Famous Spanish Musicians

Born to a music producer father, Cameron McVey, and a singer mother, Neneh Cherry, Mabel McVey was destined to make a career in music. The English singer-songwriter debuted on SoundCloud with her track Know Me Better. It is believed she had initially used music as a therapy for her anxiety.

Daniel Barenboim is a pianist and conductor currently serving as the general music director of the Berlin State Opera and the Staatskapelle Berlin. He has previously been the music director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestre de Paris, and La Scala in Milan. He is a recipient of Spain's Prince of Asturias Concord Award among others.

Spanish opera singer and conductor Plácido Domingo has performed in a variety of languages, such as English, Italian, French, Spanish, and German. The winner of nine Grammys and five Latin Grammys, he later performed as part of The Three Tenors, with legends Luciano Pavarotti and José Carreras, releasing bestselling albums.

Spanish singer Aitana first gained attention with her YouTube covers and then with the reality show Operación Triunfo. She then released her gold-certified debut single, No Puedo Vivir sin Ti, and later continued to release hits such as Lo Malo and Telephono. She is also known as the Spanish Princess of Pop.

Mexican singer-songwriter and actress Belinda Peregrín, tagged as "Princess of Latin Pop" by international press is best known for her commercially hit studio albums like Belinda and Utopía and singles like Vivir, which made her the third best-selling female Mexican act. She also had screen success with films like The Cheetah Girls 2 and Mexican telenovelas like Amigos x siempre.   

Spanish-American actress, singer, comedian, and flamenco-guitarist Charo, whose birth year remains a subject of dispute for several years, is known for her seductive deep voice with Spanish accent, unrestrained and exuberant manner, and the catch-phrase cuchi-cuchi. She has released albums like Guitar Passion, featured in films like The Concorde...Airport '79 and guest starred in TV series like The Love Boat.

Born to Spanish parents in Paris, Latin Grammy-winning artist Manu Chao is one of the pioneers of Latin alternative rock. His French rock band Mano Negra has delivered hits in English, Spanish, and Arabic. His solo career has seen him release international hits such as Clandestino and Me Gustas Tu.

Paco de Lucía was a Spanish virtuoso flamenco guitarist, composer, and record producer. Often counted among history’s greatest guitarists, he was one of the first flamenco guitarists to branch into classical and jazz. He was a master of contrast known for his fast and fluent picados and rasgueados. He was a recipient of the Prince of Asturias Award.   

Xavier Cugat was a Spanish musician and bandleader. He studied classical violin as a child and began working in silent films to support his family. He grew up to become a successful musician and played a leading role in the spread of Latin music. Besides music, he was also a cartoonist and a restaurateur. He was married five times. 

Alejandro Sanz is a Spanish singer, musician, and composer, who has won 22 Latin Grammy Awards and four Grammy Awards. He is best known for his flamenco-influenced ballads. A versatile singer, he often experiments with different genres, such as pop, funk, rock, jazz, and R&B. He has collaborated with artists like Shakira, Alicia Keys, and Juanes. 

Pablo de Sarasate was a Spanish violin virtuoso, composer, and conductor active during the Romantic period. He was a musical prodigy and gave his first public concert at the age of eight. He grew up to have a successful career and performed mainly opera fantasies. The Spanish Dances and the Carmen Fantasy are among his masterpieces. 

Miguel Bosé is a Spanish pop new wave musician and actor who has been active in the entertainment industry for five decades. He studied acting, dancing, and singing and began his career as an actor. He eventually forayed into music as well. He is openly gay and is in a long-term relationship with sculptor Ignacio Palau. 

Camilo Sesto was a Spanish singer wgo began his musical career playing in bands before deciding to go solo. He became popular for his hits like Fresa Salvaje, Algo de Mi, and El Amor de Mi Vid. He was also a successful songwriter and music producer and gained praise for his role in the Spanish version of Jesus Christ Superstar.

Spanish cellist Pablo Casals got his first lessons in instruments such as the violin and the piano from his organist father. Known for his unique technique of using flexible left-hand positions, he later formed a celebrated trio with pianist Alfred Cortot and violinist Jacques Thibaud. He won a posthumous Grammy.

Álvaro Soler is a Spanish-German singer who rose to fame following the success of his 2015 hit single El Mismo Sol. He is especially popular in Europe and Latin America. Interested in music from an early age, he began his career by forming a musical band as a young man. As of today, he has released many albums and singles. 

Spanish retired professional footballer José Manuel Pinto Colorado made his La Liga debut with RC Celta de Vigo and won the Ricardo Zamora Trophy with the team. He later signed with Barcelona and went on to win sixteen major titles with the team, including four national championships and two Champions Leagues.

Isaac Albeniz was a Spanish composer, conductor, and virtuoso pianist. Widely regarded as one of the most important composers of the Post-Romantic era, Albeniz had a strong influence on younger composers as well as his contemporaries. Many of his personal papers are preserved in several prominent institutions, such as the Library of Catalonia.

David Bisbal is a Spanish singer, songwriter, and actor who rose to fame following his appearance in the reality TV show Operación Triunfo. He has since built a successful entertainment career with several live and studio albums to his name. A crossover international artist, he is popular throughout Europe and Latin America and has sold more than six million records. 

Francisco Tárrega was a Spanish composer and classical guitarist active during the Romantic period. He is often considered the father of classical guitar and is counted among the greatest guitarists of all time. He loved music from an early age and was able to build a successful career with his father’s encouragement. He died at the peak of his career. 

Pablo Alborán is a Spanish singer-songwriter and musician. He developed a love for music at a young age and learned to play several instruments. He began his career playing with a Flamenco band and has since pursued a successful solo career. He has been nominated for several Latin Grammy Awards. He openly came out as homosexual in 2020. 

Spanish pianist Manuel de Falla, known for his musical nationalism, was one of the most influential composers of the 20th century. Born in Cádiz, Falla initially learned playing the piano from his mother, and later went to Madrid for further training. His work also took him to France and Argentina.

Alejandro Amenabar is a Spanish-Chilean music composer, screenwriter, and film director. An influential and respected personality in the Spanish film industry, Amenabar has won nine Goya Awards and two European Film Awards among many other prestigious awards. 

Enrique Bunbury is a Spanish singer-songwriter who rose to fame as the lead singer of the rock band Héroes del Silencio. He built a solo career following the band’s disbandment. Active in the music scene since the early 1980s, he is known for constantly reinventing his music. He received the Icon Award from SESAC Latina Music Awards in 2019. 

Joaquín Rodrigo was a Spanish composer and a virtuoso pianist best known for composing the Concierto de Aranjuez. He lost his sight as a child and was encouraged by his parents to study music. He excelled in his musical education and began composing in braille as a young man. In 1983, he was awarded the Premio Nacional de Música. 

Spanish singer Leroy Sanchez is a self-taught musician who made a name for himself through YouTube covers such as Adele’s Hello on his channel superleroyvv. He had also been a background vocalist on American Idol. Discovered by producer Jim Jonsin, he was later  nominated for a Teen Choice Award, too.

Spanish pianist and composer Enrique Granados gained fame with his nationalistic music. He is remembered for his iconic work Goyescas, which premiered as an opera in New York. Granados lost his life when the ship he was traveling to England in drowned after being torpedoed by a German submarine.

Spanish Romani flamenco singer Camarón de la Isla, counted among all-time greatest flamenco singers, is best-remembered for his collaborations with Paco de Lucía and Tomatito. The three remained instrumental in reviving flamenco during second half of the 20th century. Camarón’s albums with de Lucía include Canastera and Castillo de Arena and with Tomatito include Flamenco Vivo and Paris 1987.  

Antonio Flores was a Spanish actor and singer-songwriter. He is best remembered for his pop rock style and his songs cover a wide range of genres. As an actor, Flores is known for starring alongside American actress Sharon Stone in the 1989 Spanish drama film Blood and Sand. At age 33, Flores committed suicide two weeks after his mother's demise.

Abraham Mateo is a Spanish singer, record producer, songwriter, and actor. Renowned for his dance-oriented and soulful music, Mateo has contributed to the soundtrack of popular movies, such as Minions and Frozen. Over the course of his career, Abraham Mateo has received prestigious awards like the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards.

Joaquín Sabina had begun writing lyrics at age 14. The legendary Spanish singer and songwriter mostly sings on heartbreak and love. Apart from releasing triple-platinum tracks such as Vinagre y Rosas, he has also penned books on poetry. He once went on a 4-year hiatus after a stroke.

Fernando Sor was a Spanish composer and classical guitarist best remembered for writing solo classical guitar music. Widely regarded as the best classical guitarist of his generation, Fernando Sor also composed an opera, two ballets, and three symphonies. Many of his works have been studied by students and guitar enthusiasts all over the world.

Spanish musician, singer, songwriter, recording artist, and performer Joan Manuel Serrat i Teresa, also referred to as El noi del Poble-sec and El Nano, is counted among the prominent figures of modern, popular music on the Spanish music scene. He was also a pioneer of the Nova Cançó artistic movement. His discography includes albums like Mediterráneo and En Tránsito.

Alaska is a Spanish-Mexican television personality, DJ, and singer. She is best known for her association with a countercultural movement called La Movida Madrileña. Considered an icon of 1980s Spain, Alaska is credited with co-founding one of the first punk rock bands of Spanish language, Kaka de Luxe.