Julio Iglesias: ‘I can’t understand life without music’

Julio Iglesias considers the songs he has written as his children.
The 72-year-old singer has been in the music business since his twenties, and has a huge number of accolades to his name including two Guinness World Book of Records for selling the largest number of records in most languages.
His last album, Mexico, was equally successful and Julio continues to reign as one of the most loved singers of his generation.
As well as his singing career, Julio has penned numerous tracks, but don’t ask him to choose which one is his favourite.
“I have written so many songs in my life and I consider all the songs I have written my kids, and it is very hard for an artist to choose between his children,” he told the Sharjah Media Centre.
Julio is a father of eight children, including chart topper Enrique Iglesias. He is gearing up to perform his debut concert in The Emirate of Sharjah, in the United Arab Emirates, on Tuesday (03May16), and was asked about whether or not he thinks his music resonates with the values of the emirate, which include “peace, friendship, communication and respect”.
“Of course I do. Music is the perfect instrument to bring people together no matter what borders, colour or creed they represent,” Julio replied.
“Music is my life. I cannot understand life without music. Everything I do in my life is related to music.”
Asked about the musical stars who have influenced his life and his music, Julio cited Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley among his inspirations.
“They had a big impact on me and my music,” he said.
The concert in Sharjah will be the first for Julio since he postponed a gig in Florida in April (16) after battling an inflamed sciatic nerve.
In March (16), Julio postponed shows in California, Chile and Mexico due to the same issue, and he has since pulled the plug on several other concerts.
Last year (Aug15) Julio had to scrap his only 2015 concert in his native Spain, while he was recovering from back surgery. The Begin the Beguine singer had “a small medical procedure in the lumbar portion of his back” in June (15), following a routine check-up in New York.