interpreter of the same soundtrack, also titled "Destino de fuego".

On November 17, 2006 Gian Marco launches "8

8 (album)

8 is the eighth full-length studio album by Canadian/Indonesian avant-garde metal band Kekal, announced on June 23, 2010, and made available for purchase on January 23, 2011. While the band has no officially active members, former members Jeff, Leo, and Levi all contributed to the album...

", which is his latest studio material. This album contains 10 unreleased tracks and features the first single in Peruvian territory a song titled No te avisa (It Doesn't Warn You). In Colombia

Colombia

Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...

 and the rest of the world, the first single is ¿Qué Pasa? (What's Up?), a song in which Gian Marco foray into the rap and gives its followers a somewhat different sound than they normally are used to hear.

Actuality

Gradually, the singer has been making public the Latin American market as a composer, and also has written songs for Marc Anthony

Marc Anthony

Marc Anthony is an American singer-songwriter, actor and producer. Anthony is the top selling tropical salsa artist of all time. The two-time Grammy and three-time Latin Grammy–winner has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide. He is best known for his Latin salsa numbers and ballads...

 (Este Loco Que Te Mira, Hasta Que Vuelvas Conmigo, Caminaré), Jon Secada

Jon Secada

Jon Secada is a Cuban-American singer and songwriter. Secada was born in Havana, Cuba, and raised in Hialeah, Florida. He has won two Grammy Awards and sold 20 million albums since his English-language debut album in 1992. His music fuses funk, soul, pop and Latin percussion...

 (Amanecer, Si No Fuera Por Ti), Jaci Velasquez

Jaci Velasquez

Jacquelyn Davette Velasquez is an American Contemporary Christian and Latin Pop singer—in both English and Spanish languages....

 (Bendito Amor), Obie Bermúdez

Obie Bermúdez

Obie Bermúdez , is a Puerto Rican-American R&B/Salsa singer and composer.-Early years:Bermúdez was born in Aibonito, Puerto Rico into a family who loved music. His father and grandfather were both musicians. He received his primary education in the town of Aibonito, however in 1992 the family...

 (Me Cansé De Ti, El Recuerdo), Alejandro Fernández

Alejandro Fernández

Alejandro Fernández is a Mexican singer. Nicknamed as "El Potrillo" by the media and his fans, he has sold over 20 million albums worldwide. Alejandro is the son of the ranchera singer Vicente Fernández. He originally specialized in traditional, earthy forms of Mexican folk music, such as...

 (Canta Corazón, Tengo Ganas, Dame Un Minuto), or Gloria Estefan

Gloria Estefan

Gloria María Milagrosa Fajardo García de Estefan; known professionally as Gloria Estefan is a Cuban-born American singer, songwriter, and actress. Known as the "Queen Of Latin Pop", she is in the top 100 best selling music artists with over 100 million albums sold worldwide, 31.5 million of those...

 (Hoy, Tu Fotografía, Mientras Tanto), Luis Enrique

Luis Enrique

Luís Enrique is a given name, and may refer to:*Luis Enrique Martínez García, Spanish football manager and former player*Luis Enrique "Neco" Martinez, Colombian football goalkeeper*Luis Enrique, Nicaraguan salsa singer...

 (Parte de este juego), among others.

Gianmarco has been important brand image as Pepsi

Pepsi

Pepsi is a carbonated soft drink that is produced and manufactured by PepsiCo...

, Inca Kola

Inca Kola

Inca Kola is a soft drink created in Peru in 1935 by British immigrant José Robinson Lindleyhttp://www.urosario.edu.co/urosario_files/12/12e72337-b358-45ac-9228-bb9ba34ffa2c.pdf...

, currently one of the leading companies in mobile telephony in Peru Claro. Is recognized as one of the best songwriter in Peruvian history.

On 2006 was named goodwill ambassadorin Peru of UNICEF.

Historias (Stories) (1989)

1. Canción De Amor (Love Song)
2. Domitila
3. Te Extrañaré (I'll miss you)
4. Ojalá No Sea Tarde (Hope it's not too late)
5. Dame un beso (Give me a kiss)
6. Mírame (Look at me)
7. Dos historias ("Two stories")
8. Avísame (Let me know)
9. Somos dos (We're two)
10. ¿Cuántas horas más? (How many more hours?)
11. Dejame soñar contigo (Let me dream with you)
12. Libres (Free)
13. Corazón solitario (Lonely heart)
14. Shubi Duwa
15. No hieras mi corazón (Don't hurt my heart)

Personal (1992)

1. Dame un beso
2. Te extrañaré (I will miss you)
3. Libres
4. Shubi duwa
5. Cuantas horas más (How many more hours)
6. Negrita
7. No hieras mi corazón (Don't hurt my heart)
8. Canción de amor (Love song)
9. Dos historias ("Two Histories")
10. Te estoy buscando (I'm searching for you)
11. Somos dos ("We're two")

Entre la arena y la luna (Among the sand and the moon)(1994)

1. No puedo amarte (I can't love you)
2. Gorrión (Sparrow)
3. Quédate (Stay here)
4. ¿Dónde estarás? (Where will you be?)
5. Parte de este juego (Part of this game)
6. Cuando quiero amarte (When I want to love you)
7. Corazón de cartón (Cardboard Heart)
8. Tómate el tiempo que quieras (Take the time you want)
9. Ya tienes dueño (You have a owner already)

Señora, cuénteme (Lady, tell me)(1994)

1. La flor de la canela (Cinnamon flower)
2. Caricia (Caress)
3. Camarón (El Gallo de Oro) (Shrimp/The Gold Rooster)
4. Extravío (Loss)
5. Jamás impedirás (You never will impede)
6. Jarana (Party)
7. Gracia (Grace)
8. Señora, cuénteme (Lady, tell me)
9. Secreto (Secret)
10. Cuando llora mi guitarra (When my guitar weeps)
11. El plebeyo (Commoner)
12. Ojos azules (feat. Mercedes Sosa
    Mercedes Sosa
    Haydée Mercedes Sosa, known as La Negra, was an Argentine singer who was popular throughout South America and some countries outside the continent. With her roots in Argentine folk music, Sosa became one of the preeminent exponents of nueva canción. She gave voice to songs written by both...
    
    ) (Blue eyes)
13. Viva el Peru y sereno
14. Gianmarco Corazon
15. Shadia

Al 5to día (1997)

1. Si estuvieras aquí
2. Verano o primavera en abril
3. Mírame
4. Sé que piensas en mí
5. Muero por ti
6. Fragilidad
7. Corazón en la ciudad
8. Déjame amarte
9. Funky aha

A tiempo (2002)

1. Se me olvidó
2. Al otro lado de la luna
3. Su encanto en mi
4. Te mentiría
5. Por ti
6. Lamento
7. Simplemente espiritual
8. No logro entender
9. Retrato
10. Mujer
11. Ave María
12. Volveré
13. Sentirme vivo

Bonus Track:

1. Se me olvido (versión Salsa)
2. El último adiós
3. El último adiós(varios artistas)

Resucitar (2004)

1. Gota de lluvia
2. Después de mí
3. Resucitar
4. Sortearme en tu suerte
5. Sin querer
6. Flor de arena
7. Si me vuelvo a enamorar
8. Lejos de ti
9. En cada recuerdo
10. Soy
11. Ayer
12. Tú y yo

Grandes Éxitos (2006)

1. Sé que piensas en Mi
2. Fragilidad
3. Mírame
4. Sin Querer
5. Se Me Olvidó
6. Resucitar
7. Lamento
8. Lejos de Ti
9. Si estuvieras Aquí
10. Gota de Lluvia
11. Al Otro lado de la luna
12. Corazón en la Ciudad
13. Después de Mi
14. Te mentiría

8 (2006)

1. El amor es un juego
2. Dibujame el camino
3. Cuando tu no estas
4. Quiero saber
5. Sin permiso
6. Qué pasa?
7. No te avisa
8. Loco
9. Nunca más te vi
10. Vientos del Sur

Desde Adentro (2008)

1. Canta corazón
2. Hasta que vuelvas conmigo
3. Hasta que la vida pase
4. Tu fotografía
5. Mientras tanto
6. Tengo ganas
7. Me canse de ti
8. Parte de este juego
9. Sentirme vivo
10. Todavía
11. Hoy
12. Lamento

En tiempo real DVD (2010)

1. Dime dónde
2. Ando por la vida
3. Amores imperfectos
4. De paseo
5. Desde hace un mes
6. En venta
7. Expreso 2222
8. Ojos azule/Adiós pueblo de Ayacucho/Valicha
9. Roxanne
10. Imagina
11. Sentirme vivo

Días Nuevos (2011)

1. Cuéntame ("Tell Me")
2. Más allá ("Beyond")
3. Respirar ("Breathe") (ft. Alejandro Sanz)
4. Desde hace un mes ("Since last month")
5. De Paseo ("Taking a walk")
6. Dime dónde ("Tell me where") (ft. Juan Luis Guerra)
7. Amores imperfectos ("Imperfect love")
8. Sabes que cuentas conmigo ("You know you can count on me") (ft. Diego Torres)
9. En venta ("For Sale")
10. Si me tenías ("If You Had Me")
11. Días nuevos ("New Days")

External links

• Official website