Júnior (Filipino singer)
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Junior | |
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Born | Antonio Morales Barretto 10 September 1943 Manila, Philippines |
Died | 15 April 2014 Torrelodones, Spain | (aged 70)
Occupation(s) | Singer, actor |
Years active | 1958–2014 |
Spouse | Rocío Dúrcal (1970–2006; her death) |
Children | Carmen Morales Antonio Morales Shaila Dúrcal |
Parent(s) | Antonio Morales Majó (father) Carmen Barretto Valdés (mother) |
Antonio Morales Barretto (born 10 September 1943 – 15 April 2014), better known as Junior, was a Spanish Filipino singer and actor based in Spain.
Early life
Morales was born in Manila, Philippines, to a Spanish father and a Filipino mother, the eldest of five brothers. He was born during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines, and at 15 years old his family emigrated to Barcelona, Spain, eventually settling in Madrid.
Career
In 1958,[1] he became part of the group Jump, a pioneering Spanish electric guitar group. During the group's popularity, he was featured in the film Me Enveneno De Azules in 1969. Some of his first hits included Todo Porque Te Quiero ("It's All Because I Love You") in 1969 and Perdóname (The Snake) in 1973.
He went on to join Los Brincos with Juan Pardo, and his brothers Miguel and Ricky Morales would also later join the group. Morales and Juan Pardo eventually left the group to release music as Juan y Junior. One of their songs is a Spanish version of "Fool on the Hill" by John Lennon and Paul McCartney from the LP titled Junior in 1976.
Movie career
In the 1980s, he starred in the Filipino films Good Morning Sunshine with Vilma Santos, and Disco Madhouse, and released three albums in Tagalog for the Philippines. One of his most popular songs that he wrote and produced was "Yakap" (1979).[2] That song, which he sang in his movie with Santos, became his signature song in the Philippines.[3] Another of his hit songs there is "But If You Leave Me" (1976).
Personal life
Morales married his wife Rocío Dúrcal in 1970, and their first child, Spanish actress Carmen Morales de las Heras, was born in December of that year. After the birth of their second child, Antonio Morales de las Heras, in April 1974, Morales decided to give up his career to devote time to their children. Dúrcal meanwhile continued her film and singing career. In 1979 they had their third child, Shaila Morales de las Heras, who took up a singing career under the stage name of Shaila Dúrcal. Morales also managed Dúrcal for much of her career.
Morales remained married to Dúrcal until her death from uterine cancer in 2006. Her children became involved in controversial court battles over her inheritance, eventually reconciled after Carmen's wedding.[4]
On 22 November 2007, his father, Antonio Morales Majó, died of anemia, aged 91.[5] His mother, Carmen Barretto Valdés, died in 2012, aged 97.[6]
Death
On 15 April 2014, Junior was found dead on his bed in Torrelodones, Spain. His daughter, Carmen, first arrived at the scene after he did not answer any of her repeated phone calls, and eventually asked his gardener to open his locked bedroom.[7] He was cremated and his ashes were buried at Basilica de Guadalupe, Mexico.
Discography
Singles
- "Yakap" (covered by Bunso, L.A. Lopez, Abe Abe, Ogie Alcasid, Charice, Chad Borja, and Gab Maturan)[8]
- "But If You Leave Me" (covered by Von Arroyo and Gino Padilla)[8]
References
- ^ ""Junior", una carrera musical marcada por su amor a Rocío Durcal". ABC. Spain. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
- ^ "Lycos". Pobladores.lycos.es. Archived from the original on 15 February 2009. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
- ^ "FunFare with Ricardo F. Lo". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
- ^ Tinoco, Armando. "Rocío Dúrcal's Widower Found Dead at 70". 15 April 2014. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
- ^ "Hemeroteca". ABC. Spain. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
- ^ "¡Qué mamá tan cool!" (in Spanish). Peopleenespanol.com. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
- ^ "Aparece muerto Antonio Morales Junior, viudo de Rocío Dúrcal" (in Spanish). Lavozlibre.com. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
- ^ a b "Júnior". WhoSampled. 6 January 1911. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
External links
- 1943 births
- 2014 deaths
- Filipino male actors
- Filipino male singers
- Filipino people of Spanish descent
- Filipino emigrants to Spain
- Spanish people of Filipino descent
- Manila sound musicians
- Singers from Manila
- Male actors from Manila
- 20th-century Filipino singers
- 20th-century male singers
- 20th-century Filipino male actors