by the El Reportero‘s news services

Salsa star, Nicaraguan Cali Alemán, writes farewell words for his friends in social media

The piano is mourning in Nicaragua and San Francisco.

Nicaraguan pianist Danilo Amador, who founded musical relics bands that became part of the history of modern music in Nicaragua, died on Thursday, July 16, in his hometown of Matagalpa.

Amador founded the group Los Juveniles, from Matagalpa, one of the first representatives of  rock bands of Nicaragua in the 60s and worked with a large number of national groups such as Los Hermanos Cortez, Los Tupamaros, Los Clarks, of León, and Los Juniors.

Danilo was the composer of the Bwana Theme, one of the greatest successes of national music, worked in Creole radio and television programs and participated in festivals in Europe, Las Vegas and at the OTI Festival where he won many triumphs.

Amador also had a long musical career in Florida, San Francisco and Los Angeles, California, United States.

From Florida, USA, singer Cali Alemán dedicated the following farewell words to his colleague and friend:

Dear brother:

You will live in my spirit forever. You were and always will be my brother. We share and enjoy everything in life.

You were a great man … a gentleman … very decent … great musician.

You are now with God … Jesus … and the Holy Spirit.

In the glory of our Lord you will rest eternally. Amen. (Sources: Radio Ya).

Trio Matamoros, a cultural phenomenon in Cuba

Havana, Jul 4 – The songs of Trio Matamoros, which is a reference in the history of Cuban and universal music, still resound among popular phrases, rhythms and memories, 95 years after the group’s creation.

The combination of boleros and son took this group to the summit of popularity in the first half of the 20th century, thanks to the talent of Miguel Matamoros, Siro Rodríguez and Rafael Cueto.

Due to their way of playing music, they became very popular, both in Cuba and abroad, with classical songs like Lágrimas negras, which has been recorded hundreds of times, Promesa, Dulce embeleso, Elíxir de la vida, La mujer de Antonio and Mamá son de la loma, among other hits.

The Matamoros performed with outstanding singers and composers of that period, like Rafael Hernández, from Puerto Rico, who composed Capullito de alelí, and Benny Moré, who debuted with the group in the record industry.

The trio, which had a repertoire of nearly 400 songs, showed their talent in the United States, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Panama, Curacao, Puerto Rico and Colombia, during 35 prolific years.

Their last performance for the Cuban people was in 1960, but their picaresque songs are still listened to and sung in the country like the first time.

Caribbean countries celebrate their literature day

Reading of works, recitals, gatherings and workshops are some of the actions with which the countries of the region celebrate the Day of Caribbean Literature today.

The initiative is part of a request from the House of Nehesi Publishers (HNP) that seeks to pay tribute to the roots, scope and excellence of writing and the book that covers all the linguistic zones of the area.

The main Caribbean authors and their works will be the center of the actions planned for the date, although each country will have its own program of celebrations appropriate to its particular health conditions related to Covid-19.

HNP writer and project manager Lasana Sekou urged to celebrate with the festivities ‘one of the youngest literatures in the world, which continues to flourish within the same region where the oldest documented foundation of written and oral of a great people codified in books.’

Literary creation in this part of the Americas stands out for including works in Spanish, English, French and Creole, among other languages.

City installs temporary drive-in theater to aid recovery of cultural life

Films will be shown twice a week at the Hermanos Rodríguez racetrack

The Mexico City racetrack that has been home to the Mexican Grand Prix — part of which already houses a temporary Covid-19 hospital — will also become the site of drive-in movie theater.

The Hermanos Rodríguez racetrack at the Magdalena Mixhuca sports center will now house a temporary movie theater as well, government officials announced.

The racetrack theater will show films twice weekly from July 26 through August 19 each Sunday and Wednesday, Culture Minister Alfonso Suárez del Real said, in an effort to provide cultural opportunities for citizens.

Films scheduled to be shown include Alfonso Arau’s A Day Without a Mexican and Alejandro González Iñárritu’s Babel. There will be two showings each day, one at 5 p.m. and another at 8 p.m. Gates will open 90 minutes before each show.

Tickets will be sold on Ticketmaster for 10 pesos per vehicle, around US 45 cents. Cars can have up to five passengers, and SUVs and vans can carry eight. The racetrack can accommodate 415 vehicles.

The sports center location was chosen due to the fact that it is located in a part of the city with few cases of infection.

by the El Reportero‘s news services

MANAGUA, July 10 – In the midst of a pandemic that is raging and wreaking havoc on the Nicaraguan population, the Nicaraguan government announced that several local bands and artists, led by maestro Ruben Rodríguez, are preparing a concert to celebrate the 41st anniversary of the Sandinista Revolution.

The Ruben Dario National Theater has been recording the show, which will be broadcast on public television’s Canal 6 during the July 18 vigil, prior to the historic date that marked the end of the dictatorship by the Somoza family dynasty in 1979.

Due to the health situation in the country, the Nicaraguan government has avoided holding public events that bring together large numbers of people, so the country opted for virtual concerts to celebrate historical dates.

In this sense, on Friday, July 3, a cultural performance was broadcast on Internet platforms and Canal 6 to commemorate the Tactical Withdrawal to Masaya, considered the second major feat of the 1979 People’s Revolution.

Authorities believe ‘Glee’ actress Naya Rivera drowned in lake

by Dennis Romero, Andrew Blankstein and Janelle Griffith

Shared from NBC News

July 9 – The search for “Glee” actress Naya Rivera resumed Thursday after she was reported missing on Wednesday at Lake Piru in California, authorities said.

The efforts have become a search-and-recovery operation, Ventura County Sheriff’s Deputy Chris Dyer said at the lake on Thursday.

“We’re presuming that an accident happened and we’re presuming that she drowned in the lake,” he said, adding that there were no signs of foul play or of anything that went wrong “besides a tragic accident.”

Dyer said it would not change the efforts put forth to locate Rivera.

Upward of 100 people from several agencies are searching for Rivera — including several dive teams from sheriff’s departments around the region and a drone team — after her son was found alone on a boat on the lake, which is about 50 miles northwest of Los Angeles, the sheriff’s office said.

The 33-year-old from Woodland Hills had been boating with her son, Capt. Eric Buschow said Wednesday.

The actress rented a boat about 1 p.m, he said, and three hours, later authorities found her son napping alone on the vessel.

The child told officials that the pair had been swimming but that Rivera never returned, Buschow said.

“There’s another adult life vest found on the boat,” the captain said.

On Wednesday night, the department identified in a tweet Rivera as the person for whom they were searching until it became too dark. The department said the search would continue at “first light.”

Lake Piru is about 56 miles north-northwest of Los Angeles.

Deputy Dyer said the search was suspended at 10 p.m. Wednesday because of dangerous conditions. Visibility in the water during the day was about eight to 10 inches and there was lots of debris and full-size trees under the water and “varying depths.”

A manager for Rivera had no immediate response Wednesday night.

Rivera is best known for playing Santana López on “Glee,” a high school glee club musical and comedy that ran on Fox from 2009 to 2015.

At least two “Glee” performers have died since the series’ conclusion.

In 2018, 35-year-old Mark Salling, who faced up to seven years in prison for child pornography possession, was found dead in Los Angeles. Law enforcement sources said at the time that they believed he died by suicide.

In her 2016 book, “Sorry Not Sorry: Dreams, Mistakes, and Growing Up,” Rivera wrote about her struggle with the death of her “Glee” co-star Cory Monteith, who passed away in 2013 from a drug overdose.

“The Cory chapter really choked me up. I had (co-star) Kevin (McHale) come over and help me edit and we both had our moment,” Rivera said in an interview with the Associated Press.

Some “Glee” co-stars weighed in on her disappearance on Twitter late Wednesday. Harry Shum, Jr., who played Mike Chang said, “Praying.”

Iqbal Theba, who played Principal Abigail Figgins Gunderson on the show, said, “Oh God… mercy… please… ”

Rivera is from the Santa Clarita neighborhood of Valencia, about 23 miles from the lake. She was married to actor Ryan Dorsey, the boy’s father, but the pair divorced after four years in 2018.

Last week, she tweeted, “Everyday you’re alive is a blessing.”

Theme that will be part of their next studio album

by the El Reportero‘s news services

With more than 50 songs positioned in the first places of popularity and after not releasing unpublished material in several months, the day arrived and today La Arrolladora is premiering twice with the release of its single and video “Igual”, a song written by Vicente “Compa Chente” Pérez, who is also a composer of other hits of the band such as “Cedí”.

“Equal” has lyrics composed of words in common use among the new generations, allowing the public to easily engage with the song and the story, as it addresses the current trend of fear of commitment to all its contradictions.

The video was recorded in the city of Monterrey, Nuevo León with Esaúl as the protagonist of this story full of contrasts, but which in the end are part of real life.

As part of ‘Reversiones’, a tribute album to ZOÉ

“LOVE” premiered in the voice of Mon Laferte

With more than 20 years of musical career, six studio albums – one more on the way – a GRAMMY for Best Latin Alternative Album for their production Aztlán and two Latin GRAMMYs in 2011, Zoé, the band will be honored in the tribute album ‘Reversiones ‘, in which artists of international stature will return to some classics of the group. This album will be available at the end of the year in physical and digital format.

Mon Laferte, one of the most important artists on the current music scene in Latin America, winner of the Latin GRAMMY for Best Alternative Music Album for ‘Norma’ and Best Alternative Song for “Amárrame”, premieres today the amazing and intimate version of “Love ”, One of the most iconic songs in Zoé’s career and which is part of her second album, ‘Rocanlover’.

‘Reversiones’ is an album that brings together Zoé’s successes in voice and unpublished versions by great personalities such as Alejandro Fernández, Bronco, Rawayana, Juanes, Los Ángeles Azules, Andrés Calamaro, Morat, Cultura Profética, Manuel Carrasco, Juan Pablo Contreras and Fela Domínguez.

The Bebeto gives us “I was so happy”

Hollywood, CA (June 12, 2020) – With a lot of feeling and at the rhythm of the band we have A El Bebeto who premieres today “Fui Tan Feliz”, the second preview of his album: ‘DE GUASAVE AL CERRO DE LA SILL ‘, a live production that will be released later this year.

On this occasion, the Sinaloan singer presents us with the ballad “Fui Tan Feliz”, a genre that fits perfectly, and with which he has conquered us throughout his career.

“Fui tan Feliz” already has its video, made in the city of Guasave, Sinaloa and that the public can now enjoy through the official EL BEBETO channel on YouTube.

County Arts Commission Awards COVID-19 Relief Grants

The San Mateo County Arts Commission is proud to award $168,600 in COVID-19 relief grants to 32 arts/culture and arts services nonprofit organizations to help them recover from the financial hit of the ongoing pandemic.

The 32 grants awarded range in size from $4,900 to $8,000. The Grants Review Panel evaluated 38 applications received with an eye towards those organizations working with under-served communities and/or whose work reaches a large segment of the county.

We are excited to share that Fuse Theatre here in Redwood City was a recipient and will use the grant to help guide youth on producing socially responsible plays.

Art Kiosk Presents: Tara de la Garza Monument to the Plastocene IV

The Art Kiosk at Courthouse Square is back! Tara de la Garza Monument to the Plastocene IV is available to view June 12 – July 5, 2020 at 2208 Broadway Street.

About the Installation

As we collectively grapple with our multiple crises, artist Tara de la Garza took this time to reconsider her installation. This allowed her to think more deeply about racial & environmental justice with hopes of creating a community dialogue through her artwork at the Art Kiosk.

Influenced by minimalist and constructivist artists such as Dan Flavin, Eva Hesse, Vladmir Tatlin, and contemporary artists Rachel Whiteread and Eva Rothschild, de la Garza’s ‘Monumental’ projects continue a practice of reusing materials and referencing modernist forms.

The CEM has made available to the public, on its official website www.josemarti.cu, a series of audiovisuals where topics of interest related to the historical event are addressed

by the El Reportero‘s wire services

The Centro de Estudios Martianos (CEM) organized an online tribute to the Cuban National Hero José Martí, on the 125th anniversary of his fall in combat in Dos Ríos, on May 19, according to a press release.

Although this fact meant an irreparable loss for the pro-independence forces, Martí’s ideology and his example continued to guide Cubans in their battles for full freedom and justice and are still fundamental foundations of the Cuban Revolution, the document highlights.

Thus, to remember the event, the CEM will make available to the public, on its official website www.josemarti.cu, a series of audiovisuals that address topics of interest related to the historical event.

Likewise, the institution calls to document the tribute that José Martí can be paid from home on this date, so, he informs, photographs, drawings, illustrations and podcasts can be sent, where the tribute is evident, to the email centrodestudiosmartianos@gmail.com, and highlights that all messages received will be published on its portal.

According to the information offered by the entity from Marti, more than 30 titles continue to be available for free download from its official site, as well as the 29 volumes of the Complete Works of José Martí, published by the Critical Edition of the CEM, among other publications by Great value.

Mexican singer Yoshio dies after suffering covid-19

MEXICO CITY – (El Universal) – Marcela, his wife, confirmed to Gustavo Adolfo Infante the news that Gustavo Nakatani Ávila, better known as Yoshio, died in the Xoco hospital, where he had been since May 2, when he was admitted after testing positive for the new coronavirus.

Thanks to his talent, in the 70s and 80s the interpreter’s voice gained notoriety, leading him to represent the country in various editions of the OTI festival (Organization of Ibero-American Television) where in 1981 he performed the song “What happened, happened“, by Felipe Gil.

ANDI mourned the death of the interpreter of “Queen of hearts“, “In my own way“, among others.

The Mexican singer Yoshio, icon of the romantic ballad with 50 years of musical career, began his career in the 70s, however, he was more successful during the 80s.

Mexico seeks to restart tourist activity paralyzed by Covid-19

Set featured image

Mexico is preparing the prompt restart of the national tourist activity totally paralyzed by the novel SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, Tourism Secretary Miguel Torruco Márquez said.

The official appeared on Wednesday during the usual evening press briefing on Covid-19 at the National Palace led by official spokesman Hugo López-Gatell.

Torruco Márquez recounted the hard blow the tourist sector received due to the pandemic, one of the main economic activities in Mexico that represents 8.7 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product and receives more than 45 million national and foreign tourists.

The secretary said that the urgent reactivation of tourism is essential and a priority to avoid further damages but respecting in all its scope and with the utmost rigor the protection measures expressed in the traffic light system the new normality rules.

Since the beginning, the country has been working in a more-than-130-page protocol by which the reopening of the sector will be governed and it has already been discussed with the governors of the 10 states most involved in tourism, I have noted.

As for the daily technical report presented by Director of Epidemiology José Luis Alomia, the figures are still very high in accordance with this stage, considered the most contagious of the epidemic.

by the El Reportero‘s news services

The official website of the British band The Beatles calls for a global karaoke on Saturday with the songs from the animated film ‘Yellow Submarine,’ according to several media outlets.

The goal of the initiative is to liven up the social isolation necessary to avoid the increase in Covid-19 cases.

Although the group split up decades ago, its members gave the go-ahead to the aforementioned digital site, in charge of promoting and keeping alive the legacy of the legendary lineup of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison.

According to the call, the official channel of The Beatles on the YouTube video platform will display a version of the famous movie with the songs’ lyrics at the bottom of the screen to be sung as karaoke.

From their homes, viewers will accompany the famous Liverpool quartet, and initiatives such as costumes are expected in relation to the characters in the tapes, photos and videos to share on social networks.

‘Yellow Submarine’ soundtrack includes several of the most famous songs from the legendary British lineup, including ‘Eleanor Rigby,’ ‘All you need is love,’ and ‘Lucy in the sky with diamonds.’

Star-Studded Mother’s Day Special on Estrella TV

In lieu of its previously planned Mother’s Day concert, EstrellaTV will now air a special edition two-hour star-studded Mother’s Day special on Sunday, May 10 at 7P/6P C.

Hosted by Mexican film star Omar Chaparro and EstrellaTV’s own Alex Montiel as Escorpión Dorado (comedian and YouTube influencer), Una Noche a Toda Madre — Un Regalo para Mamá, will include a variety of comedy sketches, artist interviews, performances and special messages to moms and first responders all across the U.S.

The show will feature some of today’s most influential and popular Regional Mexican artists, including Pedro Fernandez, Christian Nodal, Espinoza Paz, El Fantasma, Gerardo Ortiz, Ana Bárbara, Chiquis, Roberto Tapia, Pancho Barraza, Los Tucanes de Tijuana, Carin León, Los Huracanes del Norte, and Calibre 50, to name a few.

The two-hour special will conclude with a closing performance by Regional Mexican music legends Espinoza Paz, Pancho Barraza, Gerardo Ortiz, Roberto Tapia, Calibre 50, Los Tucanes de Tijuana and Carin Leon.

Singer Roberto Carlos to offer a virtual concert for Mothers’ Day

The famous Brazilian singer-songwriter Roberto Carlos will offer on Sunday an unprecedented presentation for Mothers’ Day, which will be fully broadcast on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter websites.

The interpreter of Detalles song (Gestures) ‘will make an unprecedented, exciting and live presentation, which promises to please mothers and their families with the Roberto Carlos concert at home,’ indicates a press release on the show that will be broadcast from 15:00 local time, in his first 45 minutes on Globo TV in Brazil.

To celebrate the special day, Roberto Carlos decided to present himself to his fans with a performance ‘full of great successes.’

‘On this Mothers’ Day we will be together through the screens of computers, mobile phones and televisions,’ reported the singer who on April 19 celebrated his 79th birthday and proved in a virtual recital that music is the true universal language in Covid-19 times.

‘Don’t forget the importance of staying home, maintaining social distancing and wearing face masks. Happy Mothers’ Day. A big hug to everyone,’ he added.

He is one of the artists that has sold most albums worldwide, over 150 million copies, and in Brazil and the rest of the continent Roberto Carlos is deemed as the King of Latin Music.