I am ever thankful to my fans for making me who I am today. I

When José José, the “Prince of Song,” declares, “I am ever thankful to my fans for making me who I am today. I feel I have a real commitment to them—the responsibility to make music with soul, warmth, and a bit of wisdom,” he speaks with the voice of one who has lived in the embrace of millions. His words are not of pride, but of reverence. For he knows that his crown was not placed upon his head by his own hands alone, but lifted high by the voices, love, and loyalty of those who followed him through the years.

In these words, we find the ancient truth that the bond between an artist and his audience is sacred. Without listeners, the song fades into silence. Without hearts to receive, even the greatest melodies vanish like smoke in the wind. José José understood that his power was not merely in his voice, but in the exchange—the resonance between his soul and the souls of his people. To be thankful is to remember that fame is not self-born, but gifted through devotion and trust.

Consider the story of Johann Sebastian Bach, who, though a genius, lived much of his life writing for congregations who sang his works week by week. It was their faith and expectation that gave his music meaning, shaping him as much as he shaped them. Or think of h Piaf, whose voice lifted the broken hearts of postwar France, and who said she lived only because the people gave her reason to. Like them, José José knew that the artist’s life is woven together with the lives of those who listen.

The words commitment and responsibility reveal the weight of this bond. For to receive the love of millions is not a light thing—it is a duty. The artist cannot merely sing for self-indulgence; he must sing for truth, for comfort, for reflection. José José pledged to give music with soul, music that carried not only beauty, but also healing. He promised warmth, that the cold and lonely might find shelter in his voice. He promised wisdom, that the wandering might hear a guiding word in his songs. His art became not just entertainment, but a ministry of the human spirit.

This teaching carries across all vocations. The leader owes his people justice, the teacher owes her students clarity, the parent owes their children care. Every gift bestowed upon us by others—be it loyalty, trust, or love—comes tied with the cords of responsibility. To take without giving back is betrayal; to give in return is to keep the bond strong, unbroken, and alive.

José José’s thankfulness shows us the path of humility. Even as one of Latin America’s most beloved singers, he bowed his head and remembered who lifted him. This is the mark of true greatness: not to stand above others, but to stand among them, acknowledging the unseen hands that hold you aloft. Gratitude transforms fame into service, and service transforms fame into immortality.

The lesson for us is simple yet eternal: be ever thankful for those who believe in you, for they are the wind beneath your journey. Do not take lightly their support, for it shapes your destiny as surely as your own effort. And when you have received, return with soul, with warmth, with wisdom. Let your work, whatever it may be, not only serve yourself, but nourish the lives of others. In this way, as with José José, your voice—whether sung, spoken, or lived—will echo long after you are gone.