Q&A: Pop star Miguel Bose reflects on 30-year career

By Leila Cobo

MIAMI (Billboard) - Miguel Bose was a celebrity long before he ever set foot on a stage.

The son of Italian actress Lucia Bose and fabled Spanish bullfighter Luis Miguel Dominguin, Bose grew up surrounded by premier cultural figures of the day, from Pablo Picasso to film director Luchino Visconti. His pedigree made him nearly royalty -- a media darling whose every move was chronicled by tabloids since birth. It was no surprise, then, that Bose's TV debut as a singer, in April 1977, catapulted him to stardom. After covering "Linda," a pretty love song originally recorded by Italian group I Pooh, Bose's success was instant and worldwide.

What is surprising, however, is that 30 years later, the boy who sang about innocent love has morphed into one of the most respected and adventurous purveyors of Latin pop.

Singer, composer, actor, dancer, producer and all-around provocateur, Bose, at 51, continues redefining and pushing the parameters of Spanish-language pop music.

From cuter-than-cute teen idol to respected pop icon, Bose's trajectory inspires legions of fans and musicians. His latest album, "Papito" (Warner Music), is a collection of 30 hits representing 30 years in music, each performed in a new version with different guest artists, from Shakira and Ricky Martin to Paulina Rubio and Julieta Venegas.

In the midst of his world tour in support of "Papito," Bose took a break to speak with Billboard and reflect on the meaning of fame and artistry.

Q: "Papito" has been a stunning success, topping charts in several countries. You hadn't had such a successful album in years, in fact. Was it a surprise?

Bose: "I think no one thought it would be this successful. Everyone thought it would be a desirable project; they were all well-known songs, newly produced, all refreshed in some way. Even the structure changed in some. And obviously, with extraordinary guest artists.