Early career His first album,
Despertar, was released in 1983 and was clearly influenced by the Canto Nuevo movement, which was popular at the time. During those years, he met singer-songwriter Hugo Moraga, with whom he took guitar and composition lessons. His debut, an independent release, circulated successfully enough to attract the attention of multinational label
EMI, which signed him shortly thereafter. In 1986, Herrera validated the label's bet by achieving his first radio hit,
Entre dos paredes, included on his self-titled album. Romantic songs with a strong presence of guitars became Herrera's signature style. Among the standout tracks on the album was
Entre nubes, which was selected for a compilation of 1980s
Chilean rock.
Rising Two years later, he released the album , which, despite its conceptual nature, enjoyed strong sales and growing popularity. Around this time, Herrera traveled to the United States, where he met other musicians and fully embraced the mainstream appeal of his craft and style—anchored in the
Latin ballad genre that defined the early 1990s. This shift earned him second place at the 1992
Viña del Mar International Song Festival with the song "", and third place at the
OTI Festival 1992 with the song "". He later released the album . With this new album, Herrera firmly established his style, featuring songs such as
Amor, amor, which embraced the conventions of
popular music, including
romantic lyrics, backing vocals, and acoustic guitar arrangements. Alongside the album, he released his first music video, starring his wife, who has reportedly been a major source of inspiration for his lyrics. In 1994, Herrera released
Alto al fuego, the most successful album of his career. This success allowed him to return to the Viña del Mar Festival, this time as an invited artist rather than a competitor. In 1996, Herrera released a new album,
Hasta la Luna, recorded in
Rio de Janeiro, although public reception was reportedly underwhelming. As a result, he ended his contract with Polygram. Nonetheless, he remained active and embarked on an extensive tour across Chile with fellow artists
Keko Yunge and
Alberto Plaza, reaffirming the popularity of romantic ballads among Chilean audiences.
Consolidation and Establishment In 1998, Herrera signed with
Sony Music, and with singles like "Yo voy contigo," he once again achieved high sales figures. He was awarded not only the APES award, but also the prestigious Presidente de la República Music Award, presented by then-president
Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle. His success also extended to other Latin American countries such as
Bolivia,
Ecuador, and
Peru, as well as another appearance at the
Viña del Mar Festival. In 2001, Herrera moved to Los Angeles to focus on recording his new album,
Sentado en la vereda. On this occasion, the balladeer allowed himself to break away from certain stylistic confines, embracing more jazz and rock influences. He also collaborated on a track with
Beto Cuevas, former lead singer of the band
La Ley. According to Herrera himself, this was his favorite album, although it marked a certain departure from the expectations of his traditional romantic ballad audience. In 2008, he was impersonated by comedian
Stefan Kramer during the Viña del Mar International Song Festival, highlighting his cultural relevance and easily recognizable public figure. Despite this, Herrera later stated that the experience left him traumatized, to the extent that he was unable to sing for three years. ==Political views==