Serafín Zubiri

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Serafín Zubiri (born Serafín Lizoain Vidondo) was born on April 20, 1964, in the Navarre region of Spain. He was born with a severe visual impairment that soon developed into total blindness. Despite this challenge, he embraced music from an early age. Zubiri attended special schools run by the Spanish blind organization ONCE, where he studied standard curriculum and also learned music theory, piano, and singing. By the age of 17, he had formed his first band, a pop-rock group called Equus, in his hometown of Pamplona. Zubiri served as the vocalist of Equus until the mid-1980s, when he decided to pursue a solo career.

His solo music career took off in the late 1980s. Zubiri released his debut album Inténtalo in 1987 and followed up with Pedaleando in 1988. The title track “Pedaleando” became his first major breakthrough when it was chosen as the official theme song for the 1988 Vuelta a España cycling race. This early success put Zubiri in the national spotlight and established him as a rising singer-songwriter and pianist.

Breakthrough and Eurovision Appearances

Zubiri continued to record and perform through the early 1990s. In 1991, he released his third album Detrás del viento, featuring the song “Polvo de estrellas”. He entered that song into Spain’s selection for the Eurovision Song Contest but was not chosen. In 1992, he recorded his fourth album Te veo con el corazón. This time he successfully earned the spot to represent Spain. At the Eurovision Song Contest 1992 in Malmö, Sweden, Zubiri performed the ballad “Todo esto es la música”, finishing in 14th place out of 23 entries. That same year, Zubiri also lent his voice to Disney. He recorded the Spanish soundtrack theme for Beauty and the Beast, performing the duet “La Bella y la Bestia” alongside singer Michelle. This Disney collaboration further raised his profile in the Spanish-speaking music world.

Zubiri’s musical success continued throughout the 1990s. He released the album Un hombre nuevo in 1995. The title track was inspired by his personal feat of climbing Mount Aconcagua (the highest peak in the Americas) as a blind athlete. In 2000, Zubiri achieved another career milestone by representing Spain in Eurovision for a second time. After winning the Spanish national contest Eurocanción 2000, he traveled to Stockholm for the Eurovision Song Contest 2000 with the song “Colgado de un sueño”. This made him one of the few artists to represent Spain twice at Eurovision. His 2000 entry finished in 18th place in the final. The exposure solidified Zubiri’s status as a prominent Spanish pop artist. Over the years, he has released a total of eight studio albums, showcasing his talent for romantic ballads and pop melodies. 

Acting and Media Career

Beyond music, Serafín Zubiri expanded into acting and television, becoming a familiar face in Spanish media. In 1996, he made his acting debut with a role in the Telecinco TV series Todos los hombres sois iguales (“All Men Are the Same”). That same year, he also began working as a television presenter, hosting a local Navarrese TV program called “Sin límites” (No Limits) which focused on the abilities of people with disabilities. From 1997 to 1999, Zubiri hosted and directed a daily music radio show in Navarre. In 1999, he starred on stage alongside pop singer Marta Sánchez in the musical La magia de Broadway. He continued his theater work in 2003 by starring in the play Las mariposas son libres (“Butterflies Are Free”) in Madrid, portraying a blind character in this acclaimed stage production.

Zubiri also became a popular contestant in televised competitions. In 2007 he joined the cast of ¡Mira quién baila!, the Spanish version of Dancing with the Stars. His energetic dance performances took him to the runner-up position. Serafíns charisma on the dance floor led to an invitation to Argentina’s equivalent show, Bailando por un sueño, in 2008. Demonstrating his versatility, Zubiri later participated in the celebrity high-diving show Splash! Famosos al agua in 2013. He even appeared as a guest impersonator on the musical show Tu cara me suena in 2017, paying tribute to classic singer Roy Orbison. Throughout these media ventures, Zubiri used charm and humor to win over audiences, all while breaking barriers as a blind performer. In 2021, he had a cameo in the television series 3 Caminos. It’s a drama about the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage.

Sports and Adventure Achievements

While best known for music, Serafín Zubiri is also an accomplished athlete and adventurer. He has never let blindness impede his passion for sports and outdoor challenges. In fact, he holds national athletic records for blind competitors. By 1991, one year before his first Eurovision, Zubiri set the Spanish record in the 1,500-meter run and became the national champion in the 800-meter run for blind athletes. These achievements highlight his dedication and competitive spirit.

Zubiri is an avid distance runner who has completed dozens of marathons and half-marathons. Over the years, he has run marathons in major cities such as Madrid, New York, Seville, and Havana. He is equally passionate about mountaineering. Remarkably, Zubiri has reached the summits of some of the world’s highest and most challenging peaks. In 1994, he stood atop Mount Aconcagua (6,962 m) in the Andes, the highest mountain in the Americas. He also conquered Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa (5,895 m) and Mont Blanc in Europe (4,807 m) during that period. Zubiri often undertakes such climbs with specialized guides, proving that blindness is no barrier to adventure.

In addition, Zubiri is a cycling enthusiast. He has participated in many of Spain’s most prestigious long-distance cycling events, often riding tandem bicycles with a sighted partner. Zubiri has completed the grueling Titan Desert mountain bike rally across the Moroccan desert twice. He has also biked the famous Camino de Santiago (Way of St. James) pilgrimage route end-to-end nine times. Beyond these, he has tried other extreme sports like kayaking, skydiving, and even driving a go-kart adapted for blind drivers. 

Advocacy and personal life

Throughout his career, Serafín Zubiri has been a vocal advocate for people with disabilities, especially the visually impaired. He has used his public platform to promote accessibility, inclusion, and the message that disability is not an obstacle to achieving one’s dreams. In 2005, Zubiri took on a leadership role in blind sports when he became vice president of the International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA), a position he held until 2009. In this role, he helped support and develop sports opportunities for blind and visually impaired athletes worldwide. He also participated in projects like the “Camino de los Satélites” in 2010. Serafín and others walked the Camino de Santiago using new accessibility technologies. Over the years, Zubiri has frequently given motivational talks and served as a spokesperson to inspire others facing challenges. He emphasizes perseverance and personal empowerment, often sharing stories of his own life to encourage audiences.

In his personal life, Serafín Zubiri reached a joyful milestone in 2024. On April 20, 2024, his 60th birthday, he married his long-time partner in a ceremony in his native Navarre. This wedding was a special celebration among family and friends. Zubiri has never really stepped away from the spotlight. In 2019, he launched an innovative musical show called FestiBand, in which he performed Eurovision hits alongside a live concert band. In 2023, he embarked on a tribute concert tour titled “50 años sin Nino”, honoring the songs of the legendary Spanish singer Nino Bravo on the 50th anniversary of Bravo’s passing. Zubiri enrolled in university and began studying psychology at UNED (Spain’s distance learning university) to deepen his understanding of human behavior and disability issues. As of 2025, he continues to balance his musical projects, sports activities, and studies, showing an undiminished passion for growth and creativity.

San Marino

Ever the Eurovision enthusiast, Serafín Zubiri even attempted a comeback to the contest arena in 2025. He auditioned to represent the microstate of San Marino in Eurovision by entering their national selection competition. He was selected for the semi-finals of Una Voce per San Marino 2025, aiming to become an unlikely international contestant. However, due to a scheduling conflict with a concert in Spain, Zubiri had to withdraw from the San Marino contest before the final rounds.