Cristian Castro

***Christian Sáinz Valdés Castro*** (December 8, 1974, Mexico City, DF, Mexico), known professionally as Cristian Castro or Cristian, is a Mexican pop singer and actor. He is the son of actors Veronica Castro and Manuel "El Loco" Valdés, and nephew of actors Ramón Valdés (known for playing Don Ramón in El Chavo del 8) and Germán "Tin-Tan" Valdés. Of artistic family heritage, he is also a nephew on his mother's side of José Alberto "El Güero" Castro, well-known producer of soap operas on Televisa.

Known for his light tenor vocal range, Castro is regarded as one of the most skilled Hispanic pop singers of the last three decades. Juan Gabriel described Castro as "the man with the most faculties to sing in Mexico".

Born in Mexico City, he is the son of actress and singer Verónica Castro and comedian Manuel "El Loco" Valdés. Castro also has a younger brother named Michelle Sáinz Castro. His uncle is José Alberto Castro, and his aunt is Beatriz Castro; both are producers. As a baby, he made his acting debut with her during the telenovela named El Derecho de Nacer. Soon after, he appeared on a television commercial with her and on the Mexican version of the Broadway show Mame with actress Silvia Pinal.

Castro is one of the best selling Latin artists and has worked with Latin producers Kike Santander, Rudy Pérez, and Richard Daniel Roman. In 1984, Castro made his first appearance on TV as a singer in the Televisa's child contest Juguemos a Cantar, but he did not qualify for the finals because of his young age.

Born in Mexico City, he is the son of actress and singer Verónica Castro and comedian Manuel "El Loco" Valdes. Castro also has a younger brother named Michelle Sáinz Castro. His uncle is José Alberto Castro, and his aunt is Beatriz Castro; both are producers. As a baby, he made his acting debut with her during the telenovela named El Derecho de Nacer. Soon after, he appeared on a television commercial with her and on the Mexican version of the Broadway show Mame with actress Silvia Pinal.

Castro is one of the best selling Latin artists and has worked with Latin producers Kike Santander, Rudy Pérez, and Richard Daniel Roman. In 1984, Castro made his first appearance on TV as a singer in the Televisa's child contest Juguemos a Cantar, but he did not qualify for the finals because of his young age.

Castro began his professional singing career in 1992 with the release of Agua Nueva at the age of 18. After appearing in several telenovelas and recording some albums as a teenager, he began his "internationalization" in 1993, starting with concerts in Puerto Rico. Castro dedicated a song to that country in his second album, Un Segundo En El Tiempo, titled Puerto Rico as a way of thanking the Puerto Rican public for supporting his career. He modified his singing from the deep voice he employed in Agua Nueva to a softer one. His song "Nunca Voy a Olvidarte" ("I Will Never Forget You") became his first number-one hit on the Hot Latin Tracks chart in 1993 and helped start his career. He became an international teen idol and sex symbol after he began touring. He received a nomination for Pop New Artist of the Year at the Lo Nuestro Awards of 1993.

In 1994, Cristian released El Camino del Alma. The album hit "Mañana" ("Tomorrow") was composed by Mexican singer Juan Gabriel ("Mañana, Mañana"). In 1995, he was part of the compilation album Boleros: Por Amor y Desamor written and produced by Jorge Avendaño Luhrs, recording "Vuélveme a Querer", which hit No. 2 on the Hot Latin Tracks (held off by Enrique Iglesias' debut single Si Tú Te Vas). In 1996, Cristian released El Deseo De Oir Tu Voz (The Wish to Hear Your Voice) which featured hits such as "Morelia", "Amor", "Amarte a Ti", and the title track. At the 9th Lo Nuestro Awards, Castro received a nomination for Male Pop Artist of the Year. Cristian has also done opening themes for telenovelas such as Morelia (1994) Angela (1998) and Mujer De Madera (Woman of Wood) (2004).

In 1997 Castro left Fonovisa and signed with BMG, which released Lo Mejor De Mi. Pianist Raúl di Blasio played on "Después De Tí...¿Qué?" ("After You...What?"). The album was nominated Best Latin Pop Album of the Year. Following the album's success, Castro sang duets with Olga Tañón, Grupo Limite, and José Alfredo Jiménez. In 1999 he released Mi Vida Sin Tu Amor, which had four singles in the top ten of the Billboard Hot Latin Tracks chart. ("Alguna Vez" No. 2, "Por Amarte Asi" No. 3, "Mi Vida Sin Tu Amor" No. 3, and "Volver a Amar" No. 4). In 2001, he released Azul, which won Best Latin Pop Album of the Year. In 2002, he sang a duet with Irish boy band Westlife in the song "Flying Without Wings". In 2005, he released Galltio Feliz, a collection of his childhood songs, Nunca Voy A Olvidarte...Los Exitos, a greatest hit album which features both Fonovisa and BMG songs.

In 2005, Castro released Días Felices with "Amor Eterno" and "Sin Tu Amor" as the album hit under the Universal Music Latino label. In 2006, Castro contributed to a tribute to Víctor Yturbe "El Piruli" in which he sang "Mil Besos". On June 26, 2007, he released his first mariachi album, El Indomable, which was produced by Vicente Fernández, and released the single "Tu Retirada".

Castro announced the divorce with Valeria led him to bankruptcy. The album El culpable soy yo was released on April 28, 2009. He sang at the Latin Grammy Celebra José José ceremony. On September 28, 2010, he released the single "La Nave del Olvido" and "Amor, Amor" as part of Viva el Príncipe, his tribute album to José José. In 2011, a follow-up to Viva el príncipe was recorded under the title Mi Amigo El Príncipe.

After disappointing sales of albums with Universal Latin Entertainment, Castro returned to Sony Music. For his first album with Sony since Hoy Quiero Soñar, Castro recorded a live album titled Primera Fila : Día 1 which contains live recordings of his well-known songs as well as original songs. The album features collaborations by several performers, including Reik, Ha\*Ash, Leonel García and Verónica Castro. The album it was released under the label Sony Music Latin on April 2, 2013.

Castro is a fan of rock and heavy metal music, quoting Pink Floyd, Static X, Amon Amarth and Tool among his favorite bands. He has cited the Mexican icon José José to be the main influence in his singing.

Castro was married to model Gabriela Bo from Paraguay. After he divorced Bo, he married his Argentinian Jewish ex-girlfriend, Valeria Liberman. Castro converted to Judaism upon marrying Liberman. He has since reverted to Roman Catholicism following his divorce with Liberman. He resides in Buenos Aires and Mexico City.