Javier Solis

Perhaps one of the most iconic Mexican singers of all time, singer and actor Javier Solís (born Gabriel Siria Levario on September 1, 1931) won the hearts of audiences all over the country with his passionate renditions of traditional Latin music. Raised by his uncle in Mexico City, he had to drop out of high school in order to support his family after the death of his aunt. During his adolescence, he worked a series of odd jobs before his boss at the butcher shop encouraged him to take vocal lessons and become a professional singer. With this goal in mind, he moved to Puebla and began performing with the Mariachi Metepec at age 16. There, he was discovered by Trío Los Panchos' Julito Rodríguez and Alfredo Gil, who helped him get an audtion at CBS Records. After signing his first recording contract in 1950, he adopted the alias Javier Solís and scored his first hit "Llorarás, Llorarás" two years later. Over the course of the next few years, he achieved international fame as a performer of boleros and rancheras, often accompanied by mariachi instrumentation. Some of his most well-known performances include "Sombras," "Payaso," and "Amanecí en Tus Brazos." In 1959, Javier Solís made his silver screen debut in the film El Norteño and later went on to star in over 20 films before his untimely passing on April 12, 1966. Only a year later, the label released his first posthumous compilation, Rancheras con Solís.