Carlos Vives Bio: Wife, Age, Height, Net Worth, Famous Songs, Family, Children, Education, Albums

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Biography

Carlos Vives, born Carlos Alberto Vives Restrepo on August 7, 1961, in Santa Marta, Colombia, is a renowned Colombian singer, songwriter, and actor.

He first rose to prominence in the 1980s for his role in the Colombian telenovela Gallito Ramírez. However, it was in the 1990s that Vives achieved international fame by revitalizing Vallenato music, blending its traditional sounds with rock and pop elements to bring this iconic Colombian genre to a global audience. His breakthrough album, Clásicos de la Provincia (1993), featured hits like “La Gota Fría” and marked a turning point in his career.

Throughout his journey, Vives has earned numerous accolades, including multiple Latin Grammy Awards, for his significant contributions to Latin music. His work often highlights Colombian culture, folklore, and natural beauty, with songs such as “Pa’ Mayte,” “La Tierra del Olvido,” and “Volví a Nacer” becoming cultural anthems.

Beyond music, Vives has continued acting and is actively involved in philanthropy, particularly initiatives aimed at preserving indigenous and Caribbean Colombian heritage.

Carlos Vives
Wiki Facts & About Data
Real Name:	Carlos Alberto Vives Restrepo
Stage Name:	Carlos Vives
Born:	7 August 1961 (age 63 years old)
Place of Birth:	Santa Marta, Colombia
Nationality:	Colombian
Education:	Julio Mario Santodomingo School, Universidad Jorge Tadeo Lozano
Height:	178 cm
Parents:	Luis Aurelio Vives, Aracely Florez Restrepo
Siblings:	Guillermo Vives, Luis Aurelio Vives, Sergio Vives
Spouse:	Claudia Elena Vásquez (m. 2008), Herlinda Gómez (m. 1990–2004), Margarita Rosa de Francisco (m. 1988–1990)
Girlfriend • Partner:	N/A
Children:	Lucy Vives, Elena Vives, Pedro Vives, Carlos Enrique Vives
Occupation:	Actor • Songwriter
Net Worth:	$9 million (USD)

Early Life & Education

Carlos Alberto Vives Restrepo was born on August 7, 1961, in Santa Marta, a city on Colombia’s Caribbean coast. He is of mixed heritage, with Spanish, indigenous, and African ancestry, reflecting the diverse racial makeup of Colombia’s Caribbean coast. His complexion is often described as mestizo or mulatto.

Raised in a Catholic family, Vives has spoken about his faith but is not known for being overtly religious in his public persona. His father, Luis Aurelio Vives, was a doctor, and his mother, Aracely Restrepo, was a homemaker. Carlos Vives has three brothers: Guillermo Vives, known for his work in music and production; Luis Aurelio Vives, who followed in his father’s footsteps and became a doctor; and Sergio Vives, who has also been involved in music.

Vives attended the Julio Mario Santodomingo School in Bogotá, where he was exposed to acting and performing arts. He later studied at the Universidad Jorge Tadeo Lozano in Bogotá, where he pursued a degree in Advertising. However, his passion for arts led him to leave university before completing his degree to focus on his acting and music career.

Career

Carlos Vives began his entertainment career as an actor, gaining widespread recognition in the 1980s for his role as “Gallito,” a boxer in the Colombian telenovela Gallito Ramírez. This breakout role made him a household name in Colombia and laid the foundation for his eventual transition to music.

His early musical endeavors, including his debut album Por Fuera y Por Dentro (1986), leaned toward pop and rock. However, his career reached new heights with the release of Clásicos de la Provincia (1993), a groundbreaking album that fused traditional vallenato music with modern elements like rock, pop, and Caribbean rhythms. Hits such as “La Gota Fría” and “La Celosa” revitalized interest in vallenato and introduced it to global audiences.

Building on this success, Vives released critically acclaimed albums like La Tierra del Olvido (1995) and El Amor de Mi Tierra (1999), further solidifying his place as a cultural icon. Songs like “La Tierra del Olvido” became anthems celebrating Colombia’s beauty and heritage. His innovative blend of traditional and contemporary sounds earned him multiple Latin Grammy Awards and widespread acclaim.

In the 2000s and 2010s, Vives continued to push creative boundaries, infusing vallenato with reggaeton, pop, and other Latin genres. Albums such as Déjame Entrar (2001), El Rock de Mi Pueblo (2004), and Corazón Profundo (2013) highlighted his versatility, with the latter featuring the hit “Volví a Nacer,” one of his most iconic songs. He later explored the roots of Colombian music with Cumbiana (2020) and its sequel Cumbiana II (2021), blending ancient rhythms with contemporary styles.

Collaborations with artists like Shakira, Juanes, and Maluma expanded his influence and cemented his role as a pioneer in Latin music.

Vives has also maintained his acting career, appearing in projects like Escobar: El Patrón del Mal, where he portrayed a character inspired by someone close to Pablo Escobar.

Beyond entertainment, he is deeply committed to philanthropy. Through his Tras la Perla foundation, he champions Colombia’s Caribbean region’s culture, music, and environment. His efforts have earned him numerous accolades, including the Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

Social Media

• Wikipedia: Carlos Vives
• Instagram: Carlos Vives (@carlosvives)
• YouTube: Carlos Vives

Personal Life

Carlos Vives married Colombian actress Margarita Rosa de Francisco in 1988. Their relationship attracted significant media attention, but the marriage ended in divorce in 1990. They did not have children together. His second marriage was to Herlinda Gómez in 1990, and they had two children: Carlos Enrique Vives and Lucy Vives. This marriage lasted 14 years before ending in divorce in 2004.

Since 2008, Vives has been married to Claudia Elena Vásquez, a former Miss Colombia. Together, they have two children: Elena Vives and Pedro Vives. Claudia has been a prominent figure in Vives‘ life, frequently appearing in his social media posts and public events. Vives often shares heartfelt messages celebrating their anniversary and expressing his love for her.

In total, Carlos Vives has four children from his marriage. He stands approximately 5 feet 10 inches (178 cm) tall. Before his marriages, he was known to have dated within Colombia’s entertainment circles, but these relationships were not extensively documented. His most notable early romance was with Margarita Rosa de Francisco, sparked by their on-screen chemistry while working on Gallito Ramírez.

Net Worth

Carlos Vives has a net worth estimated at around $9 million. This wealth primarily stems from his successful music career, where he has sold millions of records worldwide through albums like “Clásicos de la Provincia,” “La Tierra del Olvido,” and “Corazón Profundo.”

His net worth is also bolstered by his acting roles in Colombian television and films, as well as income from live performances, tours, and various endorsements.

Additionally, Vives has expanded his income through collaborations with other artists and his philanthropy and cultural preservation involvement through initiatives like his “Tras la Perla” foundation.

Discography

Music Albums

• Por Fuera y Por Dentro (1986)
• No Podrás Escapar de Mí (1987)
• Al Centro de la Ciudad (1990)
• Escalona (Un Volumen) (1991)
• Clásicos de la Provincia (1993)
• La Tierra del Olvido (1995)
• Tengo Fe (1997)
• El Amor de Mi Tierra (1999)
• Déjame Entrar (2001)
• El Rock de Mi Pueblo (2004)
• Clásicos de la Provincia II (2009)
• Corazón Profundo (2013)
• Más + Corazón Profundo (2014) – Reissue of “Corazón Profundo”
• Vives (2017)
• Cumbiana (2020)
• Cumbiana II (2021)

Notable Singles

• “La Gota Fría”
• “La Celosa”
• “Pa’ Mayte”
• “La Tierra del Olvido”
• “Fruta Fresca”
• “Como Tú”
• “Volví a Nacer”
• “Bailar Contigo”
• “La Bicicleta” (with Shakira)
• “Robarte un Beso” (with Sebastián Yatra)
• “Cumbiana”

Filmography

TV Shows

• “Gallito Ramírez” (1986) – Played the lead role of Leonardo “Gallito” Ramírez.
• “Escalona” (1990-1991) – Starred as Rafael Escalona, which also influenced his music career.
• “Escobar: El Patrón del Mal” (2012) – Played Máximo “Max” Mestre, a character based on a real-life associate of Pablo Escobar.
• “Tuyo y Mío” (2018) – A series where he played a character inspired by his own life.

Movies

• “La Estrategia del Caracol” (1993) – Though not a lead role, this film was significant in Colombian cinema.
• “Loving Pablo” (2017) – He had a cameo role in this film about Pablo Escobar.

Other Notable Contributions

• Collaborations: Vives has worked with numerous artists, including Shakira, Juanes, Maluma, Ricky Martin, and many others, bringing Colombian music to a global audience.
• Philanthropy: Through the “Tras la Perla” foundation, he supports cultural preservation, education, and environmental projects in Colombia.

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