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Carlos Vives

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Vives and the second or maternal family name is Restrepo.
Carlos Vives
Vives speaking at the World Economic Forum on Latin America in 2010
Vives speaking at the World Economic Forum on Latin America in 2010
Background information
Birth nameCarlos Alberto Vives Restrepo
Born (1961-08-07) 7 August 1961 (age 63)
Santa Marta, Colombia
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • actor
Years active1978–present
Labels
Websitecarlosvives.com

Carlos Alberto Vives Restrepo (born 7 August 1961) is a Colombian singer, songwriter and actor.

One of the best-selling Latin music artists of all time, with over 20 million records worldwide,[1] Vives is regarded as one of the most influential artists in the world as he has progressively helped vallenato gain popularity globally and for his interpretation of traditional music styles, such as cumbia, champeta, bambuco and porro, with Latin pop, rock, reggaeton, dance-pop and tropical music.[2][3][4]

Through his career he was honored with two Grammy Awards and seventeen Latin Grammy Awards, being awarded with the Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year in 2024.[5] Vives was honored with several honoree for his songwriting and producer contribution including the BMI President’s Award,[6] the ASCAP Founders Award,[7] and the Billboard Latin Music Hall of Fame Award.[8] In 2019, Vives was selected as #45 on both the Greatest of All Time Latin Artists and Top Latin Artists 2010s by Billboard.[9][10]

He worked with some of the most influential artists in the Latin music scene, including Ricky Martin, Shakira, Wisin, Daddy Yankee, Alejandro Sanz, Camilo, Sebastián Yatra, Mau y Ricky, Michel Teló, Gente de Zona, Carlos Rivera, Silvestre Dangond and Juanes.[11]

Vives is also a successful actor. His roles as the titular character in the soap opera Gallito Ramírez and as Rafael Escalona in Escalona, a story about the famous Colombian composer of the same name, are among his most important and well-remembered appearances.

Early life

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Carlos Vives was born on 7 August 1961[12] in Santa Marta, Magdalena, Colombia, where he spent his first 12 years of life. At that age, he and his family moved to Bogotá in search of a better life. He enrolled at Jorge Tadeo Lozano University and holds a degree in Advertising from the university. In Bogotá, he also acquired a taste for rock, getting involved in the local music scene, and started playing in bars and cafés around the city.[citation needed]

1982–1989

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In 1982, Vives began acting in a number of shows and telenovelas including Pequeños Gigantes ("Little Giants" – 1983) and Tuyo es Mi Corazón ("Yours Is My Heart" – 1985). He finally found fame in 1986 by playing the title role of Gallito Ramírez, which told the story of a Colombian Caribbean coast boxer who falls in love with an uptight girl, who was portrayed by his first wife, Margarita Rosa de Francisco. That same year, he released his first album, Por Fuera y Por Dentro. The album, primarily made of ballads, failed to gain any success. In 1987, he released his second ballad album, No Podrás Escapar de Mí. Though the title track reached No. 30 on the Billboard Hot Latin Tracks, the album did not sell well. His next album, Al Centro de la Ciudad, would become his last album to feature synthesizer-romantic ballads. Some of the songs got some attention being featured in telenovelas, but the album, just as its predecessors, failed to gain success.[citation needed]

In 1989, he was offered an acting job in Puerto Rico, and upon moving, he took a break in his music career. He is remembered for his leading roles in the soaps La Otra and Aventurera.[12] He married Herlinda Gómez,[12] his second wife (they have since divorced). Vives would spend his time between Colombia, Miami and the city of Mayagüez, Herlinda's hometown, during his marriage to her.[citation needed]

Since 1991

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Carlos Vives

Upon his return to Colombia in 1991, he was offered a TV role that would change his life forever. He was cast in the leading role of a fantasy series based on the life of vallenato composer Rafael Escalona unsurprisingly titled Escalona.[12] He sang the composer's songs in the series, and that's when he retooled his career towards vallenato,[13] gaining national success with the release of the Telenovela's two soundtrack albums, Escalona: Un Canto a la Vida and Escalona: Vol. 2.

In 1993, backed by the band "La Provincia", Vives released the album Clásicos de la Provincia in which he started fusing vallenato with rock,[12] pop and other Caribbean Colombian ethnic rhythms. This fusion scandalized vallenato purists. Clásicos de la Provincia, won the Billboard Latin Music Awards Best Album, introducing vallenato to both Colombia and the rest of the world.[citation needed]

The follow-up album, La Tierra del Olvido would mark a further step in Vives' desire to fusion rock, funk and pop music with traditional Colombian genres. The album gave Vives classic hits such as the title track, and the up-tempo opening track Pa' Mayte.

His subsequent releases, Tengo Fé (1997), El Amor de Mi Tierra (1999), Déjame Entrar (2001) and El Rock de Mi Pueblo (2004), were all commercially successful and were well received by critics. In 2002 Carlos Vives' album "Déjame Entrar" won him his first Grammy award for Best Traditional Tropical Latin Album.[citation needed]

In 2009 he released the album Clásicos de la Provincia II, which was sold exclusively in Colombian supermarket chain "Almacenes Éxito." The album saw Vives' return to covering vallenato songs in his own style.[citation needed]

Carlos Vives interviewed by Ana María Canseco

Current

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With more than 40 songs written in 2012, Corazon Profundo was released in April 2013 and featured 11 tracks. The first single, "Volví a Nacer", was released in September 2012 and went straight to No. 1 on Billboard.[clarification needed] The second single, "Como Le Gusta a Tu Cuerpo" featuring Michel Teló was released in late January 2013. Carlos appeared with fellow artists Ricardo Montaner, Fanny Lu, and Andrés Cepeda as one of the coaches for the first season of the vocal competition series phenomenon The Voice Colombia, which premiered October 2012 via Colombian TV network Caracol TV.[citation needed]

On 27 May 2016, "La Bicicleta" with fellow Colombian singer Shakira was released as a single. The video for the song was filmed in Colombia in each of their home cities.[14] The song debuted at the number one spot on Billboard's US Latin Airplay chart and number four on the US Hot Latin Songs chart.

On 13 September 2018, Telemundo announced Carlos Vives as the fourth coach of La Voz (U.S.).[15] Vives joined Luis Fonsi, Alejandra Guzman and Wisin as coaches on the Spanish-language version of NBC singing-competition La Voz.[16]

In 2020, he joined Diego Torres, Lali, Coti, Ángela Torres, Thalía, Camila's Mario Domm, Sin Bandera's Leonel García, Reik's Jesús Navarro, Río Roma, Carlos Rivera, Camilo, Fonseca, Manuel Turizo, Jorge Villamizar, Pedro Capó, Farruko, Kany García and Rauw Alejandro, Ivete Sangalo, Dilsinho, Rubén Blades, Gente de Zona, Mau y Ricky, El Cigala, Dani Martín, Leslie Grace, Nicky Jam, Ara Malikian and Prince Royce for 'Color Esperanza 2020', a version of Diego Torres' Color Esperanza.

In April 2021, Vives joined Ricky Martin for "Canción Bonita", a song which was critically acclaimed for its fusion of musical styles from Colombia and Puerto Rico. The song was nominated for Song of the Year and Best Pop Song at the 2021 Latin Grammy Awards.

In November 2021, he was a featured artist in the Disney movie 'Encanto' singing the credits song 'Colombia, Mi Encanto' written by Lin-Manuel Miranda.[17]

In 2023, Vives appeared in the Disney+ show 'The Low Tone Club' and sang the theme 'Tumbando Muros' and two other songs for the show. In addition, Vives wrote all songs included on the show's soundtrack.

In 2024, the Latin Grammys recognized Vives as Person of the Year at their annual ceremony for his significant contributions to Latin American music and his philanthropic efforts in Colombia and the broader Spanish-speaking community.

Personal life

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Vives was married to the Colombian actress Margarita Rosa de Francisco in a relationship that was closely followed by the national media. Puerto Rican Herlinda Gómez was his second wife, with whom he had two children: Carlos Enrique Vives and Lucía Vives.[18] He is now married to former Miss Colombia Claudia Elena Vásquez and they have two children:[12] Elena Vives, and Pedro Vives. He divides his time between Miami and Colombia, mainly Santa Marta and Bogotá.[12]

Discography

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Main article: Carlos Vives discography

Filmography

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Television series and shows

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Year Title Role Notes
1983 Pequeños Gigantes Guineo Season 1, recurring role
1984 El Faraón Capitolino Rojas Season 1, recurring role
1985 Tuyo es mi corazón Carlos Sánchez Season 1, episode 1
1986 Gallito Ramírez Javier "Gallito" Ramírez Season 1, main role
1987 Tormento César Augusto Caballero Season 1, episode 1
1988 La Otra Arnaldo Vásquez Season 1, main role
1989 La Conciencia de Lucía Alberto Season 1, main role
LP loca pasión Julio Sanmiguel "Sammy" Season 1, main role
1990 Aventurera Juan Carlos Santander Season 1, main role
1991 Cadena Braga José Antonio Season 1, episode 1
1992 Escalona Rafael Escalona Season 1, main role
La mujer doble Mateo Escondria Season 1, main role
1993 La estrategia del caracol The reporter Recurring role
2012 La Voz Colombia Himself Season 1; Coach
2013 La Voz Spanish Season 2; Mentor
2014 Susana Giménez Cameo; Season 15, episode 25
2019 Pescaíto El Profe Season 1, main role
2019–2020 La Voz US Himself Season 1–2; Coach
2020 El mundo perdido de Cumbiana Television documentary
2022 Pablus Gallinazo Television Film, main role
2022–2023 The Low Tone Club - El Club de los Graves Amaranto Molina Recurring role

Voice acting

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  • 2021 Encanto (Colombia, Mi Encanto)

Awards and nominations

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Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Carlos Vives

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Arias-Polo, Arturo (19 May 2020). "Carlos Vives, 'la música colombiana me ha permitido conectar con el pasado'". El Nuevo Herald (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 6 June 2020. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  2. ^ Valdes-Rodriguez, Alisa (12 September 2000). "Searching for Carlos Vives". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  3. ^ Lechner, Ernesto (22 July 2024). "Carlos Vives on His Colombian Identity and Bringing Vallenato to the Pop Spotlight: 'My Greatest Act of Rebellion'". Variety. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  4. ^ "GRAMMY Rewind: Carlos Vives Spotlights Colombian Cycling Culture After Winning A Latin GRAMMY For "La Bicicleta" In 2016 | GRAMMY.com". grammy.com. 20 October 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  5. ^ "Carlos Vives es nombrado Persona Del Año 2024 de La Academia Latina de La Grabación". www.latingrammy.com (in Spanish). The Latin Recording Academy. 22 May 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  6. ^ "Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) to Honor Carlos Vives With President's Award at the 22nd Annual BMI Latin Awards | Press". BMI.com. Broadcast Music, Inc. 14 January 2014. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  7. ^ "Acclaimed Colombian Singer-Songwriter Carlos Vives to Receive Prestigious ASCAP Founders Award". www.ascap.com. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  8. ^ Flores, Griselda (20 September 2020). "Carlos Vives to Receive Hall of Fame Award at 2020 Billboard Latin Music Awards". Billboard. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  9. ^ "Greatest of All Time Latin Artists". Billboard.
  10. ^ "Top Latin Artists". Billboard.
  11. ^ Flores, Griselda (27 February 2025). "Carlos Vives Winds Through Biggest Hits at Viña Del Mar, Earns Gaviotas de Plata & Oro". Billboard. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g biografías.es, .
  13. ^ Vallenato.com, .
  14. ^ "Shakira and Carlos Vives film new video for "La Bicicleta"". Latin Times. 22 May 2016. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
  15. ^ AP (13 September 2018). "Carlos Vives se une como "coach" a "La Voz" de Telemundo". Periódico El Caribe - Mereces verdaderas respuestas (in European Spanish). Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  16. ^ "'La Voz' Will Come to Telemundo In 2019". Billboard. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  17. ^ Magazine, Smithsonian; Salama, Jordan. "Celebrating the Viral 'Encanto' Soundtrack's Colombian Roots". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  18. ^ lafiscalía.com Archived 8 November 2016 at the Wayback Machine.
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