The present Doodle, illustrated by guest artist Totoi Semerena, celebrates Mexican pianist, guitarist, singer, poet, activist, and composer Roberto Cantoral.
He soundtracked a booming era of romantic Latin pop with cherished ditties, for example, “El Reloj” (“The Watch”) and “La Barca” (“The Boat”), the two of which have been recorded more than 1,000 times by many musicians like Plácido Domingo and Linda Ronstadt.
Born in Tampico on this day in 1935, Roberto Antonio Cantoral García dispatched his vocation at 15 when he and his sibling Antonio shaped the duet “Hermanos Cantoral” (“Cantoral Brothers”).
However, his music found mainstream success once he banded along with Chamin Correa and Leonel Galver to frame the triplet appropriately named “Los Tres Caballeros” (“The Three Gentlemen”).
The trio traveled far and wide throughout the 50s, taking their romantic ballads on overall tours in nations going from Japan to Argentina.
In 1960, Cantoral broke out all alone. His original solo compositions were performed by a some of Mexico’s most distinguished singers, and he continued to share his music to the world into the 2000s, performing at music festivals, radio shows, and TV programs in more than 120 nations.
Alongside his musical legacy, Cantoral advocated for protecting composers’ intellectual innovation as a honorary president of the Mexican Society of Composers and Authors for more than 25 years.
In 2009, Cantoral was honored at the tenth Latin Grammy Awards with the Latin Recording Academy Trustees Award to recognize his dedication to music and community.
Happy birthday, Roberto Cantoral, and may your music live on always in the hearts of listeners worldwide!