José José

There have been few in the history of Mexican pop music that have been as successful and influential as José José. Flawlessly integrating the emotive, dramatic affectation long associated with Mexican balladry with a modern, widely accessible aesthetic and production style, José has been accordingly crowned El Principe (the Prince.) Born José Romulo Sosa Ortiz, he experienced chart success as early as 1969, which would set the trend for his three decades at the height of popularity. As evident on Norte's 2006 release, La Historia del Principe, José found and won his audience through suave, romantic love songs and bittersweet laments. Seldom straying from these narrow stylistic choices over the course of his career (and not once in the course of this CD) served him well both in capitalizing on his strengths and also in carving out an immovable niche. Presenting material from 1970 to 2004, this album displays that though aging has some benefits, it was José's youthful soaring vocals that won him his fame. Though the timbre might have changed from decade to decade, the quality and presentation have remained much the same. For heartfelt, string-soaked heartbreakers, José José was and forever will be El Principe. ~ Evan C. Gutierrez, All Music Guide