Rocio Ducal

Rocio Ducal

Spanish singer and actress
Date of Birth: 04.10.1944
Country: Spain

Biography of Rocio Durcal

Rocio Durcal was a Spanish singer and actress, known by her stage name Maria de los Angeles de Las Heras Ortiz. She was born on October 4, 1944, in a poor family living in the working-class neighborhood of Cuatro Caminos in Madrid. As the oldest of six children, Rocio had to help her mother with household chores and take care of her younger siblings, sometimes even skipping school.

Rocio Ducal

Since elementary school, Rocio, or Marietta as she was called at home, had a passion for singing and dreamed of becoming an actress, although she kept this dream hidden from everyone. She first performed in front of her classmates, who asked her to sing. While her parents were proud of her talent, they did not believe that a singing career could support the family. Consequently, Rocio went to hairdressing school in her neighborhood after finishing school.

Rocio Ducal

Rocio's biggest fan was her grandfather, who encouraged her to participate in various competitions and festivals. In 1959, at the age of 15, Rocio took part in a talent show on television. Everyone who saw her performance was amazed by the beauty and voice of the young participant. Luis Sans, a producer who discovered many famous artists, talked to Rocio's parents and convinced them to allow her to pursue a singing career, as she had all the potential to become a star.

Rocio Ducal

In addition to her singing, dancing, and acting lessons, Rocio worked hard to complete her secondary education. The producer introduced her to various events and famous and emerging artists, including Rafael, with whom Rocio maintained a lifelong friendship. As her real name did not suit the stage, she was given a new name - Rocio. In an interview shortly before her death, the singer revealed that her grandfather came up with this name for her. She chose the surname Durcal by pointing to a small village named Durcal on a map of Spain in the province of Granada. Much later, a street in Durcal was named after Rocio, and she was proclaimed the adopted daughter of the town. On February 14, 2009, a bronze statue in honor of the singer was erected in Durcal as a joint project of her husband, Antonio Morales, also a singer, and the Village Council. Currently, a project is underway to create a museum dedicated to Rocio Durcal.

At the age of 17, Rocio started her career in the film industry. Her first film was the musical comedy "Cancion de Juventud" (Youth Song). After playing several leading roles in movies, Rocio married Filipino singer and composer Antonio Morales, a member of the popular group "Los Brincos," in 1970. By 1975, Rocio was already a mother of two children, and she decided to put her acting career on hold and focus on singing. She returned to the stage two years later.

In 1979, Antonio retired from his career to dedicate himself to domestic responsibilities and their three children - Carmen, Antonio, and Shaila - to allow Rocio's talent to flourish without obstacles. One of Rocio's undeniable successes was her decision to record several albums of Mexican traditional music in the ranchera style, which sold in huge numbers in Mexico, Spain, the United States, and Latin America, where she was worshipped as a singer.

In 2001, Rocio Durcal was diagnosed with uterine cancer. In 2004, doctors discovered malignant tumors in her lungs and treated them with chemotherapy. Later, the cancer spread to her brain. After a long and heroic battle with the disease, Rocio passed away on March 25, 2006, in her home in Torrelodones, 29 km from Madrid. Her body was cremated, and her ashes were buried in Madrid and Mexico City, which she loved and considered her second home.

Rocio Durcal's singing style continues to inspire many female mariachi and ranchera performers in Mexico and the Spanish-speaking community in the United States. Throughout her career, she sold over 53 million copies of her albums worldwide. Her daughter, Shaila, also became a singer. In recognition of her contribution to the music industry, Rocio Durcal's name was immortalized on the Paseo de las Luminarias in Mexico City, the Mexican equivalent of the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

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