Biography
Who is Massiel?
Early life and family background
Massiel was born María de los Ángeles Felisa Santamaría Espinosa in Madrid, Spain. Her father, Emilio Santamaría Martín, worked as an artistic manager, which meant she grew up surrounded by various musical acts and performers. This environment heavily influenced her childhood ambition to pursue a career in the arts as a singer, songwriter, and actress.
Her mother, Concepción Espinosa Peñas, lived from 1920 until 2011. Being raised in a household connected to the entertainment industry provided the young performer with early exposure to the professional demands of the stage and recording studios.
Eurovision victory and breakthrough
In 1968, the Spanish representative Joan Manuel Serrat was removed from the Eurovision Song Contest after requesting to sing his entry, La, la, la, in Catalan. Massiel, who was touring in Mexico at the time, was selected as a last-minute replacement for the competition held in London.
She had only a few days to return to Spain, learn the song, and record it in multiple languages including English, French, and German. During the event at the Royal Albert Hall on April 6, 1968, she performed the song and won the contest by a single point, beating Cliff Richard. This victory marked the first time a performer from Spain had ever won the Eurovision Song Contest, bringing her immediate international recognition.
Recording career and musical evolution
Massiel began releasing recordings in 1966, with early tracks such as Di que no, Llueve, and Aleluya. Her 1967 song Rosas en el mar, written by Luis Eduardo Aute, firmly established her popularity across Spain and Latin America. Throughout her career, she recorded for five different labels, including Hispavox and PolyGram, releasing approximately fifty records in various formats.
In 1981, she returned to the music scene with the album Tiempos Dificiles, which featured a new sound and included popular tracks like El Amor and El Noa Noa. She continued her success with the 1983 record Corazon de hierro, which featured the hit Brindaremos por él. Although she considered retiring in 1996, she returned to release further albums in 1997 and 2007.
Acting and stage performances
Beyond her music, she has appeared in several films, including the 1967 production Vestida de novia and the 1969 film Cantando a la Vida, where she played the lead role of María and performed the soundtrack. Her later film credits include La vida alegre in 1987 and Dying of Laughter in 1999.
She also pursued a career in theater. Her stage credits include A los hombres futuros, yo Bertolt Brecht in 1972 and a 1980 production of Antonio y Cleopatra. In 2012, she appeared in the Spanish production of Follies at the Teatro Español in Madrid, playing the role of Carlotta Campion.
Birthday and age
Massiel was born on August 2, 1947, which makes Massiel 79 years old today. That birthday falls under the Leo sign. Massiel shares the date with 30 other famous people.
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