Roberto Cantoral
Encyclopedia
Roberto Cantoral Garcia (7 June 1935 – 7 August 2010) was a Mexican composer, singer and songwriter. He was known for composing a string of hit Mexican songs, including El Triste
, Al Final, La Barca and El Reloj. The Sociedad de Autores y Compositores de México (Society of Authors and Composers of Mexico) estimated that La Barca and El Reloj have been recorded over 1,000 times by other artists like Plácido Domingo
, Gualberto Castro
, José José
, Luis Miguel
, Joan Báez
and Linda Ronstadt
. In 2009, he won the Latin Grammy Trustee Award. Iconos
, which was released by Marc Anthony
in 2010, featured "El Triste".
. From an early age, he showed an ability for music and its composition
. Cantoral moved to Mexico City
to attend college but dropped out to become a band leader.
and Leonel Gálvez who performed during Mexico's era of romantic music and traveled to Japan, Argentina
and the United States.
" (The Sad One) by José José
. In 1971, he won the OTI Festival
with "Yo no voy a la guerra" (I'm not going to the War) and in 1973 for "Quijote". Cantoral donated the proceeds from "Pobre navidad" (Poor Christmas) to worldwide children institutions such as UNICEF and his song, "Plegaria de paz" (Prayer of Peace) was broadcast "three consecutive years at the Vatican". Cantoral composed themes for El derecho de nacer
, Paloma and Pacto de amor.
for his first term.
and Josip Broz Tito
. In 1969, Cantoral won la presea Diana Cazadora and premio Cuauhtémoc de Oro (Diana the Huntress award and Cuauhtémoc Gold prize). He won three gold records for "El Reloj", "La Barca" and "El Triste".
, just across the border from Mexico. His home, which suffered a fire in 2006 but was renovated, features a large marble
clock in honor of his song, El Reloj, and several statues.
Cantoral was married to Itatí Zucchi and was the father of Mexican actress Itatí Cantoral
, the co-star of the Televisa television series Hasta Que El Dinero Nos Separe
. Roberto Cantoral had three sons, Carlos, Roberto and José, with Zucchi.
, to Mexico City
. The plane made an emergency landing in Toluca
, Mexico, where Cantoral was pronounced dead at the age of 75. His body was placed on public view at the Palacio de Bellas Artes
in Mexico City. Cantoral's ashes were scattered in his hometown, Tampico, Tamaulipas.
El Triste
El Triste is a song written by Mexican composer Roberto Cantoral. It was performed for the first time on March 25, 1970, at the "Latin Song Festival II" by the Mexican singer José José...
, Al Final, La Barca and El Reloj. The Sociedad de Autores y Compositores de México (Society of Authors and Composers of Mexico) estimated that La Barca and El Reloj have been recorded over 1,000 times by other artists like Plácido Domingo
Plácido Domingo
Plácido Domingo KBE , born José Plácido Domingo Embil, is a Spanish tenor and conductor known for his versatile and strong voice, possessing a ringing and dramatic tone throughout its range...
, Gualberto Castro
Gualberto Castro
Gualberto Antonio Castro is of Mexican and Lebanese ancestry from his father side of the family and French and Mexican descent from his mother's side, Gualberto is a Mexican singer-entertainer best known for singing with Los Hermanos Castro aka and for hosting the...
, José José
José José
José Rómulo Sosa Ortiz , known by his artistic name José José, is a Mexican singer.Referred in the entertainment world as "El Príncipe de la Canción" , José José is best known for his romantic ballads and renowned for his vocals...
, Luis Miguel
Luis Miguel
Luis Miguel Gallego Basteri is a Mexican singer. He is widely known only by the name Luis Miguel and is often referred to as "El Sol de México"...
, Joan Báez
Joan Baez
Joan Chandos Baez is an American folk singer, songwriter, musician and a prominent activist in the fields of human rights, peace and environmental justice....
and Linda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt is an American popular music recording artist. She has earned eleven Grammy Awards, two Academy of Country Music awards, an Emmy Award, an ALMA Award, numerous United States and internationally certified gold, platinum and multiplatinum albums, in addition to Tony Award and Golden...
. In 2009, he won the Latin Grammy Trustee Award. Iconos
Iconos
Iconos is the eleventh studio album by Marc Anthony which covers Latin ballads from the past and the second Latin pop album by Marc Anthony after Amar sin mentiras. The album was first released on May 14, 2010, in Europe through Ariola Records, and May 25 in the US and UK with Sony Latin.-Album...
, which was released by 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...
in 2010, featured "El Triste".
Early life
Roberto Cantoral Garcia was born on 7 June 1935 in Ciudad Madero, TamaulipasTamaulipas
Tamaulipas officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Tamaulipas is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 43 municipalities and its capital city is Ciudad Victoria. The capital city was named after Guadalupe Victoria, the...
. From an early age, he showed an ability for music and its composition
Musical composition
Musical composition can refer to an original piece of music, the structure of a musical piece, or the process of creating a new piece of music. People who practice composition are called composers.- Musical compositions :...
. Cantoral moved to Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
to attend college but dropped out to become a band leader.
1950–1960
In 1950, Cantoral formed the Hermanos Cantoral (Cantoral Brothers) with Antonio Cantoral. The duo recorded "El preso número 9" (Prisoner Number 9) and "El crucifijo de piedra" (The Crucifix of Stone). The duo ended in 1954 with Antonio's death and Roberto formed Los Tres Caballeros (The Three Knights) with Chamin CorreaChamin Correa
Chamin Correa, is a Latin-American guitarist from Mexico. He is renowned in the Spanish-speaking world for his traditional romantic music. Member of Los Tres Caballeros together with Roberto Cantoral and Leonel Gálvez from 1954...
and Leonel Gálvez who performed during Mexico's era of romantic music and traveled to Japan, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
and the United States.
1960–1980
In 1960, Cantoral went solo and achieved international fame for "Al final", "Noche no te vayas", "Regálame esta noche" and "Yo lo comprendo" (The End, Night [Don't You] Go, Give me the Night, and I Understand). In 1970, he wrote the ballad "El TristeEl Triste
El Triste is a song written by Mexican composer Roberto Cantoral. It was performed for the first time on March 25, 1970, at the "Latin Song Festival II" by the Mexican singer José José...
" (The Sad One) by José José
José José
José Rómulo Sosa Ortiz , known by his artistic name José José, is a Mexican singer.Referred in the entertainment world as "El Príncipe de la Canción" , José José is best known for his romantic ballads and renowned for his vocals...
. In 1971, he won the OTI Festival
OTI Festival
OTI Festival was an annual singing competition, held between 1972 and 2000, among active member countries of the Organización de Televisión Iberoamericana .- Venues and Presenters :- Winners :-By country:...
with "Yo no voy a la guerra" (I'm not going to the War) and in 1973 for "Quijote". Cantoral donated the proceeds from "Pobre navidad" (Poor Christmas) to worldwide children institutions such as UNICEF and his song, "Plegaria de paz" (Prayer of Peace) was broadcast "three consecutive years at the Vatican". Cantoral composed themes for El derecho de nacer
El derecho de nacer (TV series)
El Derecho de Nacer is the name of the two Mexican telenovelas based on the Cuban radionovela of the same name written by Félix B. Caignet and adapted for TV by Fernanda Villeli...
, Paloma and Pacto de amor.
1980–2000
In 1982, Cantoral was elected as Sociedad de Autores y Compositores de México's Chairman of the BoardChairman of the Board
The Chairman of the Board is a seat of office in an organization, especially of corporations.Chairman of the Board may also refer to:*Chairman of the Board , a 1998 film*Chairmen of the Board , a 1970s American soul music group...
for his first term.
Awards
During his lifetime, Cantoral received many awards. He received medals of merit from Adolfo López MateosAdolfo López Mateos
Adolfo López Mateos was a Mexican politician affiliated to the Institutional Revolutionary Party who served as President of Mexico from 1958 to 1964...
and Josip Broz Tito
Josip Broz Tito
Marshal Josip Broz Tito – 4 May 1980) was a Yugoslav revolutionary and statesman. While his presidency has been criticized as authoritarian, Tito was a popular public figure both in Yugoslavia and abroad, viewed as a unifying symbol for the nations of the Yugoslav federation...
. In 1969, Cantoral won la presea Diana Cazadora and premio Cuauhtémoc de Oro (Diana the Huntress award and Cuauhtémoc Gold prize). He won three gold records for "El Reloj", "La Barca" and "El Triste".
Personal life
Cantoral resided in Rancho Viejo, TexasTexas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, just across the border from Mexico. His home, which suffered a fire in 2006 but was renovated, features a large marble
Marble
Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite.Geologists use the term "marble" to refer to metamorphosed limestone; however stonemasons use the term more broadly to encompass unmetamorphosed limestone.Marble is commonly used for...
clock in honor of his song, El Reloj, and several statues.
Cantoral was married to Itatí Zucchi and was the father of Mexican actress Itatí Cantoral
Itatí Cantoral
Itatí Cantoral, is a Mexican actress.-Early life and education:Cantoral is the daughter of Mexican composer and songwriter, Roberto Cantoral, and Argentine actress of Italian descent, Itatí Zucchi.A child actress, at 13, Cantoral was accepted into the Televisa actors' academy, Centro de Educación...
, the co-star of the Televisa television series Hasta Que El Dinero Nos Separe
Hasta Que El Dinero Nos Separe
Hasta Que el Dinero Nos Separe is a telenovela produced by Emilio Larrosa. It is a remake of the Colombian soap opera Hasta Que la Plata Nos Separe. Hasta Que el Dinero Nos Separe stars Itatí Cantoral, Pedro Fernández, Victor Noriega, Luz Elena González and Joana Benedek...
. Roberto Cantoral had three sons, Carlos, Roberto and José, with Zucchi.
Death
In 2010, Cantoral died after suffering a heart attack on a flight from Brownsville, TexasBrownsville, Texas
Brownsville is a city in the southernmost tip of the state of Texas, in the United States. It is located on the northern bank of the Rio Grande, directly north and across the border from Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Brownsville is the 16th largest city in the state of Texas with a population of...
, to Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
. The plane made an emergency landing in Toluca
Toluca
Toluca, formally known as Toluca de Lerdo, is the state capital of Mexico State as well as the seat of the Municipality of Toluca. It is the center of a rapidly growing urban area, now the fifth largest in Mexico. It is located west-southwest of Mexico City and only about 40 minutes by car to the...
, Mexico, where Cantoral was pronounced dead at the age of 75. His body was placed on public view at the Palacio de Bellas Artes
Palacio de Bellas Artes
The Palacio de Bellas Artes is the most important cultural center in Mexico City as well as the rest of the country of Mexico...
in Mexico City. Cantoral's ashes were scattered in his hometown, Tampico, Tamaulipas.