José Manuel Figueroa Sr., better known as Joan Sebastian; was born in Juliantla, Guerrero, Mexico on April 8, 1951 and died on July 13, 2015. He is a popular Mexican multi Grammy award winning singer and songwriter. He has composed hundreds of songs and been a regular staple on the top-40 charts in Mexico since his career began in 1977. His music is a mixture of Latin pop, ranchera and grupera music. His success is not only found in music but also in his short acting career when he became the main protagonist of a Mexican soap opera. In 1996 he made his acting debut in the Mexican soap opera Tú y Yo (You and I) sharing credits with Maribel Guardia (his former wife and mother to one of his sons) the soap opera became an instant televised hit. He has won seven Latin Grammy Awards and four Grammy Awards.
Joan Sebastian was born José Manuel Figueroa on April 8, 1951, he remains one of the most famous singers and songwriters Mexico has. Although he had been diagnosed with bone cancer in 1997, it did not stop him from creating music. His versatility has helped him remain in the popular taste of the public. On July 26, 2012 he announced that his bone cancer has returned during one of his concerts for the third time.
Joan Sebastian is the father of eight children who he has had with different partners throughout his life. Their names are José Manuel Figueroa (who is also a singer and composer), Juan Sebastián, Trigo de Jesús, Sarelia, Julián (son of Regina Iliana Ruvalcaba), Marcelia, Joana Marcelia y Juliana.
Trigo de Jesús, his third oldest, was shot in the back of the head after one of Joan Sebastian's concert in Texas on August 27, 2006. Trigo had been trying to control the crowd after the show. He was transported to McAllen Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.
On June 12, 2010, Juan Sebastián was shot dead in Cuernavaca, Morelos, after arriving at a night club with some friends and being refused entrance. Joan Sebastian said that his son's death had nothing to do with the Mexican drug cartel.