Raphael (singer)
Miguel Rafael Martos Sánchez, known professionally as Raphael, is a Spanish singer and actor. He is widely recognized for his extensive vocal range and charismatic stage presence. His career has spanned more than six decades, leaving a lasting influence on Spanish-language popular music.
Raphael rose to fame in the early 1960s after winning the Benidorm International Song Festival. He represented Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1966 and 1967 with the songs "Yo soy aquél" and "Hablemos del amor", finishing in seventh and sixth place, respectively. In 1967, he performed at Madison Square Garden in New York City before an audience of 48,000 people. In 1982, he received a uranium record for surpassing 50 million records sold, making him one of the best-selling Latin music artists in history.
He remains one of the most active performers among the so-called divos of Latin ballads, regularly touring across the Americas and Europe. His accolades include the Billboard Latin Music Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022 and was named Person of the Year by the Latin Recording Academy in 2025.
Childhood
Raphael was born Miguel Rafael Martos Sánchez in Linares, Spain. As a consequence, he is nicknamed both "El Ruiseñor de Linares" and "El Divo de Linares" but is also known as "El Niño". His family moved to Madrid when he was nine months old, and he started singing when he was just three years-old. He joined a children's choir at age four. When he was 9, he was recognized as the best child voice in Europe at a contest in Salzburg, Austria. His two idols, when he was growing up, and with whom he announced, on 6 October 2014, his plans to record posthumous duets with, were said to be US singer Elvis Presley and French diva Edith Piaf.Career
First recordings
Raphael began his professional career by singing with the Dutch record label Philips. To distinguish himself, he adopted the "ph" of the company's name and christened himself 'Raphael'. His first singles were "Te voy a contar mi vida" and "A pesar de todo", among others. Raphael adopted his own peculiar singing style from the beginning; he is known for acting each one of his songs while on stage, emphasizing his gestures with high dramatic effect. It is not unusual for Raphael to ad lib lyrics as to localize a song depending on the venue he's singing at, wear Latin American peasant costumes and dance folk dances within a song, kicking and demolishing a mirror, or doing the moves of a flamenco dancer or a bullfighter onstage. He also possesses a wide vocal range, which he often used in the beginning of his career as to evoke a choirboy approach to some songs.From Benidorm and Eurovision to becoming an international star
When he was nineteen, he won first, second, and third awards at the famous Benidorm International Song Festival, in Benidorm, in 1962 and 1963 with the songs: "Llevan", "Inmensidad", and "Tu Conciencia". After a brief relation with Barclay record label, who produced just an EP, he signed a contract with Hispavox recording company, and began a long artistic relationship with the musical director of this label, the late, talented Argentinian orchestrator Waldo de los Ríos and intensify the partnership with outstanding Spanish songwriter Manuel Alejandro.Raphael at the Eurovision Song Contest 1966 and singing "Yo soy aquél" in Luxembourg, and "Hablemos del amor" in Vienna, placing seventh and sixth, respectively. This marked Spain's strongest showing in the contest at the time, leaving the door open for victory the following year, which Spain achieved with "La, la, la" performed by Massiel. This served as a turning point in Raphael's career, making him an international star. He traveled and performed worldwide in Europe, Latin America, Puerto Rico, the United States, Russia and Japan. Songs such as "Que Tal Te Va Sin Mi", "Como Yo Te Amo", "En Carne Viva", "Digan Lo Que Digan", "Estar Enamorado", "Estuve Enamorado", and "Desde Aquel Día" cemented his status as a major international singing star.
Raphael also began a lucrative film career, appearing in, Cuando tú no estás, which was followed by Al ponerse el Sol, Digan lo que digan, El golfo, El ángel, Sin Un Adiós, and Volveré a nacer.
Latin American popularity
As Raphael became a success in Latin America, he made a habit of recording Latin American folk standards including "Huapango torero", "Sandunga", and "Llorona"; they were hits in Mexico. In 1967 Raphael began a tour throughout America.American and Spanish television appearances
He appeared live on The Ed Sullivan Show with great success on 25 October 1970, singing "Hallelujah" and "Hava Nagila". He appeared again on 27 December 1970, with the songs "Maybe", "When my love is around" and "The sound of the trumpet".In 1975, Raphael began his own successful program on Spanish Television called El Mundo de Raphael, where he sang with international stars. He also had a radio program, where he and his wife spoke with and interviewed outstanding personalities, and he starred in soap operas, starting with the Mexican production Donde termina el camino, shown in the spring of 1978 and later in other countries like Peru and Chile.
Golden 80s
Raphael succeeded in the early 1980s with songs such as "¿Qué tal te va sin mí?", "Como yo te amo", "En carne viva" and "Estar enamorado".In 1980 Raphael receives a Uranium disc, in recognition of his fifty million copies sold throughout his recording career.
During 1984 and 1985 he recorded two albums with songs written by José Luis Perales like "Ámame", "Yo sigo siendo aquel", "Dile que vuelva", "Y... Cómo es él" and "Estoy llorando hoy por ti".
In 1984 a parody of "Yo soy aquél" was used in a radio spot in Puerto Rico's gubernatorial race. Then-governor Carlos Romero Barceló used the parody namely as a jab against opponent, Raphael's namesake,, former governor Rafael Hernández Colón. Raphael was surprised by the unauthorized use of the music, but was highly amused by the reference.
In 1987 he left Hispavox and signed a contract with Columbia, where he again recorded songs written by Roberto Livi like "Toco madera" and "Maravilloso corazón". In 1991 he had a hit with "Escándalo" in Spain, Latin America, and in Japan, where it reached number one. At the end of the 1990s, after ending a contract with PolyGram, he went back to EMI. In 1998 the artist published the first part of his memoirs titled ¿Y mañana qué?, from his childhood until his marriage in 1972.
Raphael took part in the 2000 Spanish version of the stage musical Jekyll & Hyde for seven months, with great success.
Personal life
He married aristocrat, journalist and writer Natalia Figueroa, in Venice on 14 July 1972. They have three children: Jacobo, Alejandra and Manuel.Raphael's health faced a major setback in 2003, when his liver started failing due to a latent bout with hepatitis B; he recovered successfully after a transplant. Since then he is an active organ donation promoter.
In December 2024, Raphael was diagnosed with primary brain lymphoma while hospitalized in Madrid, Spain.
Awards and accomplishments
Raphael has received numerous awards.He was inducted into the International Latin Music Hall of Fame in 2003.
Raphael received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2022 Billboard Latin Music Awards.
Discography
Raphael Raphael Canta Al Ponerse el Sol Digan Lo Que Digan El Golfo Huapango Torero + 3 El Ángel – Ecuador OnlyRaphael – El Idolo Aqui! Corazón, Corazón MexicoLive at the Talk of the Town Aleluya... Algo Más Háblame de Amor Volveré a Nacer Le Llaman Jesús! From Here On... – English AlbumRaphael Raphael Qué Dirán de Mí Sombras + 3 No Eches la Culpa al Gitano Recital Hispanoamericano – With Los GemelosCon el Sol de la Mañana Raphael Canta... El Cantor Una Forma Muy Mía de Amar Y... Sigo Mi Camino Vivo Live Direct – 20th Anniversary En Carne Viva Raphael: Ayer, Hoy y Siempre Enamorado de la Vida Eternamente Tuyo Yo Sigo Siendo Aquel – 25th Anniversary Todo una Vida Las Apariencias Engañan Maravilloso Corazón, Maravilloso Andaluz Ave Fénix Fantasía Desde el Fondo de Mi Alma Punto y Seguido Vete – Duet with Nino BravoJekyll & Hyde Maldito Raphael De Vuelta Vuelve por Navidad A Que No Te Vas – Duet with Rocio JuradoCerca de Ti Maravilloso Raphael Raphael: 50 Años Después Viva Raphael! 50 Años Después – En Directo y al Completo Te Llevo en el Corazón Te Llevo en el Corazón. Essential El Reencuentro El Reencuentro en Directo Mi Gran Noche 50 Éxitos de Mi Vida De Amor & Desamor Raphael Sinfónico Ven a Mi Casa Esta Navidad Infinitos Bailes 6.0 en Concierto Victoria- ''Ayer...aún''
Filmography
Las Gemelas – As AlbertoCuando Tú No Estás – As RafaelAl Ponerse el Sol – As David AlonsoDigan lo que digan – As Rafael GandíaEl Golfo - As PanchoEl Ángel - As El AngelSin un Adiós – As Mario LeivaVolveré a Nacer – As AlexRafael en Raphael – As himselfDonde Termina el Camino - As ManuelRitmo, Amor y Primavera – As himselfJekyll & Hyde – As Dr. Jekyll and Mr. HydeBalada Triste de Trompeta" – As himself, through use of Sin Un Adiós footageMi Gran Noche – As AlphonsoTours
- De vuelta Tour
- Raphael Para todos Tour
- Más cerca de ti Tour
- 50 años después Tour
- Te llevo en el corazón Tour
- El reencuentro Tour
- Mi gran noche Tour
- De Amor y Desamor Tour
- Raphael Sinphonico World Tour
- Loco por Cantar World Tour
- Raphael RESinphónico World Tour
- Raphael 6.0: 60 años sobre los escenarios
- Raphael Tour 6.0 In America
- Tour Victoria