Ramón

Early Life and Rise to Fame

Ramón del Castillo Palop was born on May 3, 1985, in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands. He grew up as the youngest of three brothers. From a young age, Ramón loved music and dreamed of becoming a singer. His big break came in 2003 when he auditioned for Operación Triunfo, a popular Spanish talent show. He impressed the audience and judges with his vocals. Week after week, he advanced through the competition. Eventually, Ramón finished as the runner-up in the third season of Operación Triunfo (OT 2003). This high placement turned him into a rising star in Spain. It also opened the door to an even bigger stage. In a separate public vote, Ramón was chosen to represent Spain at the Eurovision Song Contest 2004. This was an unexpected opportunity for an artist so early in his career.

Eurovision Song Contest 2004

Ramón went on to perform for Spain at Eurovision 2004 in Istanbul, Turkey. He was only 19 years old at the time, and it was his first major international performance. He sang a song titled “Para llenarme de ti” (meaning “To Be Filled By You”). In the grand final, Ramón achieved 10th place out of 24 entries. He earned 87 points for Spain. Back at home, “Para llenarme de ti” became a big hit. The single reached number one on the Spanish charts, staying at the top for multiple weeks. 

Music Career after Eurovision

After Eurovision, Ramón focused on recording and releasing music. In mid-2004, he released his debut album Es así under Vale Music Records. The album featured pop songs and included his Eurovision hit. Es así was a commercial success in Spain, debuting at number 6 on the national albums chart. Ramón actively promoted the album and performed on TV and concerts.

Two years later, in 2006, Ramón released his second album titled Cambio de sentido. This record took a different direction, but it did not replicate his earlier success. In fact, Cambio de sentido failed to enter the charts. The disappointment of the second album marked a turning point. Ramón gradually stepped out of the music spotlight. In 2008, he made a brief return to television as a judge on a Canary Islands talent show called ¡Quiero ser como Pepe!. However, his passion for a singing career was fading. By 2010, Ramón decided to retire from his music career. He later revealed that he felt the direction of his music was not truly “him,” and he wanted to explore other paths in life.

Life Beyond Music

Leaving the pop music scene, Ramón pursued a new direction. He went back to school to study audiovisual production in his hometown of Las Palmas. He learned about working behind the camera and producing media. In 2013, Ramón moved to Norway to gain international experience. He worked in Oslo as a camera assistant for a production company, learning the technical side of television. After spending about five years abroad, Ramón returned to the Canary Islands with a fresh perspective.

Around 2020, he embarked on an entrepreneurial venture in his hometown. Ramón opened his own restaurant in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, fulfilling a long-time dream of running a business. He named the restaurant “Surkos”, a word he picked up during his time in Norway that reflects the idea of enjoying the moment. As a restaurateur, Ramón embraced a completely different career. His restaurant features Mediterranean cuisine with a Canarian twist, including local cheeses and products. In 2022, he appeared on a Spanish TV program to talk about traditional cheese-making in Gran Canaria and to showcase his restaurant’s dishes.

Despite his fame as a singer, Ramón found happiness in this new field. He has said that stepping away from music was one of the best decisions he made, as it allowed him to grow in other ways. Today, Ramón lives a quiet life in Gran Canaria as a successful business owner and family man. He occasionally sings for enjoyment, sometimes performing with friends at his restaurant..