Armando Manzanero

Armando Manzanero Canché (born in Ticul Municipality, Mexico on December 7, 1935) is a Mexican musician and composer of Mayan descent, widely considered the premier Mexican romantic composer of the postwar era and one of the most successful composers of Latin America.

"Adoro" por Graciela Susana

At the age of eight he was introduced into the world of music in the Escuela de Bellas Artes (School of Fine Arts) of his native city, later furthering his musical studies in Mexico City. In 1950, at the age of fifteen, he composed his first melody titled Nunca en el Mundo (Never in the World), of which twenty-one versions in different languages have been recorded to date. The following year he began his professional career as a pianist.

"No" por Alejandro Fernandez

In 1957 he was signed as musical director by the Mexican branch of CBS International and as Musical Promoter for EMI, becoming the next year the pianist of Latin American artists such as Pedro Vargas, Lucho Gatica and Raphael. In 1959, an executive of RCA Victor urged him to record his first album of love songs, which he named Mi Primera Grabación (My First Record). In 1965 he won the first place of the Festival de la Canción (Song Festival) in Miami with the song Cuando Estoy Contigo (When I'm With You).

"Somos Novios" por Armando Manzanero

Mexico City

In 1970, his song "Somos Novios" was translated into English by Sid Wayne, composer for Elvis Presley. The English version, "It's Impossible", was performed by Perry Como and was nominated for a Grammy. This success was marred by the verdict of an American court, (doesn't happen very often) which ruled against Manzanero. He was accused of plagiarism and forced to return all the royalties he gained from "It's Impossible", despite the fact the original song in Spanish "Somos Novios", had been written by Manzanero twenty years before. He was just an Indian, "how dare he?"

"Life is not Black or White, we go through many shades of color."