The legacy that Armando Manzanero left

Armando Manzanero, singer, composer, musician and music producer, passed away on Monday, December 28, 2020, leaving a legacy of more than 400 songs, many of them recognized worldwide and which have become a hymn to romance and love. love, like "Somos Novios" and "Esta tarde vi llover", among others.

Due to the mark he has left in the world of music, the Government of Mexico has decided to pay tribute to him at the Palacio de Bellas Artes, when sanitary conditions allow it, according to the information collected by El Comercio newspaper on its website. Manzanero died a victim of the complications generated by COVID-19.

Manzanero's musical legacy

Armando Manzanero's extensive musical work was performed by renowned singers around the world, including Luis Miguel, Roberto Carlos, Alejandro Fernández, Andrea Bocelli and even Elvis Presley himself, who performed the song "Somos Novios" . Even his songs were translated into languages such as Hebrew, Chinese, and Korean.

• "Esta tarde vi llover": This is one of the most recognized songs by the Mexican singer and has been on the list of the best Latin songs between 1920 and 2015, by Billboard magazine.
• "Contigo aprendí": In an interview that appeared on CNN, the singer pointed out that this was his favorite song, a statement that he reiterated in different interviews in different media throughout his artistic life. Apparently it was his wife's favorite song, so it was like a hymn to him.
• "Somos novios": This is one of Armando Manzanero's best-known songs. Composed in 1960, the song achieved great acclaim around the world, and was translated into English and French. In English it was called "It's Impossible" and was interpreted by Elvis Presley; while in French it became popular as "J'ai Mal de Toi".
• "Debajo de la mesa": This song has been one of the most successful, receiving a Latin Award from Broadcast Music Inc and occupied a privileged position on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs list in the United States. Made known by Luis Miguel to the new generations in 1997, the same Manzanero relaunched it later, making duets with renowned singers, such as Tania Libertad.

"Adoro", "Te extraño", "Nada personal", "No sé tú, are other great songs by Armando Manzanero and that today have been covered and adapted by different interpreters. For all this legacy is that he will receive the tribute at the Palacio de Bellas Artes

The tribute in the Palacio de Bellas Artes

The Secretary of Culture of Mexico declared that the moment the appropriate conditions are met, the tribute will be held at the Palacio de Bellas Artes. The Palacio de Bellas Artes has become the place where great personalities are paid homage, as has been the case of Chavela Vargas, Juan Gabriel, Gabriel García Márquez and Cantinflas, among others.

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But while the appropriate conditions are presented to carry out this tribute, Channel 22 of the public television will be where the tribute to the singer is made, as indicated by the Secretary of Culture.

Acknowledgments received

Throughout his musical career Manzanero was recognized with various prizes and awards, as can be seen in the different biographies of the singer. In the 70s and 80s he obtained several recognitions in different festivals around the world, such as the one in Mallorca in 1978 and the Yamaha Festival, held in 1982. Then he devoted himself to production, and in 1993 he was recognized with a Billboard award for his fruitful and successful artistic and musical career.

In 2001 he won a Latin Grammy for duets made with singers such as Ricardo Montaner or Olga Tañón, among others. After becoming a producer, he never completely separated himself from his role as a performer or composer. In 2010 he received an award for Musical Excellence, also assuming during that year the presidency of the Society of Authors and Composers of Mexico.

Manifestations of regret for his departure

The newspaper El Informador on its website includes in an article the expressions of regret for the departure of Maestro Manzanero, issued by figures from the artistic world, in Latin America and internationally. Among these, those of the musicians of the new generations stand out, whom Manzanero always supported.

Pablo Alboran, Maluma and even rock groups like Maldita Vecindad expressed their sadness over the death of the singer, whom they consider an example worth following. Plácido Domingo and Ricardo Montaner also expressed their pain.

Even the president of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, regretted this loss and conveyed his condolences to the singer's relatives, and even suspended the press conference that he usually does in the mornings when he heard the news. Similarly, the Chancellor, Marcelo Ebrard; the National Institute of Fine Arts and Literature, the Society of Authors and Composers of Mexico, also became part of those who expressed their regret, as described in the article in the newspaper El Comercio on its website.

Armando Manzanero left without a doubt a great musical legacy, not only to Mexican music but also internationally.