by Yashenka Baca
Shakira
Colombian singer Shakira will receive a star in the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The musician and composer will be recognized for her achievements in the Category of Recording, in a ceremony to take place in front of the W Hotel in Hollywood, on November 8.
The 2,354th star on the Walk of Fame will have the 34 year-old worldwide pop star name. The performer of Hips don’t lie is the best selling Colombian artist of all time, but she’s also known for her philanthropist approach and her work in the Barefoot Foundation, an education oriented organization she founded when she was only 18. Shakira’s foundation has already opened six schools in Colombia and provides over six thousand impoverished children with educational and nutritional resources.
Only a day after Shakira (born Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll) will be honored at the 12th Annual Tribute Gala in Las Vegas. The Colombian pop princess, native of Barranquilla and a professional singer since 1990, will be recognized as the “Person of the Year”, part of the 2011 Latin Grammy ceremony; becoming the youngest person to ever receive the award.
Latin-American Music Festival in Miami
The Rola Music Fest, a music festival that celebrates the diversity of Latin music, will gather more than 15 renowned Latino-American bands and singers in a three day event that will take place on November 11, 12 and 13 at the Bayfront Park in Miami.
The event organizers confirmed last week the participation of Julieta Venegas, Diego Torres, Oscar d’León, Jarabe de Palo, Wilfrido Vargas, El Grupo Niche, Servando y Florentino, Amara La Negra, Caramelos de Cianuro, and the New York band Patafunk, among others.
For three days the attending public will enjoy a mix of Latin rhythms going from salsa and merengue all the way to pop and ska. The bands and singers come from several countries, including Venezuela, Colombia, Spain, Argentina, Dominican Republic and Mexico, and will perform all through the three days of the festival that starts at 6pm. on November 11.
“Rola Fest is a scenario designed not just for one type of genre, but, rather, aims to create a space where despite different musical tastes and trends, everyone can come together to celebrate Latin culture” said Javier Maggiolo, creator and organizer of the Rola Music Fest.
Monte Negro Band kicks off Guero Tour 2011
The bilingual rock Band Monte Negro prepares a nationwide journey: the Guero Tour, to close their 2011 season. The band, original from Los Angeles, plans to visit 35 cities across the United States during the last seven weeks of the year.
The group, formed by Francesco Ferrini, Rodax, Jason Li-Shing and Kinski released their new single Zero, which they say is “an exciting prelude to what will be Monte Negro’s new album release in early 2012.” Zero is a “high energy, hopeful tune that will be included in the upcoming record, “REPLICA I”, due out in early 2012”, they added.
