Our Composers: Armando Manzanero

by Luz H. Segura

For the past forty years, Armando Manzanero, known as the soul of romanticism, has excelled as a composer, pianist, arranger, and performer, continuing to influence people from one generation to the next. In his songs, performed by hundreds of musicians in over 30 different languages, he relates feelings of love, dislike, sorrow and disappointment to everyday life.

Armando Manzanero Canché was born on December 7, 1935 in Mérida, Yucatán in Mexico. At the age of eight he began to study music at the Escuela de Bellas Artes in Mérida. In 1951, he started his career as a pianist. Six years later he moved to Mexico City, where he worked as music promoter for EMMI and as music director for CBS International. Later, he became the pianist for well-known artists such as Pedro Vargas, Lucho Gatica, Rafael, and Daniel Riobolos, among others. In 1950, Manzanero wrote his first song, Nunca en el mundo, now available in 21 different versions. Manzanero started to gain international recognition as a composer with songs such as Llorando estoy (recorded by Bobby Capó in 1957), No, Adoro and Voy a apagar la luz (recorded by Lucho Gatica in 1957). In 1959 he recorded his first album, compiled from songs of his own inspiration. In the early sixties, Manzanero produced several albums and film scores for singer Angélica María . In 1969, his song No, recorded by Carlos Lico, reached Number One on the music charts in Latin America. In 1969, he produced a duet album with José Alfredo Jiménez, and later he participated in the production of José José’s albums.

He has performed on diverse stages of America, Europe, and Asia, as well as important clubs, hotels, and theaters such as The Lincoln Center and the Madison Square Garden in New York, the Sports Arena in California, the Memorial in São Paulo, the Caneção in Río de Janeiro, the Teatro Colón in Argentina, the Teatro Colsubsidio in Bogotá, Colombia, the Teresa Carreño Theater in Caracas, Venezuela, and the Metropolitan Theatre, the National Auditorium, and the Sala Netzahualcóyotl in Mexico.

Manzanero has written over four hundred songs. More than fifty of his compositions have gained international recognition, such as Esta tarde vi llover, Adoro, No, Contigo aprendí, Cuando estoy contigo, Señor Amor, Como yo te amé, No se tú, Parece que fue ayer, Te extraño, Voy a apagar la luz, Felicidad, and Yo te recuerdo. In 1962, he won fifth place in The Song Festival in Mexico, and in 1965 first place in the song festival in Miami with Cuando estoy contigo. In 1970, his song Somos novios was translated to English (It’s Impossible) and recorded by Perry Como, was nominated for a Grammy. In 1978, he obtained the first place at the Mallorca Festival in Spain with Señor Amor, and in 1982, his song Corazón Amigo took the honors in the Yamaha Festival. In 1993, Billboard Magazine gave him its Award for Artistic Trajectory. His songs have been interpreted by singers such as Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennet, Marco Antonio Muñiz, Rafael, Pablo Milanés, Luis Miguel, and others.

Manzanero currently serves as Vice-President of the Mexican Society of Authors and Composers of Music (SACM). He continues composing, producing, and singing. Manzanero is considered the only Mexican artist to have achieved international fame consistently throughout his career, without interruption. In his own words, “The most important trophy that I have received internationally is being able to appeal across generations, staying in direct contact with young people.”