Raphael

Acting

Born: 1943-05-05
From: Linares, Spain
Gender: Male
Popularity: 0.3

Also Known As

RafaelRafael MartosRaphäelRaphael MartosMiguel Rafael Martos SánchezRaphaelitoEl Divo de LinaresEl Niño

Biography

Miguel Rafael Martos Sánchez, simply referred to as Raphael, is a Spanish singer and television, film and theater actor. Raphael is recognized as one of the most successful Spanish singers in the world. He is nicknamed both El Ruiseñor de Linares, El Divo de Linares and El Niño. His family moved to Madrid when he was nine months old, and he started singing when he was just three. He joined a children's choir at age four. When he was nine, he was recognized as the best child voice in Europe at a contest in Salzburg, Austria. His two idols were US singer Elvis Presley and French diva Edith Piaf. He began his professional career by singing with the Dutch record label Philips. He adopted his own peculiar singing style from the beginning; he is known for acting each one of his songs while on stage, emphasizing his gestures with high dramatic effect. It is not unusual for him to ad lib lyrics as to localize a song depending on the venue he's singing at. He also possesses a wide vocal range, which he often used in the beginning of his career as to evoke a choirboy approach to some songs. When he was nineteen, he won first, second and third awards at the famous Benidorm International Song Festival, Spain, in 1962 and 1963. After a brief relation with Barclay record label, he signed a contract with Hispavox recording company, and began a long artistic relationship with the musical director of this label, the late, talented Argentinian orchestrator Waldo de los Ríos and intensify the partnership with outstanding Spanish songwriter Manuel Alejandro.

Photos3

Awards & Nominations13 won · 0 nominated

🏆 Won

Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year

2025
🏆 Won

Alcalá City Awards

2023
🏆 Won

Billboard Latin Music Lifetime Achievement Award

2022
🏆 Won

Lo Nuestro Excellence Award

2020
🏆 Won

Medal of the Community of Madrid

2019
🏆 Won

Adopted Son of Madrid

2018
🏆 Won

Gold Medal of Merit in the Fine Arts

2006
🏆 Won

International Latin Music Hall of Fame

2003
🏆 Won

Gold Medal of Work Merit

1999
🏆 Won

Commander of the Order of Isabella the Catholic

1987
🏆 Won

Premios Odeón

🏆 Won

Order of Cisneros

🏆 Won

uranium record

Acting38 titles

Crew1 title