Fame & Fortune - by Jessie Ramirez (translated from its Spanish original)
As always joining you from New York, "The Prince" reporting the most important news...
Here are the real names of these Reggaetoneros: Calle 13 is Rene Perez; Wissin & Yandel are Juan Morena and Llandel Veguilla; Tito El Bambino is Efrain Nevarez; Don Omar is William Landron; Julio Voltio is Julio Ramos; Ivy Queen is Martha Pesante; Tego is Tegui Calderon; Vico C is Luis Lozada Cruz; Zion & Lenox are Felix Ortiz and Gabriel Pizarro; Mala is Maria Rodriguez; Raki & Ken Y are Jose Nieves and Kenny Vasquez; Alexis & Fido are Raul Ortiz and Joel Martinez; Hector El Father is Hector Delgado; Pit Bull is Armando Perez; Luny Tunes is Francisco Saldana and Victor Cabrera; Daddy Yankee is Raymond Ayala. Remember you read it here first, the number one showbiz column, where this Prince gives it to you straight and simple.
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 The Boricua Diva, Jennifer Lopez feels cheated by whom a few years ago was her partner in her clothing business Sweetface, the designer Andy Hilfiger, brother of the famous designer Tommy Hilfiger. The Sweetface clothing collection has been a complete failure, despite the large amount of money she spent promoting the collection during the most important fashion event in New York, the New York Fashion Week, where the most illustrious designers from around the world present their new collections. According to sources close to the Diva, a lawsuit is expected to be filed in January of 2008, but the designer will not be sitting on his laurels as he will file a counter lawsuit. According to the source, this separation, which occurred in a friendly way and with mutual respect, began to fall apart when JLo married Marc Anthony. Apparently, Marc, who doesn't know anything about fashion, began to interfere in the professional relationship between JLo and Andy Hilfiger, creating friction. JLo lost millions in this investment. It's also reported that JLo, who is very happy with her pregnancy, is unhappy with the amount of weight she has put on, given she's weighing about 45 and despite her only being in her fifth month. According to the source, JLo has decided not to make public appearances until she gives birth and then returns to her normal weight.
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 Bossa Nova celebrates it's 50th anniversary; the genre that characterizes Brazil and placed it on the musical map of the world is half a century old. The country is preparing to celebrate in 2008 with festivities, motion pictures and theatrical shows. There was a time when Rio de Janeiro deserved the title "The Marvellous City"; drug trafficking bands did not yet control the ghettos, there were no daily gun fights in the streets, and there weren't multiple fatalities due to stray bullets. The era will be remembered with parties, movies, and shows in 2008, when the Brazilians celebrate the 50 years passed since the birth of Bossa Nova, a movement that was the flagship of a romantic and delicate era that put the country on the musical map of the world. The festivities for the 50 years of this musical movement, directed by the composer Tom Jobim and by the singer Joao Gilberto, nevertheless, will generate among the locals a nostalgic feeling. In fact, in 1958, when Joao Gilberto released the song "Chega de Saudade", by Tom Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes -the first milestone in Bossa Nova-, Río was the Capital of Brazil and concentrated all the major cultural events that at that time would move the whole country in all aspects.
Ibrahim Ferrer's Album "Mi Sueño" Nominated for Latin Grammy
The posthumous CD of the legendary Cuban singer, Ibrahim Ferrer, "Mi Sueño" has been nominated for the Latin Grammy Awards en the category of "Best Traditional Tropical Album". The awards ceremony will take place November 8th in Las Vegas.
Ibrahim's album "Mi Sueño" was named such because of the singer's dream of recording an album entirely dedicated to Bolero, despite his being considered a "Sonero" rather than a "Bolerista" during his professional career. The recording took place in Havana, and included the presence of close and private Cuban musicians friends of different generations, notably Roberto Fonseca on the piano, Cachaito Lopez on the double bass, and Manuel Galban on the guitar.
Ibrahim Ferrer's last two albums, "Buena Vista Social Club Presenta a Ibrahim Ferrer" and "Buenos Hermanos" each won a Latin Grammy in the year 2000 and 2003, respectively. "Mi Sueño" was produced by Nick Gold and Roberto Fonseco for the record label World Circuit.
Ibrahim Ferrer passed away in August of 2005.
Grupo Niche's Jairo Varela in intensive care - September 3, 2007
The Director of the Salsa Band Grupo Niche, is recovering after suffering a heart-attack early this morning. During the last few months, Jairo Varela has not been on tour with his band and has remained busy in his Cali studio preparing the recording of his next album. His friends and colleagues were surprised to hear this unfortuate news given the had seen him in good health over the weekend. The heart-attack occurred at 2:00am this morning.
Apparently he has been very focused on the production of his next album, with half of the tracks already finished. The state of health of Master Varela, who put Cali on the world map with his "Cali Pachanguero", is stable. He is currently in intensive care in a hospital in the city of Cali.
Fame & Fortune - by Jessie Ramirez
(translated from its Spanish original)
Production costs for Gloria Estefan's new CD "No Llores" turned out to be very high, given the all-star guest appearances of Carlos Santana, Jose Feliciano, Arturo Sandoval, Johnny Pacheco, Candido, Chocolate, Sheila E. and many others. It seems as though the "Diva" wants to return to the music scene after having announced her retirement. Like I've always said, this is like a bad habit.
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Salsero Tito Nieves' new album doesn't say much; he just selected hits from Mexican singer-songwriter Marco Antonio Muñiz and converted them to salsa in his attempt to penetrate the Mexican market. But he didn't achieve his goal given it's all salsa monga, and we know that salsa has been in the shadows of Reggaeton these past few years; the genre hasn't had any good news - somewhat worrisome. And another Salsero that made use of a third-party's musical repertoire was Nino Segarra, in his attempt to make hits of those of Spaniard Nino Bravo. But just as Tito Nieves, he wasn't able to succeed.
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These days many salsa artists have decided to record Bachata because the know this genre is in style and can make them some money, given Merengue is in a nose-dive and losing popularity; although those who know say to be an authentic "Bachatero" you should not only know how to sing Bachata but also know how to play the guitar.
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The famous Colombian singer-songwriter Juanes has gotten back together with his wife Karen and said he needed to be with his two daughters. Juanes has started to promote his new CD "La Vida Es Un Ratico".
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Nowadays we come across so many promoters, public relations managers, promotion directors, of record labels, radio & TV stations; so many of them are outright embarrassing, they don't even know how to write a news release, have no work ethics, don't know how to work with the media, and are so unprofessional. Then they aspire to receive large salaries for their mediocre work. I recommend they go back to school, just in case they lose their sponsors.
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Madonna is always news, and this time, the "Queen of Pop", renewed her faith in Cabala. She intends to be present in the celebrations of the Hebrew New Year and stated that she would no longer have concerts on Fridays out of respect for this religion that follows the Old Testament.
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Ralph Mercado is all set for the concert tour "Tribute to Hector Lavoe" kicking off in Puerto Rico on September 7th. and then continuing on the road to Miami, Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York. Salsa artists on this tour include Willie Colon, Cheo Feliciano, Oscar D'Leon, Ismael Miranda, Jose Alberto, Yomo Toro, La India and Domingo Quiñones. Rumor has it that Leslie, Hector Lavoe's daughter, and to whom her mother has left all artistic rights as heirees, has already sent out a legal notification to receive her share of the royalties, just as she did with the movie "El Cantante".
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Celia Cruz, La Lupe & India, united in an unforgettable CD
 “Las Reinas de la Salsa” (The Queens of Salsa) is the name of this album that contains their best hits. It includes the classics: “Oye como va” & “Besito pa'ti ” performed by Celia Cruz & La Lupe, in addition to La India's latest hits “Sedúceme” & “Ese hombre”. This is another production of Apollo Music already on sale in retail record stores.
Miami, FL, 23 August 2007. Tropical music lovers are having a feast, and with no less than the arrival of “Las Reinas de la Salsa” (The Queens of Salsa), a CD that brings together three great stars: Celia Cruz, La Lupe & La India. The classic voices of the "guarachera" from Cuba & La Lupe “Oye como va”& “Besito pa ' ti”, respectively, are combined in this collection that also includes the most recent hits of La India, such as “Sedúceme”& “Ese hombre”.
La Lupe was as famous in Cuba as around the world, where she eventually became a myth that continues alive in the memory of thousands of her fans. Upon arrival to the United States, where she much of her life, she became known as "The Queen of Latin Song" for her versatile performances, from Joropo or a Son-montuno, to a sensitive Bolero, or to the rhythm of an audience-moving Mambo.
The legendary Celia Cruz, also Cuban, is a universal "guarachera", given that despite the official ban on playing her music in Cuba, she was successful in dignifiedly spreading the authentic sound of her home throughout the whole world. Today, her memory continues to shine through her songs.
And if there are two queens, we must have a princess, and that would be La India, born in the Bronx, New York, but with a Puertorican heritage that is more than evident when she sings, something she's done with such intensity that some of her songs have become "Latin Hymns" for many salsa music lovers. The three of them make this album a must for any collector.
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