Manuel José Galván, artistically known as Manolo Galván, was born in Crevillente, Alicante, on March 13, 1947. He was the son of Guillermo Galván and Olvido. From a very young age he showed an interest in music, and at the age of 15 he began singing despite his family’s opposition.

He decided to leave his studies and move to Madrid, where he joined the group Sonors. He later attempted a solo career, which was unsuccessful, leading him to relocate to Málaga to become a member of the band Los Gritos, with whom he remained for three years. During this period, he gained recognition with songs such as “La vida sigue igual,” “Sentado en la estación,” “Adiós verano, adiós amor,” and “Lamento,” also known as “El lamento de tu voz.” In 1969, he made his film debut in Abuelo Made in Spain alongside Paco Martínez Soria, performing the song “Veo visiones.” A year later, the group disbanded after transforming into La Zarzamora.

From 1970 onward, he managed to establish himself as a solo artist. Many of the lyrics of his songs—several of them major hits—were written by his older brother, Juan Ignacio Galván. In 1972, he undertook a successful tour of Latin America, achieving particular acclaim in Argentina with the song “¿Por qué te quiero tanto?” In 1973, he settled in Buenos Aires, where he would live for many years and eventually on a permanent basis. There, he shared the stage with Argentine singer Tormenta, recording a few duet singles with her.

Throughout his career, he recorded nearly 40 albums, featuring songs such as “Poema del alma,” “Deja de llorar,” “Te quise, te quiero y te querré,” “Hijo de ramera,” “¿Por qué te marchas, abuelo?,” “Sólo pienso en ti,” “Suspiros de amante,” and “El manzano,” among many others. He achieved success at various festivals in Spain and participated several times in the Viña del Mar International Song Festival, which earned him great popularity in Chile—a country to which he even dedicated a song.

In 2006, after four decades of artistic activity, he began his farewell tour. He spent his final years living in Bella Vista, northwest of Greater Buenos Aires. That same year, together with producer Fabián Montoya, he released her final studio album, “Alumbra Alumbrando.”

His last performance in Colombia took place on February 3, 2008, at the Baseball Diamond in Santiago de Cali, where he shared the stage with well-known artists of melodic music from several countries.

Manolo Galván passed away on May 16, 2013, at the age of 66, due to pulmonary emphysema, in a clinic in Bella Vista, Argentina, the country where he lived until the end of his life. In accordance with his wishes, his ashes were scattered at sea.