Spanning seven decades in music, Armando Manzanero built a worldwide reputation as an award-winning composer, producer, singer, and actor. This Mayan artist earned lasting recognition as Mexico’s foremost writer of romantic ballads and orchestral love themes. A past president of the Sociedad de Autores y Compositores de México, he emerged as one of Latin America’s most significant songwriters in the years after World War II. Among his 400 songs that reached the charts, more than 50 were interpreted by leading international performers such as Frank Sinatra, Luis Fonsi, Christina Aguilera, and Shirley Bassey. Standout compositions include “Somos Novios,” whose English-language version “It’s Impossible” became a pop standard covered dozens of times, together with “Esta Tarde Vi Llover,” “Contigo Aprendí,” and “Adoro.” In addition to his own recordings and arrangements, he produced major successes including Luis Miguel’s breakthrough boleros album Romance (1991).
Born Armando Manzanero Canché on December 7, 1935, in the Yucatan city of Ticul, he grew up with a father, Santiago Manzanero, who worked as a professional musician. He started formal music lessons at age eight at the School of Fine Arts in his hometown and later finished his studies in Mexico City. At fifteen he began writing songs; his earliest composition, “Nunca en el Mundo” (“Never in the World”), later appeared in twenty-one languages. The following year he launched his professional life as a studio pianist and musician. In 1957 he wrote the Angélica María hit “Paso a Pasito,” which led to further assignments scoring films and crafting songs. That same year CBS International appointed him studio musical director. His frequent work conducting, arranging, and playing sessions established him as the pianist of choice for Pedro Vargas, Lucho Gatica, and Raphael.
Encouraged by a label executive to record, Manzanero released his debut Mi Primera Grabación (“My First Record”) in 1959 and saw it chart in Mexico. Subsequent singles such as “Contigo Aprendí,” “Te Extraño,” “Adoro,” “No,” “Esta Tarde Vi Llover,” and “Tengo” also succeeded. He captured first prize at Miami’s Festival de la Canción in 1965 with the widely covered “Cuando Estoy Contigo” (“When I’m with You”). Several albums appeared during the 1960s, among them the 1968 release José Alfredo Jiménez plays Armando Manzanero -- Armando Manzanero Plays José Alfredo Jiménez, which charted throughout Latin America. In 1970 Sid Wayne supplied new English lyrics to “Somos Novios”; Perry Como’s recording reached number one in 1971 and earned a Grammy nomination for Song of the Year. More than thirty-five artists eventually recorded the song, including Elvis Presley. Although Manzanero’s own albums sold steadily thanks to his smooth baritone, his songwriting brought the greatest recognition. In 1977 he composed the theme “Corazón Salvaje” (“Wild Heart”) for the landmark Mexican telenovela of the same name, and the track topped the charts immediately. He won first place at Spain’s Festival de Mallorca in 1978 with “Señor Amor,” and four years afterward “Corazón Amigo” took top honors at the Yamaha Festival. Between the 1976 album Chelique y Manzanero en Casa (Los Románticos de América) with Chelique Sarabia and 1988’s Mientras Existas Tú, he placed ten consecutive albums inside the Top Ten while supplying countless hits for both Latin and English-language artists.
During the 1990s Manzanero concentrated on production. His work on Luis Miguel’s 1991 album Romance proved especially successful, showcasing both classic and contemporary boleros. He also oversaw sessions for Presuntos Implicados, Amaya, and Juan Navarro. His own releases from the decade included the 1992 album Las Canciones Que Quise Escribir and 1993’s Entre Amigos, the latter earning him a Lo Nuestro Excellence prize. In 1995 he and Peruvian singer Tania Libertad released the orchestral retrospective La Libertad de Manzanero. He also recorded the instrumental collection El Piano with an all-star ensemble that featured Japanese tenor saxophonist Sadao Watanabe and percussionist Luis Conte. In 1996 he supplied the theme for the telenovela Nada Personal, and two years later he wrote the theme and incidental music for Tentaciones.
Olga Tañón performed “Somos Novios” in a 2000 episode of the American series Ugly Betty, the same year Manzanero entered the International Latin Music Hall of Fame. He issued Duetos for WEA Latina the following year, presenting several of his major songs performed by Olga Tañón, Alejandro Sanz, Lucero, and Miguel Bosé among others. Duetos 2 appeared in 2002 and featured additional interpretations by Carmen París, Ana Torroja, and Manu Tenorio. In 2008 he released Manzanero Big Band Jazz de México. The Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and the ASCAP Latin Heritage Award arrived in 2010; four years later he received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
He continued writing and performing until late in life, including plans for a Latin American tour in 2021. Manzanero died at age eighty-five on December 28, 2020, from complications of COVID-19. On January 9, 2021, his 2007 compilation 20 Éxitos Originales entered the Latin Pop Albums chart at number ten.
