The Juan Carlos Calderon’s legacy

Spanish composer, arranger and conductor, Juan Carlos Calderon left in the history of Hispanic music a legacy that will last a lifetime.

Juan Carlos Calderon

Biography:

Juan Carlos Calderon was born in Santander, Spain on 1938. He began his musical career in a jazz quartet in the 1960s. Three years later he recorded his first album that went on sale in 1968. This Album,”Juan Carlos Calderón presenta a Juan Carlos Calderonwent on to win the Ondas Award. With his success he went on to arrange several songs produced by various artists including Joan Manuel Serrat and Luis Eduardo Aute. He composed “Cartas Amarillas” for Nino Bravo and was also responsible for making arrangements in songs such as “Libre” and “America”.

Eurovision and OTI Festival

Without quiting his jazz band, Juan Carlos continued accompanying musicians like Donald Byrd, Stephn Grapelli or Bill Coleman.

Between 1969 and 1980 becomes the producer of all the records of Spanish group Mocedades, as also a composer of many of their songs. In 1973 he composed to them “Eres Tu”, ranked second in the Festival of Eurovision Song Contest of that year.

In 1977 he collaborated with Camilo Sesto in the album “Entre Amigos”. In the 70’s and early 80’s late Juan Carlos also composed several pieces that were successful in the career of singer José José.

I n 1978 again wrote a new song for Eurovision, “Tú Volverás”, sing by Sergio and Estíbaliz. That same year, is in second position as composer of the OTI Festival with “Amor de medianoche” sung by Cecilia. In 1985 he composed, “La fiesta terminó”, also for Eurovision, which was interpreted by Paloma San Basilio in Gothenburg.

Juan Carlos Calderon

In 1990 he returned to the festival as the Spanish composer with greater number of participations in this competition for writing the song “Nacida para amar” sang by Nina. This same song would be later, with a new lyric, named “Amante del Amor” versioned by Luis Miguel.

U.S.A.

He meet the Californian musician and trumpeter Herb Alpert, producer for whom he wrote a number of songs for the album “Fandango” in 1982, including the song that gives the title of the album and the song “Route 101” which reaches the number one position in the jazz charts in the U.S.A., obtaining also quite successful in Latin America and Japan.

During the 90’s was responsable for producing the hit album “Nino Bravo 50 Aniversario.” Then,  singer Luis Miguel won his first Grammy with “Me gustas tal como eres”, which was a song composed by Calderon. He worked as a producer on some of Miguels records by the Mexican artist and wrote some of his most famous ballads.

In 2010, Juan Carlos Calderon received the Honor Award of the Fourteenth Annual Music Awards, prize given by the Academy of Arts and Sciences of Music.

Luis Miguel and Juan Carlos Calderon