Siempre en Domingo (English translation: Always on Sunday) was a highly influential Mexican television variety show created, produced, and hosted by Raúl Velasco. The program aired weekly on Televisa's flagship network, El Canal de las Estrellas, from 14 December 1969 until 19 April 1998, concluding its run upon Velasco's retirement due to health complications.
Spanning nearly three decades and averaging between three to five hours of live airtime every weekend, Siempre en Domingo became one of the most commercially important, widely distributed, and influential television programs in the history of Latin America. It functioned as the definitive gateway for Hispanic musical talent, establishing a virtual monopoly on the promotion of Latin pop music and international recording artists across Spanish-speaking markets worldwide.
Cultural impact and format The show's structural format combined live musical performances, comedy sketches, regional folklore displays, and interviews with contemporary public figures. Velasco developed a legendary reputation as an industry "kingmaker"; an appearance on his stage was considered mandatory for any musical act seeking commercial success in Latin America or the United States Billboard Latin charts. A centerpiece of the show's lore was Velasco's trademark ritual, the "patada de la suerte" (lucky kick), a physical gesture bestowed upon debuting artists to symbolically sponsor their career breakthrough. Legendary figures such as Luis Miguel, Selena, Ricky Martin, Thalía, Gloria Trevi, and Julio Iglesias saw their commercial careers launched or significantly accelerated by their recurring visibility on the program.
In addition to launching regional Spanish-language talent, Siempre en Domingo routinely broke linguistic barriers by hosting prominent English-speaking global acts, adapting its stage for visits from international stars such as The Bee Gees, ABBA, Donna Summer, Tina Turner, and Gloria Gaynor. At its commercial peak, the program achieved estimated weekly viewership metrics exceeding 350 million individuals across North, Central, and South America, as well as parts of Europe via syndication networks, making it a foundational pillar of late-20th-century Hispanic pop culture.
Notable artists Artists who performed (many of which debuted) on the show include:
Jose Luis Rodriguez El Puma Selena Luis Miguel Soda Stereo Mecano Lynda Thomas Thalía Paulina Rubio Miguel Bosé Caifanes Alejandra Ávalos María Conchita Alonso Julio Iglesias Locomia Chayanne Ricky Martin Pinn Ivonne Avilez José José Raphael Celia Cruz Timbiriche Juan Gabriel Maná Alejandra Guzmán Menudo Maldita Vecindad Onda Vaselina Fey Cristian Castro Laureano Brizuela Flans Emmanuel Alejandro Fernández Roberto Carlos Benny Ibarra Café Tacvba Kabah Moenia Eduardo Capetillo Erik Rubín Julieta Venegas Kairo Kenny y los Eléctricos Enrique Guzmán Sentidos Opuestos Gloria Trevi Secos & Molhados Mercurio Jeans Irán Castillo Byanka Jorge Muñiz Los Chamos Los Chicos Mocedades Ricchi e Poveri Miguel Ríos La Sonora Dinamita Marco Antonio Solís José María Napoleón Beatriz Adriana Angélica María Johnny Laboriel Lola Beltrán La Sonora Santanera César Costa Los Baby's Chico Che Joan Sebastián Verónica Castro Camilo Sesto Ana Gabriel Laura León Presuntos Implicados Amistades Peligrosas Fresas Con Crema Ricardo Montaner Lucía Méndez Vicente Fernández Manoella Torres Daniela Romo Lucero Manuel Mijares Pandora Daniela Mercury Pedro Fernández Tatiana Yuri Lorenzo Antonio El Tri Magneto Fandango Garibaldi Micro Chips Sasha Sokol Ritmo Peligroso Bronco Grupo Bryndis Los Ángeles Negros Pimpinela Amanda Miguel Diego Verdaguer Parchís Rocío Dúrcal Rocío Jurado Hombres G Charly García Alaska y Dinarama Enanitos Verdes Nacha Pop Franco De Vita Los Prisioneros Duncan Dhu Ricardo Arjona Mónica Naranjo Enrique Iglesias Shakira The Sacados Alejandro Sanz Marisela La Ley Laura Pausini Héroes Del Silencio Eros Ramazzotti Gloria Estefan H2O Fernando Villares
Stephanie Salas
Notable non-Spanish-language acts
Bee Gees ABBA Tina Turner David Lee Roth Whitney Houston Bryan Adams Sting Peter Cetera Richard Clayderman Richard Marx The Bangles Cyndi Lauper Olivia Newton-John Herb Alpert Barry Manilow Laura Branigan Gillette Village People Donna Summer Frankie Valli Shaun Cassidy Gloria Gaynor Sheena Easton Crowded House Boney M. KWS Spice Girls Sammy Davis Jr. Andy Gibb Jimmy Osmond Sabrina Level 42 Jimmy Osmond The Outfield Linda Ronstadt Xuxa Mireille Mathieu Nana Mouskouri Princess Stéphanie of Monaco
Cancellation In 1998, Velasco was diagnosed with hepatitis C and needed a liver transplant. His health was becoming critical and was unable to continue hosting the show. Siempre en Domingo aired its last episode on April 19, 1998.Raúl Velasco con sus tres décadas al aire en 'Siempre en Domingo', es el responsable de la fama de un sinnúmero de estrellas
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