Biography
Who is Joaquín Sabina?
Early life and real name
Joaquín Sabina Ramón Martínez Sabina was born on February 12, 1949, in Úbeda, in the Province of Jaén, Spain. His father worked as a policeman, and his mother was named Adela Sabina del Campo. Growing up, he attended a Carmelite primary school and later studied at a high school run by the Salesians of Don Bosco.
During his school years, he began writing poetry and composing music around the age of 14. He joined a musical group called Merry Youngs, which covered songs by famous rock and roll artists like Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, and Little Richard. After finishing high school, his father wanted him to pursue a career in law enforcement, but the young artist refused in favor of his guitar.
Studies and exile in London
He later enrolled at the University of Granada to study philology in the faculty of philosophy and letters. During this time, his revolutionary political views brought him into contact with anti-fascist groups, and he began collaborating with a publication called Poesía 70 alongside other writers.
After throwing a Molotov cocktail at a government building to protest the Franco regime, he left the university and went into exile in London. He used a false passport under the name Mariano Zugasti to evade arrest. While living in London, he began performing in local taverns, where he once crossed paths with George Harrison.
Return to Spain and early albums
Following the end of the dictatorship, Joaquín returned to Spain and briefly joined the military. He eventually released his debut studio album, Inventario, in 1978 through a small record label named Movieplay. Although the release went largely unnoticed at the time, it marked his official entry into the professional music industry.
He then moved to the major label CBS and released Malas Compañías, which featured his breakthrough hit single about Madrid. He also performed with Javier Krahe and Alberto Pérez in a collaborative project called La mandrágora, which gained significant public attention for its bold and satirical lyrical content.
Commercial success and career highlights
Throughout the decades, Joaquín released numerous successful studio and live albums. In 1992, he reached a major sales milestone with the release of Física y Química, which sold over one million copies largely due to the popularity of the track about a summer affair. He also collaborated with fellow artist Joan Manuel Serrat on a joint tour and album project called Dos pájaros de un tiro.
Despite facing health challenges, including a stroke in 2001 that led to a brief hiatus, he returned to the stage and continued recording. He received recognition from the city of Madrid, where the mayor honored him for his cultural contributions. In 2020, he married Jimena Coronado during a private ceremony held in Madrid.
Birthday and age
Joaquín Sabina was born on February 12, 1949, which makes Joaquín 77 years old today. That birthday falls under the Aquarius sign. Joaquín shares the date with 35 other famous people.
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