Luis Miguel Gallego Basteri, born on April 19, 1970, is a renowned Mexican singer and record producer. With a rich heritage of Spanish and Italian ancestry, he is affectionately known as “El Sol de Mexico” (The Sun of Mexico), a moniker inspired by his mother’s endearing nickname for him during his childhood: “Mi sol” (My sun).
Luis Miguel’s musical versatility spans various genres and styles, encompassing pop, ballads, boleros, tangos, jazz, big band, and mariachi. Notably, he holds the distinction of being the sole Latin singer of his generation who did not transition into the Anglo market during the “Latin Explosion” of the 1990s.
Remarkably, despite exclusively recording in Spanish, Luis Miguel dominated as the best-selling Latin artist throughout the 1990s. He is credited with popularizing the bolero genre in the mainstream music scene. His worldwide record sales have surpassed approximately 60 million copies, firmly establishing him as one of the most successful Latin music artists.
Latin pop music, coupled with his personal life and charismatic stage presence, have been pivotal factors contributing to Luis Miguel’s enduring popularity. His illustrious career commenced in Mexico in 1981, and he achieved a remarkable feat by winning his first Grammy at the tender age of 14 for his duet “Me Gustas Tal Como Eres” with Sheena Easton. This accomplishment made him the youngest male artist in music history to receive this prestigious accolade.
In 1991, the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) acknowledged the monumental success of his 1991 album “Romance” as one of the all-time best-selling Latin albums. Furthermore, he was the trailblazer as the first Latino artist to attain two platinum certifications for Spanish-language albums in the United States, specifically for “Romance” and “Segundo Romance.” The latter album earned him a staggering 35 platinum records throughout Central and South America.
Luis Miguel’s impact on the music scene is further underscored by his recognition by Billboard, which hails him as the artist with the most top-10 hits on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart. His 2008 release, “Cómplices,” achieved notable success by reaching No. 10 on the mainstream Billboard 200 chart. His most recent album, “¡México Por Siempre!” launched in 2017 and claimed the top spot on the Billboard Regional Mexican Albums chart, securing double-platinum status.