Antonio José Sánchez Mazuecos, known professionally as Antonio José, is a Spanish singer. Since childhood he dedicated himself to the world of music, being actively supported by his mother. In 2005, he participated in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2005 with the songTe traigo flores, getting second place. In 2015, he the third season of La Voz, a Spanish talent show. This allowed him to publish an album with Universal Music Group. Since then, Antonio José has published three more albums, therefore being author of a total of six, with the most recent one released in 2019. After 4 years, Antonio José revealed in 2020 his relationship with Marta Marchena, a Spanish model.
Early life
Antonio José was born on 2 January 1995 in the town of Palma del Río, Córdoba, Spain. His father, Antonio Sánchez, is an AVEmaintenancetechnician, and his mother, María Mazuecos, is a housewife and fond of music. Since childhood he is a football fan, and his father, who was the localfootball coach, tried to make him a professional football player. In fact, Antonio José was successful, becoming runner-up in national futsal competitions. However, his mother tried to bring him closer to the world of music, taking her son regularly to castings. He also assisted to singing and guitar lessons from a young age. In August 2005, when he was 10, he participated in the television showVeo, Veo, directed by Canal Sur, getting second place. Afterwards, he appeared at the casting of the show organized by Televisión EspañolaGente de Primera. This show aimed to select the representative of Spain in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2005. Antonio José got the pass to the contest on October 2. In November 2005, he finally participated in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2005 in Hasselt, where he represented his country with the song Te traigo flores, dedicated to his recently deceased grandmother. Antonio José got second place with 146 points, just 3 points below the winner, the also 10-year-old Belarusian Ksenia Sitnik with her song My vmeste. The inhabitants of his town, including the then mayor Salvador Blanco, celebrated in the streets and congratulated him on his performance in the contest. During all this time, Antonio José did not give up football, keeping it as one of his passions.
Career
Shortly after his participation in Junior Eurovision, Antonio José published his first album, Te traigo flores, with the same name of the song he sang in the contest. This album combines flamenco, characteristic of his region, with Latin rhythms. 4 years later, in 2009, he published his second album, Todo vuelve a empezar, with songs reflecting teenage situations in the form of rock, pop, funk or ballads. In 2015, he participated at the third season of the reality talent show La Voz. Antonio José has stated that it was his mother the one who called the contest to present him. Being on Antonio Orozco's team, he became one of the four finalists. He chose to interpret the song Aprendiz, by Malú, one of the coaches of the contest. Antonio José won the contest, which allowed him to record an album with Universal Music Group. This album came out just a month later his victory in the contest, and was titled El viaje. Afterwards, in 2016, Antonio José published Senti2, in 2017, A un milímetro de ti, and in 2019, Antídoto. The latter reached great popularity in Spain, being the best selling one in the country at the date of its release.
