Armando Manzanero

Over a 70-year career, Armando Manzanero was an award-winning composer, producer, singer, and actor. The Mayan musician is revered as Mexico's premier composer of love songs and romantic orchestral themes. The former president of Sociedad de Autores y Compositores de México, Manzanero was among the most important composers to emerge from Latin America during the postwar era. Of his 400 charting songs, more than 50 were recorded by an elite cast of international artists who included Frank Sinatra, Luis Fonsi, Christina Aguilera, and Shirley Bassey. Some of his best-known songs include "Somos Novios" (the Anglicized version, "It's Impossible," is a pop standard), as well as "Esta Tarde Vi Llover," "Contigo Aprendí," and "Adoro." In addition to his recordings and orchestrations, he was also a producer whose hits include Luis Miguel's breakthrough boleros album Romance (1991).