Julio Iglesias

Spanish singer, known as the master of the love song, the world's top selling living pop star, Iglesias has sold a Guinness record of 100 million albums worldwide. Releasing five albums a year in five different languages, Spanish, Italian, French, Portuguese and English, it is estimated that every 30 seconds the music of Julio Iglesias is playing somewhere in the world. His first album released in the U.S., with the hit single "To All The Girls I've Loved Before," sold 3 million copies alone and placed Iglesias in the pantheon of golden-throated song-and-sex stars.

The son of a physician and a homemaker, Julio grew up in Madrid in an atmosphere of wealth and privilege. Well-mannered, athletic and eager to please, the average student spent most of his childhood and adolescence playing soccer, displaying a precocious talent which later earned him a place on the national team, playing goalie for Real Madrid. "I was one of the best young soccer players in my country," he said. "You never know at what age you can be a superstar, but it was definitely my dream. Up until the accident."

The professional athlete who took no interest in music whatsoever suffered a setback at age 20 that was to alter the course of his life. While driving recklessly around a curve, Julio's car turned over, ejecting the two other passengers. Miraculously, everyone walked away relatively unharmed, including Julio. Or so he thought.

Months later, a progressive weakening of reflexes and increased numbing rendered Julio unable to walk. Tests revealed that he had suffered a hemorrhage in the accident which caused compression in his spine. After surgery, paralysis set, resulting in the prospect of life in a wheelchair. "I felt like I had died."

Still there was light at the tend of the tunnel. His spine had been traumatized, not severed, and by all accounts he could walk again, but it required much rehabilitation and effort.