Jose Luis Perales

Listening to the maestro softly crooning to the soulful lyrics of Celos de Mi Guitarra (Jealousy of my Guitar), while making the guitar strings themselves sing hitherto unheard of notes, is an ethereal experience. The wizardry of Jose Luis Perales makes it all seem ridiculously effortless; a soothing rich voice that blends seamlessly with the melody produced by a fantastic musical arrangement. A celebrated Spanish songwriter & composer who later took up singing with remarkable success, Perales has enjoyed immense fame in Spain & Latin America. 10th October sees Perales perform to a sellout crowd in the James L. Knight Center on 400 2nd Avenue, Miami, Florida, as part of the En Directo tour. & enthusiasts who have been captivated by his numbers will be clamoring not to pass up this chance to catch a slice of his much-acclaimed live performances.

Born as Jose Luis Perales Morillas in Castejon, Cuenca Province in central Spain, Perales showed an aptitude for music from a tender age, & grew up to master the guitar while studying as an electrical engineer in the Universidad Laboral of Sevilla, before moving to Madrid to complete his studies. On the music front, Perales was initially more inclined towards composing, & the year 1970 saw him get his big break when his considerable talents (almost inevitably) caught the eye of the influential producer Rafael Trabucchelli. The partnership paved way for Perales' composing of the groundbreaking 1972 hit "Porque te vas" (Because you're leaving) by Spanish-Belgian sensation Jeanette. Yet Perales was not receptive to the idea of singing, preferring to weave his artistic magic behind the scenes. Trabucchelli, however, had bigger ideas for Perales, convincing him to sing the masterpiece "Celos de Mi Guitarra" which saw unprecedented success. There was then no looking back, as Perales went on to record 27 albums, which have seen him carve a niche for himself in the Romantic music genre. His craft has earned him an enviable position as one of the finest exponents of Balada lyric poetry.

Following up from the astounding success that came with composing "Porque te vas", the charismatic Jose Luis Perales has expanded his repertoire to include vocals for his ballads, as well as collaborations with countless artists & film soundtracks. With over 50 million copies sold worldwide, Perales is simply peerless when it comes to the soft mesmerizing romantic ballads which have cast a spell over many diehard fans around the globe. The notes of the memorable ";Y Como es El?" (What's he like?) have hit all the right chords with listeners, while the immortal "Te Quiero" (I Love You) has captivated passionate audiences of all ages. "Balada Para Una Despedida" & "Por Ti" are also hits that have propelled the maestro to superstardom. And he has reveled in the widespread public renown, composing for some eminent names in the Spanish music scene like Julio Iglesias, Miguel Bose, Mocedades, & Isabel Pantoja. His expertise has graced films too, with Perales undertaking the composing of the soundtracks of "Your Life in 65" (Tu vida en 65) & "The 2 sides of the bed" (Los 2 lados de la cama), just to name a couple.

Perales is a scintillating entertainer in the true sense of the word, with recent concerts in the Beacon Theater in New York & the Gibson Amphitheater in Universal City, CA, standing as testimony to that fact. Many of his most acclaimed performances have been witnessed at Carnegie Hall, New York. Miami will soon sway along to the sensual ballads as Perales weaves his magic at the James L. Knight Theater, with tours to the Dominican Republic following at the month's end.

Jose Luis Perales has enjoyed great commercial success, kicking off with the deal with Rafael Trabuccelli's Hispavox Label, which managed to break the ice on his career. Deals with Sony Music/BMG & Columbia Records have helped reach out to his vast audience. Yet with such commercial success, Perales remains a standout live performer, strengthening the bond with his fans, who admire the artist's engaging performances, & warm & approachable personality. In fact, many fans have over the years contacted the affable Perales to tell frankly adorable stories of falling in love all over again with their spouse of thirty-years when listening to his songs! It is indeed refreshing to listen to the notes emanating from the nylon strings translated into words by the soothing voice accompanying it that touches the soul, making Perales a standout musician of his generation.