Júnior (Filipino singer)

Morales was born in Manila, Philippines, to a Spanish father and a Filipino mother, the eldest of five brothers. He was born during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines, and at 15 years old his family emigrated to Barcelona, Spain, eventually settling in Madrid.

In 1958,[1] he became part of the group Jump, a pioneering Spanish electric guitar group. During the group's popularity, he was featured in the film Me Enveneno De Azules in 1969. Some of his first hits included Todo Porque Te Quiero ("It's All Because I Love You") in 1969 and Perdóname (The Snake) in 1973.

He went on to join Los Brincos with Juan Pardo, and his brothers Miguel and Ricky Morales would also later join the group. Morales and Juan Pardo eventually left the group to release music as Juan y Junior. One of their songs is a Spanish version of "Fool on the Hill" by John Lennon and Paul McCartney from the LP titled Junior in 1976.

In the 1980s, he starred in the Filipino films Good Morning Sunshine with Vilma Santos, and Disco Madhouse, and released three albums in Tagalog for the Philippines. One of his most popular songs that he wrote and produced was "Yakap" (1979).[2] That song, which he sang in his movie with Santos, became his signature song in the Philippines.[3] Another of his hit songs there is "But If You Leave Me" (1976).

Morales married his wife Rocío Dúrcal in 1970, and their first child, Spanish actress Carmen Morales de las Heras, was born in December of that year. After the birth of their second child, Antonio Morales de las Heras, in April 1974, Morales decided to give up his career to devote time to their children. Dúrcal meanwhile continued her film and singing career. In 1979 they had their third child, Shaila Morales de las Heras, who took up a singing career under the stage name of Shaila Dúrcal. Morales also managed Dúrcal for much of her career.

Morales remained married to Dúrcal until her death from uterine cancer in 2006. Her children became involved in controversial court battles over her inheritance, eventually reconciled after Carmen's wedding.[4]

On 22 November 2007, his father, Antonio Morales Majó, died of anemia, aged 91.[5] His mother, Carmen Barretto Valdés, died in 2012, aged 97.[6]

On 15 April 2014, Junior was found dead on his bed in Torrelodones, Spain. His daughter, Carmen, first arrived at the scene after he did not answer any of her repeated phone calls, and eventually asked his gardener to open his locked bedroom.[7] He was cremated and his ashes were buried at Basilica de Guadalupe, Mexico.

• Júnior at IMDb
• Lafonoteca: Grupos de música española