Paloma San Basilio | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Paloma Cecilia San Basilio Martínez |
Born | 22 November 1950 |
Origin | Madrid, Spain |
Genres | Latin Pop, |
Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, record producer |
Years active | 1970–present (singer) |
Labels | Hispavox, Capitol, Epic, EMI Latin, Columbia, EMI International, Parlophone |
Associated acts | Emilio José |
Website | Official Website |
Paloma Cecilia San Basilio Martínez (Spanish pronunciation: [pa'loma sam baˈsiljo]; born 22 November 1950 in Madrid, Spain) is a Spanish singer whose career has spanned five decades. She was awarded a Latin Grammy Award for lifetime excellence in Spanish music.
She was born in Madrid, and at the age of six months the family moved to Seville, where she was raised until the age of eight. Her family then moved to Lugo.
She starred in the Spanish-language premiere production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Evita at Teatro Monumental in Madrid in 1980. The show later transferred to Barcelona and later to Mexico City and other cities in Latin America. One of her first greatest hits was "Juntos". She represented Spain at the Eurovision Song Contest 1985 in Gothenburg, Sweden, with the ballad "La fiesta terminó" (The Party Ended), composed by Juan Carlos Calderón, and finished 14th. She also starred in highly acclaimed Madrid productions of Man of La Mancha, My Fair Lady and Victor/Victoria. She is considered one of the best Spanish representatives in the history of the Eurovision Song Contest.
She recorded a Live album with Plácido Domingo; several songs with José Carreras; and a particularly notable duet version of "Soledad" by Emilio José. In 2006, she won the special Latin Grammy, "Excelencia Musical 2006", in New York City.