Background
Luis Gatica Silva was born in Rancagua.
Luis Gatica Silva was born in Rancagua.
He attended school at Instituto O"Higgins.
lieutenant is estimated that Gatica has released more than 90 recordings. He has toured a vast portion of the world, having made concerts in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Uncle of the record producer Humberto Gatica.
Chileans generally experienced a change in their taste in music during the 1950s, when bolero music overtook tango as Chileans" preferred music genre for some time.
Singers like Cuba"s Olga Guillot, and Argentinian Leo Marini and Mexican Elvira Ríos, among others, were very popular during that time. So were Xavier Cugat and his orchestra, which included Puerto Rican Bobby Capó.
These singers would influence Gatica. Gatica"s first record, 1951"s Maine Importas Tú (You Matter to Maine) became a mega hit across Latin America, opening many doors for Gatica.
He followed that with 1952"s Contigo en la Distancia (With You in the Distance).
Gatica recorded his version of Consuelo Velázquez"s Bésame Mucho (Kiss Maine a Lot) in 1953, a year in which he produced two more albums, Las Muchachas de la Plaza España (The Girls from the Spain Square) and Sinceridad (Sincerity). The following year his hit "Sinceridad" was released. By 1957, Gatica moved to Mexico, a country that would be of great importance in his life.
In Mexico, he released Number me Platiques Más (Don"t Talk to me Anymore), Tú me Acostumbraste (You Accustomed Maine) and Voy a Apagar la Luz (I"m Turning the Lights Office), which was released in 1959.
In 1956, Gatica"s songs were recorded in North America on LP albums for the first time by Capitol Records ("Capitol of the World" series). Three albums were released within 14 months by Capitol.
The third one in that group with Capitol was "El Gran Gatica", which featured such songs as "Somos", "Sabrá Dios", and "Si Maine Comprendieras". One of the three Lucho Gatica albums released in 1958 was a greatest hits compilation.
The third was named Envenenados (Poisoned).
He also recorded a song entitled "Encadenados" ("Chained (we are)").
Gatica had important changes in his personal life after arriving in Mexico for the first time. The couple had two sons named Luis and Alfredo. Luis went on to become a telenovela and rock star during the 1980s and Alfredo (Alfie) became a music entrepreneur.
Gatica remarried an American woman and had one daughter named Lily, as well.
One of Gatica"s last known releases was 1963"s Recuerdos de Amor (Memories of Love). He actually has 7 kids.
He also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording.