‘A song to Galicia’, the beginning of a great friendship between Pepe Domingo Castaño and Julio Iglesias

2023-09-17 13:58:07

When, a few months ago, ‘Until I run out of words’, the autobiography of Pepe Domingo Castaño, was published, many were struck by the fact that the prologue was signed by Julio Iglesias. But it was not strange: the communicator and the singer have been friends for years; specifically, since he wrote ‘A corner of Galicia‘, one of his most emblematic songs, in whose creation Castaño participated.

The presenter himself told it in the aforementioned biography. One day – it was 1972 – Pepe Domingo Castaño received a call; was Gabriel Gonzalezone of the directors of the label Columbia, which was edited by Julio Iglesias. He wanted me to help him with the Galician lyrics of a song he was writing.

According to Pepe Domingo Castaño’s story, he approached the recording studio where Julio Iglesias was, “in his shirt sleeves, sweating and very nervous.” He was stuck on one sentence: «I love you so much, my father’s land». The radio presenter listened to what had been recorded and suggested an ending: “eu quéroche mucho, miña terra mai”, which solved the problem.

Today, on what is stated to be his official page on without a farewell goodbye that has left my soul in suspense. You know that I can never forget you. My dearest friend, we will meet again in eternity.

My dearest Pepe,
You have left without a goodbye that has left my soul in suspense. You know that I can never forget you.
My dearest friend, we will meet again in eternity. pic.twitter.com/B61IC8DILl

— JULIO IGLESIAS (@JulioIglesias) September 17, 2023

The friendship that arose in 1972 has continued during these fifty years; He was even, as Castaño himself revealed at COPE, who made Iglesias fall in love with Marbella. “Julio Iglesias is linked to Marbella thanks to me. I remember that he performed in the Puerto Banús bullring and he told me: ‘Pepito, I want to have a party and I want to meet Los del Río.’ I went to the performance with my wife, we had a party in La Dorada and they met those from Rio. She had such a good time that she told me: ‘Pepito, I’m going to buy a house here.’ And that was when he bought Curro’s house in Ojén. He went to Marbella but he had no home or connection.