“Mine is like a priesthood”

Six decades conquering the hearts of several generations and different parts of the planet and Raphael still wants more. He does not think of retiring and the nerves he felt when he started have been replaced by the serenity of the one who comes out on stage to enjoy with his audience. Raphael leads by example: last night he collected an award for his career in Tenerife, but on Friday he will sing again, this time in Gran Canaria.

Raphael arrived in the Canary Islands to collect, together with Rosario, one of the two Lifetime Achievement distinctions that were awarded last night at the Dial Awards gala in Tenerife. The artist, a universal legend of music in Spanish, celebrates his 60-year career with a tour that will stop on Friday 26 at the Gran Canaria Arena.

The Linar singer is fireproof and after six decades sweeping it, he is not willing to get off the stage yet. «My encouragement to continue is that I am passionate. I love what I do. I don’t know what would have happened to my life if I didn’t get to dedicate myself to this. I love to make people enjoy. Mine is like the priesthood but a little more fun, although I must admit that it is very slave, “he explained yesterday at the press conference he gave to the media.

That love for what he does keeps Raphael more active than ever and publishing new songs. In fact, this Friday the album based on their anniversary tour –Raphael 6.0– will go on sale, which was recorded live last year. “Luckily, I have an audience that continues to allow me to release things and release novelties. This album was recorded live last December in Madrid, between two concerts, “he recalled.

Regarding the award he received yesterday at the gala, the interpreter thanked Cadena Dial for the gesture, which three years ago granted him another of his statuettes. «I am very lucky and this year I am collecting many awards. Every day they give me one, ”he joked. “With this that I am turning 60 years of career they are doing me many recognitions”, he added. In fact, Raphael announced that Vanity Fair magazine is going to name him Man of the Year next day 1. He also confirmed that his anniversary tour will continue to tour the stages during the next year.

Tickets

The concert on Friday will start at 9:00 p.m., but the organization plans to open the doors at 7:00 p.m. to guarantee an orderly entrance and that it complies with all sanitary measures. Tickets for the show can still be purchased through www.newevent.es and at www.entradas.com.

Raphael also showed off his audience. Not only does it have a legion of followers in practically every corner of the world, but it spans several generations and younger ones are joining it every day. «I love that boys and girls come to see me and I can also say that I have the most educated followers. I’ve been doing concerts for a long time and nothing has ever happened with the Covid issue. They get up, clap their hands, and sit down again. I am very proud of everyone.

Raphael recalled his friend and composer José Luis Perales, who recently announced that he is retiring. “I have told him that all the songs he composes from now on he can give them to me,” he celebrated.

In addition, the singer offered another novelty to the media present at the press conference: the young man from Fuengirola Pablo López, with whom he has already collaborated on a song, is composing his next album. «This is the first time that I have trusted a composer other than Manuel Alejandro or Perales. He has a great talent.

Tomorrow, Raphael will once again delight his followers with a review of each of the decades of his artistic life. In addition, he will add to his repertoire some songs that he always wanted to sing but did not record until now. “There are songs that I cannot stop singing and I know, they will always be there and there are many,” he concluded.