Biography
Marta was born in Madrid. Her father, Antonio Sánchez Camporro, was an Asturian opera singer. She began her musical career with the band Cristal Oskuro, but shortly after she was discovered by Tino Azores, a sound technician for the popular pop/rock group Olé Olé. In 1985, Marta became the band's lead singer replacing Vicky Larraz, which brought her to fame and made her one of the biggest sex symbols of the 1980s in Spain, during a time when the country was easing the traditional rigid moral values of Catholicism.
Her first hit with Olé Olé was "Lilli Marlen", a Spanish adaptation of the popular World War II German love song (It's greatest hit was singing this same theme in the Televisión Española New Year Celebration, aired on december 31th 1986). Other hits like "Bailando Sin Salir de Casa" and "Con Sólo Una Mirada" followed with the group. She remained with the band until 1991 before deciding to pursue a solo career.
In 1993, Marta released her debut solo album, Mujer. Its first single, "Desesperada", was released both in Spain and The Americas. A second single, "Tal Vez", was provided by Thomas Anders, but it was the 3rd single, "De Mujer a Mujer" which would establish her as a household name all over Latin America. Following this successful debut album, Marta released Woman, an English version of Mujer. This made her one of the first Latin artists to do the English crossover.
Marta's second solo album, Mi Mundo, was released in 1995 with worldwide hits like "Dime La Verdad" followed by "Arena y Sol" and "La Belleza". Due to the success of Mi Mundo, Marta once again released her second album in English titled My World. In 1996, Marta recorded "Obsession", a song for the movie Curdled produced by Quentin Tarantino.
Her third solo album, Azabache, was released in 1997 with the collaboration of Slash (from Guns N' Roses) and Nile Rodgers. The first single, "Moja Mi Corazón" reached number one in Spain and Mexico's pop airplay in 1997. Also in 1997, she recorded the duet "Vivo Por Ella" ("Vivo per lei") with Andrea Bocelli. It became a major hit in Latin America. Marta released her fourth album, Desconocida, in 1998. Its hits include "Desconocida", "Quiero Más de Ti" and "Los Mejores Años de Nuestra Vida". In 2000 she led the musical La Magia de Broadway.
Her fifth album, Soy Yo, was released in 2002 and sold over 200,000 units in Spain. In 2004, she released Lo Mejor de Marta Sánchez a greatest hits compilation with three new songs, "Profundo Valor", "Caradura". The compilation also included updated versions (with new recorded vocals) of "Desesperada" and "Soldados del Amor" (from her Olé Olé days), produced by Carlos Jean. In 2005, she launched her first live album, Gira 2005: La Coruña En Directo, which was released on CD and DVD.
April 2007 saw the release of "Superstar", the lead single from her sixth studio album, Miss Sánchez. Produced and co-written by the electro hit maker DJ Sammy, the song became an instant hit, reaching the top positions on airplay and digital sales charts in Spain. Miss Sánchez debuted at number three on physical CD sales and at number one on digital sales. It is Marta's most successful album in Spain in terms of charting and was certified gold. Instead of releasing songs which had become fan favorites like "Si me cambias los recuerdos" or "Reina de la radio" as the second single, Marta choose the disco-influenced "Levántate", which became a minor hit in Spain, overshadowed by "Superstar"'s enduring popularity.
Sanchez was chosen as Europride 2007's Special Guest and the album was named Spanish Album of the Year at the 2007 Shangay Awards. In the end of 2008, she collaborated with Venezuelan singer Carlos Baute with the song "Colgando En Tus Manos". This was a huge hit, setting iTunes records in Spain and maintaining its number one spot for 29 straight weeks. The single was later released in the Americas and reached the Top Five in Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela, Uruguay, Puerto Rico, Chile, El Salvador, Colombia, Argentina and Mexico. The single was number one in Mexico and was number one on Billboard Latin Pop Songs for two weeks in a row.
A greatest hits album with special guests is being planned.
Read more about this topic: Marta Sánchez
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