Agustín Lara

Agustín Lara
Statue of A. Lara in Madrid, by sculptor Humberto Peraza
Wives	María Félix Rocío Durán Yolanda Santacruz Gasca Clara Martínez Vianey Lárraga
Issue Rocío Durán (adopted daughter/wife) Enrique Álvarez Félix (stepson) Gerardo Agustín Lara Santacruz (adopted son) Agustín Lara Lárraga (biological son)
Father	Joaquín M. Lara
Mother	María Aguirre del Pino de Lara
Born	October 30, 1897 Tlacotalpan, Veracruz
Died	November 6, 1970(1970-11-06) (aged 73) Mexico City

Ángel Agustín María Carlos Fausto Mariano Alfonso del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús Lara y Aguirre del Pino (Spanish pronunciation: [aɣusˈtin ˈlaɾa]; October 30, 1897– November 6, 1970), known as Agustín Lara was a Mexican composer and interpreter of songs and boleros. He is recognized as one of the most popular songwriters of his era. His work was widely appreciated not only in Mexico but also in Central and South America, the Caribbean and Spain. After his death, he has also been recognized in the United States, Italy and Japan.

Notable performers of his work include Pedro Vargas who was a friend, Pedro Infante, Javier Solis, Julio Iglesias, Manuel Mijares, Vicente Fernandez, Luis Miguel, Perez Prado, and Natalia Lafourcade among others.

Outside the Spanish speaking world, his most famous songs are certainly "Granada" and "Solamente Una Vez (You Belong To My Heart)", which have both been recorded by numerous international singers, among whom Caruso, Mario Lanza, Luciano Pavarotti, Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, Elvis Presley, and many others.

Lara was born in Tlacotalpan, Veracruz. Later, the Lara family had to move to Mexico City, establishing their house in the borough of Coyoacán. After their mother died, Agustín and his siblings lived in a hospice run by their aunt. It was there that he had his first contact with music.