Photo: Unknown, press photo / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)
José José was born on February 17, 1948 in Clavería, Mexico and was credited as a singer, jazz musician and television actor. José José died on September 28, 2019 at the age of 71. Recorded honors include Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year (2005), Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (2004), Billboard Latin Music Hall of Fame (1997) and 5 more.
My Take
Even as someone outside the Latin music world, I can tell José José stands apart. The Mexican singer earned the title El Príncipe de la Canción for good reason, shaping the emotional grammar of Latin pop across more than four decades. His phrasing and aching tone influenced a whole generation of artists who followed. The accolades confirm it, from the Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award to a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He passed in 2019, but the melancholy he poured into a ballad does not fade. To me he reads as the genuine article, a singer whose voice carried real sorrow and real grace.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- José José
- Name (Japanese)
- ホセ・ホセ
- Reading
- ほせ・ほせ
- Born
- February 17, 1948 – September 28, 2019
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Aquarius / Rat
- Origin
- Clavería, Mexico
- Occupation
- singer / jazz musician / television actor / record producer / film actor
2. Background
Awards & achievements
- 2005 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year
- 2004 Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
- 1997 Billboard Latin Music Hall of Fame
- 2013 Billboard Latin Music Lifetime Achievement Award
- 2002 Lo Nuestro Excellence Award
- 1989 Lo Nuestro Award for Pop Male Artist of the Year
- 2002 International Latin Music Hall of Fame
- 2004 star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
3. Links
4. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-21
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was José José born?
Born February 17, 1948.
When did José José die?
Died September 28, 2019, aged 71.
Where was José José from?
José José was from Clavería, Mexico.
What did José José do?
José José worked as singer, jazz musician, television actor, record producer, film actor.
Singer — see all → · Jazz musician — see all → · More people from Mexico →