Armando Manzanero

Armando Manzanero Canché (7 December 1934 – 28 December 2020) was a Mexican musician, singer, composer, and music producer, widely considered the premier Mexican romantic composer of the postwar era and one of the most successful composers of Latin America. He received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in the United States in 2014. He was the president of the Mexican Society of Authors and Composers (Sociedad de Autores y Compositores de México).

Early life Manzanero was born in Mérida, Yucatán on 7 December 1934. (Some sources say 1935, At the age of eight he was introduced to the world of music at the Escuela de Bellas Artes (School of Fine Arts), later furthering his musical studies in Mexico City.) The following year he began his professional career as a pianist.

In 1957 he was signed as musical director by the Mexican branch of CBS International and as Musical Promoter for EMI, becoming the next year the pianist of Latin American artists such as Pedro Vargas, Lucho Gatica and Raphael.

In 1970, his song "Somos Novios" was reissued with new lyrics by Sid Wayne, composer for Elvis Presley. The English version, "It's Impossible", was performed by Perry Como and was nominated for a Grammy.

In 1978 he won first place at the Mallorca Festival in Spain, with the song Señor Amor (Mister Love). In 1982, the song Corazón Amigo (Heart Friend), was honored at the Yamaha Festival. In 1993 Billboard magazine gave him an award for his excellent musical career.

In 2011, Manzanero became President of and one of the main directors of the Asociación Nacional de Autores y Compositores (Mexican National Association of Authors and Composers). He also served as Vice President of the association from 1982 through 2011. His work in defense of copyright laws has strengthened this organization and has given it international acclaim.

alt=A man wearing a gray suit facings left with a microphone on his right hand. His eyes are closed.

His work has been performed by singers such as Tito Rodriguez, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Manzanero died 11 days later from the virus, aged 85 on 28 December 2020, 21 days after his birthday. His body was cremated and his ashes were transferred to Mérida, in Yucatán where he was born and where there is a house museum in his honor.

Recognition and legacy Manzanero was presented with the Excellence Award at the 1993 Lo Nuestro Awards. He received the Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010 as well as the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014. Manzanero was inducted into the International Latin Music Hall of Fame in 2000, the Billboard Latin Music Hall of Fame in 2003, and the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2013. Manzanero was presented with the ASCAP Latin Heritage Award in 2010. He also earned the Billboard Latin Music Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020.

Selected discography

1959: Mi Primera Grabación 1967: A mi amor... Con mi amor 1967: Manzanero el Grande 1968: Somos Novios 1968: Armando Manzanero, su piano y su música 1969: Para mi siempre amor N/A: Que bonito viven los enamorados 1976: Lo mejor de Armando Manzanero 1977: Fanático de ti 1977: Corazón Salvaje 1979: Ternura y Romance 1981: Mi trato contigo 1982: Otra vez romántico 1985: Armando Manzanero 1987: Cariñosamente, Manzanero 1988: Mientras existas tú 1992: Las canciones que quise escribir 1993: Entre amigos 1995: El piano... Manzanero y sus amigos 1996: Nada Personal 1997: Intimos (Ft. Bebu Silvetti) 1998: Manzanero y La Libertad (Ft. Tania Libertad) 2001: Duetos 2002: Duetos 2 2002: Lo Mejor de lo Mejor 2005: Lo Esencial 2006: De la A a la Z (Ft. Susana Zabaleta)-DVD 2008: Las mujeres de Manzanero 2009: Amarrados (Ft. Susana Zabaleta) 2012: "Armando un Pancho" (Dueto – Francisco Cespedes) 2014: "Des Armando a Tania" (Dueto – Tania Libertad)