Enrique Iglesias | Success Story of the Legendary Pop Icon

Enrique Iglesias is one of the most iconic singers of the era. He has been a part of the entertainment industry for nearly three decades. Enrique has sold over 180 million records worldwide. The music industry considers him the King of Latin pop. Enrique has received more than 190 awards from 526 nominations in his long and successful career. His prestigious accolades include a Grammy, three Billboard Music, five Latin Grammys, and two World Music Awards. Enrique also holds the record for having the most number-one songs on the Billboard Latin Tracks chart.

About

Enrique Iglesias is a Spanish singer, songwriter, record producer, composer, and actor. He rose to fame during the mid-1990s. He created history with his eponymous debut studio album. All the singles from the album reached the number one spot on the Billboard Hot Latin Tracks Chart. The album also won the Grammy for Best Latin Pop Album. Enrique has achieved many milestones in his singing career. Moreover, he has collaborated with iconic artists like Whitney Houston, Lionel Richie, Akon, Usher, Pitbull, Sunidhi Chauhan, Ludacris, Nicky Jam, and Lil Wayne.

Early Life

On the 8th of May 1975, Enrique Miguel Iglesias Preysler was born in Madrid, Spain. His father, Julio Iglesias, is one of the most commercially successful Spanish artists. His mother, Isabel Preysler, is a socialite and TV host. Enrique has two older siblings. He was born with an atypical disease called situs inversus. The condition involves the complete transposition of the body’s primary organs. When he was just four years old, his parents got divorced. Enrique’s mother sent him and his siblings to Miami a few years later to live with their father after receiving kidnapping threats. As a result, Enrique grew up in Miami. His father was mainly on tour. A nanny raised the three children. 

For schooling, Enrique attended Gulliver Preparatory School in Miami. From a young age, he wanted to become a singer. However, his parents disapproved of it. As a result, he used to write and perform songs at local restaurants secretly. Enrique started writing songs during his teenage years. His nanny, Elvira Olivares, supported his passion for singing. Enrique continued to write and perform songs throughout his adolescent years. After completing school, he joined the University of Miami to study business. His parents wanted him to opt for a stable and secure lifestyle. As a result, he enrolled in business administration classes at the university. Simultaneously, Enrique decided to pursue his singing dreams.

Beginning of Career

While studying in Miami, Enrique spent his free time writing songs. He thought about making a demo tape after his friends suggested he take his passion for singing to the next level. Enrique’s nanny borrowed him $2,500 to record the demo tape. Later, he sent it to a recording studio. However, Enrique did not wish to use his father’s name. He wanted to do something on his own. Enrique sent the tapes under the name Enrique Martinez. But unfortunately, several recording companies rejected him. Later, in 1994, Fonovisa Records showed interest in signing Enrique. After listening to his audition, they decided to sign him for three albums. Consequently, Enrique dropped out of the university and began his musical journey. 

Initial Years

Against his father’s will, Enrique stepped into the music world. In 1994, he began working on his debut album with Fonovisa Records. After months of hard work, Enrique finally released his eponymous debut album on 21st November 1995. In its first week of release, it sold over half a million copies. Five singles from the album topped the Billboard Latin Charts. It became one of the best-selling albums of the year. In 1997, Enrique won the Grammy for Best Latin Pop Album. The same year, he released another commercially successful album Vivir (to live). Through the album, Enrique stood in line with the English music superstars. His success continued during the late 1990s. In 1999, Enrique launched his debut English-language album. For the album, he collaborated with legendary singers like Whitney Houston and Bruce Springsteen. It went on to become a massive hit across the globe.

Worldwide Recognition

During the early 2000s, Enrique’s popularity continued to grow. He released his second English-language album, Escape, in 2001. The album was a global hit. The music industry considers it one of Enrique’s best works. There was no looking back for Enrique after the release of Escape. Between 2002-2007, he released one Spanish and two English-language albums. All three of them garnered moderate success. In 2010, Enrique returned with Euphoria after a three-year break. It became one of the best-selling albums of his career. Singles like “Heartbeat” and “I Like It” contributed to Enrique’s global fame. In 2015, he released “El Perdón” with Nicky Jam. It garnered over 1 billion views on YouTube. Enrique Iglesias became one of the generation’s biggest superstars through these milestones.

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