Roberto Cantoral

Roberto Cantoral García (7 June 1935 – 7 August 2010) was a Mexican composer, singer and songwriter.[4] He was known for composing a string of hit Mexican songs, including "El Triste", "Al Final", "La Barca" and "El Reloj"[4][5] The Sociedad de Autores y Compositores de México (English: 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.[6][7][8][9] In 2009, he won the Latin Grammy Trustee Award.[8][10][11] Iconos, which was released by Marc Anthony in 2010, featured "El Triste".[5]

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Cantoral and the second or maternal family name is Garcia.
Roberto Cantoral
Birth nameRoberto Cantoral Garcia
Born(1935-06-07)7 June 1935
OriginCiudad Madero, Tamaulipas
Died7 August 2010(2010-08-07) (aged 75)
GenresBolero, Latin music
Occupation(s)Composer, singer, musician
Instrument(s)Piano, guitar[1][2]
Years active1950–2010
LabelsSony Discos[3]

Early life

Roberto Cantoral Garcia was born on 7 June 1935 in Ciudad Madero, Tamaulipas.[8][10] From an early age, he showed an ability for music and its composition.[8][12][13] Cantoral moved to Mexico City to attend college but dropped out to become a band leader.[14]

Career

1950–1960

In 1950, Cantoral formed the Hermanos Cantoral (English: Cantoral Brothers) with Antonio Cantoral.[8][10][13] The duo recorded "El preso número 9" (English: Prisoner Number 9) and "El crucifijo de piedra" (English: The Crucifix of Stone).[8][10] The duo ended in 1954 with Antonio's death and Roberto formed Los Tres Caballeros (English: The Three Gentlemen) with Chamin Correa and Leonel Gálvez who performed during Mexico's era of romantic music[15] and traveled to Japan, Argentina and the United States.[10][12][16][17]

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" (English: In the End, Night, Don't Leave, Give Me This Night and, I Understand).[12][16] In 1970, he wrote the ballad "El Triste" (English: The Sad One) for José José. In 1971, he won the OTI Festival with "Yo no voy a la guerra" (English: I'm not going to the War) and in 1973 for "Quijote".[8][10][12][16] Cantoral donated the proceeds from "Pobre navidad" (English: Poor Christmas) to worldwide children institutions[8] such as UNICEF[16] and his song, "Plegaria de paz" (English: Prayer of Peace) was broadcast "three consecutive years at the Vatican".[12] Cantoral composed themes for El derecho de nacer, Paloma and Pacto de amor.[8][12]

1980–2000

In 1982, Cantoral was elected as Sociedad de Autores y Compositores de México's Chairman of the Board for his first term.[8][10][12]

Awards

During his lifetime, Cantoral received many awards. He received medals of merit from Adolfo López Mateos and Josip Broz Tito.[8] In 1969, Cantoral won la presea Diana Cazadora and premio Cuauhtémoc de Oro (English: Diana the Huntress award and Cuauhtémoc Gold prize).[8] He won three gold records for "El Reloj", "La Barca" and "El Triste".[8][15]

Personal life
Roberto Cantoral Cultural Center in Mexico City was named after him.

Cantoral resided in Rancho Viejo, Texas, just across the border from Mexico.[4] 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.[4]

Cantoral was married to Itatí Zucchi[1] and was the father of Mexican actress Itatí Cantoral, the co-star of the Televisa television series Hasta Que El Dinero Nos Separe.[4] Roberto Cantoral had three sons, Carlos, Roberto and José, with Zucchi.[18][19]

Death

In 2010, 75-year old Cantoral died after suffering a heart attack on a flight from Brownsville, Texas, to Ciudad de México. The plane made an emergency landing in Toluca, Mexico, where Cantoral was pronounced dead. His body was placed on public view at the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City.[4] Cantoral's ashes were scattered in his hometown, Tampico, Tamaulipas[4]

Tribute

On June 7, 2021, Google celebrated his 85th birthday with a Google Doodle.[20]

References
  1. "Roberto Cantoral en el recuerdo". La Prensa (La Paz) (in Spanish). laprensa.com.bo. 13 August 2010. Archived from the original on 16 August 2010. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
  2. "Roberto Cantoral en el recuerdo". La Prensa (La Paz). Google Translate. 13 August 2010. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
  3. "Roberto Cantoral Music Albums". AOL Music. music.aol.com. Archived from the original on 5 December 2012. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
  4. "Rancho Viejo-based composer passes away in Mexico". KGBT-TV. 2010-08-08. Archived from the original on 2011-07-26. Retrieved 2010-08-10.
  5. "Mexican Singer Roberto Cantoral Dies At 75". Billboard. billboard.biz. August 9, 2010. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
  6. "Muere el compositor mexicano Roberto Cantoral". El Universo (in Spanish). eluniverso.com. 8 August 2010. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
  7. "Muere el compositor mexicano Roberto Cantoral". El Universo. Google Translate. 8 August 2010. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
  8. "Biografía de Roberto Cantoral García". Sociedad de Autores y Compositores de México (in Spanish). sacm.org.mx. 2009. Archived from the original on 25 September 2009. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
  9. "Biografía de Roberto Cantoral García". Sociedad de Autores y Compositores de México. Google Translate. 2009. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
  10. "Muere el compositor mexicano Roberto Cantoral". La Prensa (Honduras) (in Spanish). laprensa.com.ni. 8 August 2010. Archived from the original on 9 March 2012. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
  11. "Muere el compositor mexicano Roberto Cantoral". La Prensa (Honduras). Google Translate. 8 August 2010. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
  12. "Roberto Cantoral, prolífico compositor". Milenio (in Spanish). milenio.com. 8 August 2010. Archived from the original on 28 January 2013. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
  13. "Roberto Cantoral, prolífico compositor". Milenio. Google Translate. 8 August 2010. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
  14. "Roberto Cantoral Biography". AOL Music. music.aol.com. Archived from the original on 29 November 2012. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
  15. "Mexican Composer Roberto Cantoral Dies". Latin American Herald Tribune. laht.com. 10 August 2010. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
  16. "Fallece el compositor Roberto Cantoral, autor de 'El Reloj'". El Mundo (in Spanish). elmundo.es. 8 August 2010. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
  17. "Fallece el compositor Roberto Cantoral, autor de 'El Reloj'". El Mundo. Google Translate. 8 August 2010. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
  18. "Dan último adiós a Roberto Cantoral". Al Día (Dallas) (in Spanish). aldiatx.com. August 11, 2010. Archived from the original on 25 July 2011. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
  19. "Dan último adiós a Roberto Cantoral". Al Día (Dallas). Google Translate. August 11, 2010. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
  20. "Roberto Cantoral's 85th Birthday". Google. 7 June 2021.
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