Joan Sebastian

As one of Mexico's greatest singer/songwriters, Joan Sebastian's road from humble beginnings in Juliantla, Guerrero to global superstardom was paved with dozens of beloved classics. Born in 1951, José Manuel Figueroa Figueroa was discovered by singer and actress Angélica María at a hotel in Morelos, where the young clerk would causally croon over the lobby intercom. Encouraged by the star, Figueroa relocated to Mexico City, recorded his first album in 1974, and eventually took the stage name Joan Sebastian. He cemented his legacy as a Latin pop craftsman throughout the ‘80s, broke into acting on popular ‘90s telenovela Tú y yo, and delivered the biggest smash of his career in 2000 with the album Secreto de Amor. In his later years, Sebastian transitioned into rancheras and banda music, penning hits for Bronco and Alejandro Fernández and earning the title of “El Rey del Jaripeo” (a.k.a. “King of The Rodeo”) before his passing in 2015.