Who was Tomas Munoz, the man who has jumped to the media for having left a million dollars in his will to the Jesús Nazareno de Villanueva de Córdoba residence? Well, before starting, the first thing to note is that he was a person precisely accustomed to the spotlight. He traveled half the world, from Paris to Mexico, passing through Brazil or New York; Julio Iglesias, Joaquín Sabina or Leonard Cohen rubbed shoulders.
Muñoz came into the world in Villanueva de Córdoba on April 24, 1934. After studying Humanities and Philosophy, at the age of 21 he settled in Paris. In 1958, residing in Mexico, he joined the music industry. as co-founder of the independent firm Gamma, specialized in the exploitation of national repertoires, of which he became general director two years later.
named first CEO of CBS Spain in 1969, he brought to this country figures such as Bob Dylan, Santana, Blood Sweat & Tears or Leonard Cohen, and promoted other national ones such as Las Grecas, Manzanita or Los Chorbos, Lolita, Ana Belén, Víctor Manuel, Miguel Bosé and Joaquín Sabina, in pop. An important stage in Tomás Muñoz’s career was his jump to Brazil, in 1980, as vice president of CBS International and director-president of CBS Brazil.
The donation will go to expand the Jesús Nazareno residence, where Tomás Muñoz spent his last two years of life
After decades traveling the world, his roots prevailed in the final stretch of his life and Villanueva de Córdoba had an important place in his legacy. Muñoz passed away in August 2022, but in his last heartbeat his hometown was more present than ever. This has been confirmed months after when you’ve known that a million dollarsfrom the inheritance of the former music industry magnate, has landed in the municipality of Los Pedroches after being donated to the Residence of Jesus Nazareno.
There he spent his last years of life Tomas Munoz, who visited numerous cities and countries, but who decided to return to his Villanueva de Córdoba. Favorite son of the municipality, his figure and footprint will be even more present because this donation will allow the facilities of the aforementioned residence to be improved.
Successful career
He secretary of the Foundation of the Residence-Hospital Jesús Nazareno, Pedro Romero Mata, released the news showing his deep gratitude for the generosity of the benefactor. Speaking to ABC, he specified that “the Mr. Muñoz Romero himself he had told us that when he died we would receive an amount». The hereditary estate was in the United States and from there, from a New York law firm, the Hospital managers received a call informing them that “we had a million dollars available to the Foundation and a few days ago they made us the transfer”.
«We are very happy and deeply grateful, how could it be otherwise”, explains the secretary of the Foundation who anticipates that “we have a project of extension of the residence and this donation will make it easier for us to move forward in it.” It will not be enough because the expansion project was carried out seven or eight years ago and the cost was already two million, but it does facilitate the Foundation’s idea of improving the residence’s facilities to expand its capacity and offer more places.
Tomás Muñoz, during the tribute he received in Villanueva de Córdoba in 2019
People who spend their last days in a residence where Tomás Muñoz spent the last two years of his life will benefit from this. «The ancient call of the earth», this is how Pedro Romero defines that return to Villanueva de Córdoba of this globetrotter who felt a claim that «reaches all of us». “He was with us his last two years, very well cared for and for us we feel very honored to have had his presence and now with this donation,” he recounts. A presence that is also eternal with the bust that was placed in 2019 in the gardens of the residence to pay tribute to Tomás Muñoz.
On the other hand, the Hospital board of trusteesof which the Jarote City Council is a part, wanted to record the gratitude towards the figure of Tomás Muñoz, as well as all the people who with their donations and help have contributed and continue to do so to maintain an institution that serves a large number of people; especially those most in need.
For his part, he Mayor of Villanueva de Córdoba and president of the Board of Trustees, Gabriel Duque, has added his thanks, highlighting “the immense generosity of Tomás Muñozwho will always be remembered in Villanueva de Córdoba for his work in life, but also for this generous inheritance, which will undoubtedly have a very important destiny to face the future of the Jesús Nazareno Residence in multiple projects ».
