Who can forget such wonderful songs as Solamente Una vez and Granada and even Veracruz?
But who can name the composer? Did you know that he was a world renown Mexican composer?
Agustin Lara is one of Mexico’s most prolific and famous song writers. He is a favorite son of Veracruz, having lived part of his childhood in the river town of Tlacotalpan, in southern Veracruz, now a World Heritage site. In some versions of his biography it is stated that he was actually born there and not in Mexico City as most report. He was born on Oct 30, 1897 and died in Mexico City on Nov 3, 1969. He lived a world famous life but ended his days all alone.
He was the son of Dr. Joaquín Lara y María Aguirre del Pino. His father was very strict with him, a fact that took its emotional toll. Around the age of 7 his father abandoned the family and his mother was left to fend for herself and her children. Agustin had shown an early interest in and capability for playing the piano, a talent his father refused to encourage. Nevertheless, at the young age of 12 Agustin began to play the piano clandestinely in night clubs to help support his mother and siblings. He reported that he was working in a telegraph office. His father was furious when he learned of this and promptly placed him in a military academy to make the proverbial “man” of his son. That did not work: Agustin did not do well and was expelled although his father pulled strings and he was made to return. By the time Agustin was 30 he was playing full time in cabarets and composing romantic songs, songs that often got him into trouble with his many “amores” but which were well received by the public.
Around this same time he made friends with popular singers like Maruca Perez, Juan Arvizu and the Garnica Ascencio trio who began to interpret and sing his compositions.

He began a popular radio broadcast called “an intimate hour with Agustin Lara” and began to write songs for movies. He also began to travel widely performing in concerts and writing song lyrics about the places he was in. Solamente Una Vez was written in Buenos Aires, Veracruz honored his home State, and Granada, Toledo, Sevilla and Madrid celebrated Spain. These songs garnered him a villa in the lovely city of Granada presented to him by Francisco Franco in appreciation of his compositions.

Besides being celebrated for his love songs he was also a celebrity for his love of women! He was married 7 times and had countless lovers. Maria Felix, one of the most famous actresses of her time, was one of his wives and the one he most loved. Many of his songs were dedicated to her.
He did not have any children of his own. However, his next to last marriage was with Vianey Larraga whose son he adopted as his own giving him the name, Agustin Lara Larraga!
His last marriage took place in Spain in 1965. From 1968 on he found himself in poor health and suffered a serious fall which broke his pelvis, leading to his death on November 3, 1969. Upon the order of President Díaz Ordaz he was buried in the “Rotonda de los Hombres Ilustres” (rotunda for famous men).
Agustin Lara had a profound effect on Mexico: no one was as able as he was to impart such a romantic spirit into popular Mexican songs and his name remains the pinnacle of romanticism in Mexico. His life was a veritable orgy of sensuality, unabashed pleasure, and gypsy spirit which he transmitted to his music. But the irony is that, although married many times, he was ultimately a man alone.

Lara left a music legacy of 700 songs and an operetta called "El Pájaro de Oro"( The Golden Bird). His songs have traveled the world, been translated into many languages and have made him one of the most recognized and popular composers of our times.
Lara’s songs reached their heyday in the 40’s and 50’s and were sung by Perry Como, Frank Sinatra, and Bing Crosby in a more romantic era. Nevertheless, for those of us who still have a romantic streak, they are timeless.

Just read the words to Solamente Una vez (You Belong to My Heart) and you will understand what I mean!

You belong to my heart
Now and forever
And our love had its start
Not long ago
We were gathering stars
While a million guitars played our love song
When I said "I love you",
Every beat of my heart said it, too
'Twas a moment like this -
Do you remember?
And your eyes threw a kiss
When they met mine.
Now we own all the stars
And a million guitars are still playing
Darling, you are the song
And you'll always belong to my heart.