Nacho Cano Spanish composer, musician, record producer and arranger. Date of Birth: 26.02.1963 Country: Spain

1. Biography of Nacho Cano
2. Early Music Career
3. Formation of Mecano
4. Influential Encounters
5. Accomplishments as a Composer

Biography of Nacho Cano

Nacho Cano is a Spanish composer, musician, record producer, and arranger. He is best known for being the most successful rock-pop group in Spain and for creating the most famous musical in Spain. But how did Ignacio Andrés become such a talented musician and what else has the Spanish genius achieved up to this point?

Early Music Career

Ignacio began showcasing his extraordinary musical talents at a young age, as did his brother who also developed a love for music. By the age of 5, he was already playing the Spanish guitar, and by 12, he became a member of his first band. The band called 'Prisma' consisted of Ignacio Andrés, Toti Arboles, and Eduardo Benavente. Interestingly, Andrés' comrades would later have a significant influence on shaping the socio-cultural image of the country. They were at the heart of the 'Movida Madrilena' movement, which emerged in Spain after the death of Francisco Franco.

Formation of Mecano

'Prisma' was just one of the many bands that Ignacio worked with. After a series of band changes, he eventually formed his own group called 'Mecano' with his brother José and Ana Torroja, a friend of his brother. At the age of 16, Ignacio wrote the song 'Hoy No Me Puede Levantar,' and a year later, the band signed their first record deal with CBS. The musicians started working on their debut album when Ignacio was only 17 years old. The album turned out to be incredibly successful, breaking sales records by selling approximately 1 million copies in the first three months. Mecano continued to thrive and develop, becoming the biggest Spanish pop-rock group of all time. Their recordings sold a total of 25 million copies, and the European music press praised them, even going as far as calling them the "most important non-English speaking musical collective since ABBA."

Influential Encounters

Nacho was fortunate to meet Hans Zimmer, who later became the producer and arranger for Mecano's second album. He continues to claim that Zimmer taught him some of the most important musical lessons in his life and remains a close friend and mentor to this day. Another significant encounter for Cano was with Penelope Cruz, the legendary actress who even appeared in the music video for one of his most famous songs, 'La Fuerza del Destino.' In 1992, Cruz and Cano traveled to New York, where the musician recorded his first instrumental composition, 'Un Mundo Separa por el Mismo Dios.' They later moved to London in 1994 but ended their romantic relationship in 1996. However, they have remained friends to this day.

Accomplishments as a Composer

In 2002, Nacho received a prestigious commission to write music for Madrid's bid to become the Olympic capital in 2012 and 2016. In 2004, he was also tasked with composing music for the wedding ceremony of Prince Philip of Spain, which was performed at the Madrid City Hall. In April 2005, Nacho's first musical, 'Hoy No Me Puedo Levantar,' was released. The success of this musical somewhat replicated the success of the song with the same name released at the beginning of his career. 'Hoy No Me Puedo Levantar' was warmly embraced in Spain, playing to a sold-out audience for over 5 years.