In the ‘90s, as established Spanish pop stars competed for airplay against burgeoning rock en español upstarts, Alejandro Sanz concocted a riveting sound all his own with an irresistible mix of emotional pop balladry and flamenco soft rock. The Spanish troubadour also penned some of the most achingly romantic songs of Latin pop, bolstered by his sensuous Andalusian rasp. Born Alejandro Sánchez Pizarro in Madrid, Spain in 1968 to parents from Andalusia, the flamenco capital, the Spanish prodigy began playing guitar at the tender age of seven, a skill he inherited from his musician father. At 10 years old, he was already writing his own songs. In 1989, he launched his music career with his debut Los Chulos Son Pa’ Cuidarlos, which skillfully combined techno and flamenco, under the pseudonym of Alejandro Magno. Two years later, the musician used his own name for the release of his major-label debut, Viviendo Deprisa, with which he solidified his reputation as the quixotic Spanish lover. Throughout the ‘90s, the singer/songwriter collaborated with flamenco legends like Paco de Lucía and delved into socially conscious songwriting (“Por Bandera”). But Sanz’s creative international breakthrough came with his fifth studio album, 1997’s Más, brimming with heartfelt passion on poetic classics like “Corazón Partío” and “Amiga Mía.” His star continued to rise in the following decade when he joined forces with Shakira for 2005’s “La Tortura,” a deliciously flirty track about overpowering sexual tension. Sanz’s playful, romantic antics and emotive pop continue to shine on 2019’s #ELDISCO, as well as in his influence on younger artists like Rosalía and Pablo Alborán.