Emilio Navaira

Emilio Navaira
Birth name Emilio Navaira III
Also known as Emilio
Born (1962-08-23) August 23, 1962
Origin San Antonio, Texas, USA
Genres Tejano, country
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter
Instruments Vocals, rhythm guitar
Years active 1985-present
Labels Columbia/CBS
Capitol/EMI Latin
Capitol Nashville
RCA/BMG Latin
RCA/Ariola
Associated acts Ednita Nazario, David Lee Garza y los musicales
Website http://www.emilioyrio.net/

Emilio Navaira III (born August 23, 1962) is an American musician of Mexican descent, who performs both Country and Tejano music. Known to most by the mononym Emilio, he has charted more than ten singles on the Billboard Hot Latin Tracks charts, in addition to six singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts. Emilio is also one of the few Tejano artists to have significant success in both the United States and Mexico, and has been called the "Garth Brooks of Tejano." His biggest country hit was the No. 27 "It's Not the End of the World" in late 1995, and his highest-charting single on any chart is "Por Siempre Unidos," which peaked at No. 7 on Latin Pop Airplay in 1996. Along with Selena, Emilio is one of the most prominent artists to help popularize Tejano music.

Early life

Emilio Navaira III was born on August 23, 1962, in San Antonio, Texas to Mexican-American parents, Emilio Navaira Jr., and Mary Navaira.[1] Growing up on the south side of San Antonio, Navaira found early influence in not only tejano legends such as Little Joe y la Familia, Ramón Ayala, and Pedro Infante, but also Lone Star country music heroes such as Willie Nelson, Bob Wills, and George Strait. As a student, Navaira graduated from McCollum High School in 1980, received a music scholarship to Texas State University-San Marcos, and majored in music with plans to become a teacher before ultimately deciding to pursue a career as an artist.[2]

Musical career

In 1983 at age 21, Emilio began his performing career by singing lead vocals for David Lee Garza y Los Musicales. In 1987, Cuantas Veces by David Lee Garza Y Los Musicales beat out Alpha by Mexican American singer Selena for Album of the Year at the Tejano Music Awards. In 1989, Navaira formed his own band, Emilio y Groupo Rio.[3] That same year Emilio signed with Columbia Records (then known as CBS Records). This relationship resulted in Emilio recording more than fifteen studio albums to date, including several with his Rio Band.

By the mid-1990s, Emilio began crediting himself solely as Emilio, eventually switching his focus to country music.[4] Between 1989 and 1996, Emilio had released seven Spanish albums with cumulative sales of about 2 million.[5] This success lead to mainstream commercial exposure, with companies such as Coca-Cola and Wrangler Jeans using his songs in their advertisements in the 1990s.[4] Emilio had also gained a sponsorship with Miller Lite beer, who had persuaded him to use their slogan at the time, "Life is good," as the title of his first country album.[6]

Emilio signed with Capitol Records and released his first country music single called "It's Not the End of the World" which reached the Top 30 on the country charts in 1995. His album was a surprise success as well reaching No. 13 on the country charts and also a high placing on the Top 200. Several more singles including a Spanish version of "It's Not the End of the World" followed but none of these singles came close to the Top 40 except "Even If I Tried" which reached No. 41 in 1996. In 1997, he released a second country album, "It's On The House" but it was not as successful as his first country album. Two more minor country singles followed and gradually Emilio faded from country music and increasingly came back to Tejano music.

Personal life

Navaira has two siblings: Raul "Raulito" Navaira, who performs back-up vocals for Grupo Rio; and Yvette Navaira. [7]

Navaira has five children. His three children from his first marriage to Cynthia Navaira also perform for Grupo Rio. Emilio Navaira IV plays drums, and Diego Navaira plays guitar and daughter Emely. He also has two from his second marriage to Maru Navaira. [7]

In June 2011 Navaira's second wife, Maru, filed for divorce.[7]

Navaira is a Republican.[8]

Driving accidents

Navaira was hospitalized in critical condition after his tour bus crashed early in the morning on March 23, 2008, in Bellaire (a small municipality partially surrounded by Houston, Texas). Navaira had performed the previous night at Hallabaloos, a Houston nightclub and he was at the wheel of the tour bus[9] as it traveled north along west 610 Loop near the Southwest Freeway when it crashed into a set of freeway barrels shortly before 4 a.m. Emilio was taken by Life Flight to Memorial Hermann Hospital[10][11] where a blood clot in his head was removed;[12][13] Emilio's initial treatment included being kept in a medically induced coma and induced hypothermia to minimize brain swelling. Doctors cautioned that he might not survive.[14]

A March 27, 2008 press release from Memorial Hermann Hospital reported that on the evening of March 26 Emilio "opened his eyes and moved his arms and legs."[15] On April 4, 2008, the hospital announced that Emilio underwent a surgical procedure on March 31 to repair a pseudoaneurysm in his right lung and that he remained in critical condition.[16] On April 16, 2008, he was upgraded to fair condition.[17][18] On April 23, the hospital announced that Emilio was transferred to TIRR Memorial Hermann as part of his rehabilitative care.[19]

On May 1, 2008, police released initial reports that indicated that Emilio was intoxicated at the time of the crash.[20] On May 8, the full report was released which indicated that Emilio had a blood alcohol content of 0.19, more than twice the legal limit in Texas.[21] Authorities also indicated that Emilio was not licensed to drive a bus.[22][23]

On September 24, 2008, Emilio was involved in another car accident in San Antonio as a passenger while his wife was driving. According to a witness, the Navairas were stopped in a turn lane when a truck crossed at least two lanes of traffic and struck their vehicle. Both Emilio and his wife Maria were released from the hospital the following day. Emilio's agent, Joe Casias, stated that Emilio and his wife were headed home from a rehabilitation therapy appointment stemming from the March tour bus accident.[24]

Legal troubles

Navaira has been arrested twice on DUI charges, paying a fine and serving probation for the first one in 2000 while the second arrest from 2005 remains unresolved.[25]

He pleaded guilty to DWI charges stemming from the crash on March 13, 2009; he was sentenced to three days in jail and 27 days of house arrest.[26]

Discography

Studio albums

Year Title Chart Positions
US Latin Regional Mexican US Country US
1989 Emilio Navaira y Rio Band 8
1990 Sensaciones
1991 Shoot It 14
1992 Unsung Highways 32 11
Shuffle Time
1993 Emilio Live 18 7
Southern ExposureA 4 2
1994 Sound Life 5 2
1995 Life Is Good 13 82
1996 Quédate 9 2
1997 It's on the House 50
A Mi Gente 46 15
2000 El Rey del Rodeo
2001 Lo Dice Tu Mirada
2002 Acuérdate
2003 Entre Amigos
2007 De Nuevo

Singles

Year Title Chart Positions Album
US Hot Latin Latin Regional Mexican US Country CAN Country
1995 "¿Dónde andará?" 25 — — — Soundlife
"Ya" 18 13 — —
"It's Not the End of the World" — — 27 — Life Is Good
"No es el fin del mundo"B 18 12 — —
1996 "Even If I Tried" — — 41 —
"I Think We're On to Something" — — 56 80
"Have I Told You Lately" — — 62 80
"Por siempre unidos" (w/ Ednita Nazario and Graciela Beltrán)C 17 — — — single only
"Quédate" 32 17 — — Quédate
1997 "Hoy me siento feliz" 39 — — —
"I'd Love You to Love Me" — — 56 77 It's on the House
"She Gives" — — 73 —
2000 "Esperando su llamada" — 40 — — El Rey del Rodeo
2002 "Lo dice tu mirada"A — 35 — — Lo Dice Tu Mirada

Guest singles

Year Title Artist Chart Positions Album
US Hot Latin
1995 "Ya ahora es tarde" Bobby Pulido 17 Te vi partir

Music videos

Year Video Director
1995 "It's Not the End of the World"[27] Steven Goldmann
1996 "Even If I Tried" Michael Merriman
"I Think We're On to Something"
"Have I Told You Lately"
1997 "I'd Love You to Love Me"
"She Gives"

References

  1. ↑ Burr, Ramiro. (August 21, 1998) San Antonio Express-News Colombian cumbias; Emilio's birthday bash. Section: Weekender; Page 22H.
  2. ↑ http://www.cmt.com/artists/az/navaira_emilio/bio.jhtml
  3. ↑ Hinojosa, Cassandra. (February 20, 2004) Corpus Christi Caller-Times Two Tejano kings. Grammy winners Navaira , Little Joe visit Kingsville Section: Weekend; Page E4.
  4. 1 2 "Emilio biography". Oldies.com. Retrieved 2007-11-12.
  5. ↑ DeVault, Russ. (March 7, 1996) The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Tejano's new star. As he crosses over into country, Emilio finds "Life Is Good." Section: Features; Page D1.
  6. ↑ Myerson, Allen R. (1996-01-01). "A Tejano Singer Sets Out To Bridge Music and Nations". The New York Times. Retrieved 2007-11-12.
  7. 1 2 3 http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story section=news/local&id=6042987
  8. ↑ Hollywood Congress of Republicans
  9. ↑ Emilio Navaira in critical condition after accident, Latin Notes, MySanAntonio.com, March 23, 2008
  10. ↑ Tejano star Emilio Navaira hospitalized after bus crash
  11. ↑ Tejano singer injured in accident
  12. ↑ Grammy winner Emilio Navaira critically injured in bus crash
  13. ↑ Tejano star still critical
  14. ↑ Police: Emilio was driving bus without proper license
  15. ↑ Emilio Navaira Updates From Memorial Hermann-TMC, March 27, 2008 11:30 am
  16. ↑ Medical Update on Emilio Navaira From Memorial Hermann-TMC, April 4, 2008 12:00 pm
  17. ↑ Emilio's condition improving
  18. ↑ Emilio Navaira Medical Update From Memorial Hermann-TMC, April 16, 2008 3:30 pm
  19. ↑ Emilio Navaira Transferred to Memorial Hermann TIRR, April 23, 2008 2:00 pm
  20. ↑ Emilio intoxicated at time of crash, tests reveal, May 1, 2008
  21. ↑ Emilio's blood alcohol level was 0.19, report says, May 8, 2008
  22. ↑ Emilio was driving tour bus without proper license
  23. ↑ Injured singer's future uncertain
  24. ↑ "Emilio leaves hospital after wreck," San Antonio Express-News via MySA.com, David Saleh Rauf and Hector Saldana, September 26, 2008. Retrieved on 2008-10-04.
  25. ↑ Emilio was spared from car monitor in DUI case, May 9, 2008
  26. ↑ Emilio Pleads Guilty to DWI Yahoo News, March 13, 2009
  27. ↑ "CMT : Videos : Emilio : It's Not The End Of The World". Country Music Television. Retrieved November 18, 2011.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Friday, April 01, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.