Luisito Rey
Luisito Rey | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Luis Gallego Sánchez |
| Also known as | Luisito Gasán |
| Born | June 28, 1945 Cádiz |
| Died | December 9, 1992 (aged 47) Barcelona |
| Genres | Ballad Flamenco |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, manager |
| Years active | 1954–1980 |
Luis Gallego Sánchez, better known as Luisito Rey (June 28, 1945 - December 9, 1992) was a Spanish singer-songwriter, better known as the father and first manager of singer Luis Miguel.
Early life
Luisito Rey was the son of Rafael Gallego Rey, a flamenco singer turned electrician, and Matilde Sánchez Repiso, a singer and dancer. His siblings include Vicente, nicknamed Tito.
Since an early age he had a penchant for singing, composing and playing the guitar. His natural talent helped him to get out of Spain and travel through many countries, including Argentina, where he met his life companion, Italian model Marcela Basteri.[1]
His artistic name was originally Luisito Gasán (combining the first syllables of his father's and mother's last name). He later settled for Luisito Rey, Luisito being the diminutive of Luis and Rey being his father's maternal surname.
A bullfighter fan, his favorite toreador was Luis Miguel González Lucas, better known as Luis Miguel Dominguín, father of famous singer Miguel Bosé. In his honor, he named his firstborn son Luis Miguel Gallego.
His first taste of success was with the song "Frente a una copa de vino" (In front of a glass of wine), a ballad classic that became his biggest and only major hit in Latin America [2]. Nevertheless, he wasn't a one-hit wonder, as he had other hit songs, including La Gran Ciudad (The great city) and El Loco (The Crazy Man).
Reputation
Luisito Rey's reputation as a solid artist and able manager was greatly tarnished with the revelations of many of his acquaintances. Some, like Luis Miguel's godfather, renowned Puerto Rican psychologist Alfred D. Heger, have described him as a psychopath and abuser. Years earlier, Rey's brother Vicente stated that Rey would sometimes prostitute Luis Miguel's mother Marcela Basteri for drug binges.[3] Dominican-born Mexican actor and family friend Andrés García revealed that Rey had taken advantage of him by asking to stay in an apartment which García was paying for a female friend. Despite constant promises, Rey never reimbursed any of the rent to García.[4] Keeping with custom, Luis Miguel has said nothing publicly about his relationship with his father.
Rey once stated that Pablo Picasso painted a small sketch of him, used in one of his greatest hits albums, and that singer Frank Sinatra was interested in recording La Gran Ciudad. None of these events were actually true.[5]
References
- ^ Santiago, Javier (29 September 1994). "Nueva ola portoricensis: la revolución musical que vivió Puerto Rico en la década del 60". Editorial Del Patio – via Google Books.
- ^ vinetur.com. "Luisito Rey - Frente a una copa de vino (1,968)".
- ^ "Los secretos de la oscura vida de Luisito Rey, el temible padre de Luis Miguel".
- ^ "'Luis Rey hacía las aberraciones más terribles': Andrés García - V". vanguardia.com.mx.
- ^ EC, Redacción (30 June 2018). "Luisito Rey: las alucinantes mentiras del padre de Luis Miguel - México".