A Latino or Latina is a person considered part of an ethnic background that is traditionally Spanish-speaking, especially a citizen of, or an immigrant from, a Spanish-speaking country. The term ''latino'' is used to refer to males only or a combination of males and females in a group, whereas the term ''latina'' is used to refer to females only.

In the United States, the term is in official use in the ethnonym ''Hispanic or Latino'', defined as "a person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other race." The term is also used in Spain as a term of self-identification for immigrants from Hispanoamerica.

Etymology

The terms ''latino'' and ''latina'' originate from American Spanish, and ultimately from the Latin terms ''latinus'' and ''latina'', which literally mean ''Latin''. The terms may be an abbreviated form of the Spanish word ''latinoamericano'' (Latin American). This use of the expression ''Latin'' derives from the traditional split in Europe between the Protestant and the Roman Catholic (i.e. ''Latin'') kingdoms. In the Americas the competition from these colonial powers and their descendants was seen as dividing the Western Hemisphere between Protestants and Latins in much the same way Western Europe was divided. Somewhat coincidentally (although not entirely independently) the Roman Catholic colonies in the Americas predominantly spoke Romance languages (derived from Latin) thus giving a second meaning to the term. The use of the Spanish word for ''Latin'' in English gradually has become an ethnic identifier, independent of religion.

Use in the United States

The term "Latino" was officially adopted in 1997 by the United States Government in the ethnonym "Hispanic or Latino", which replaced the single term "Hispanic": "Because regional usage of the terms differs – Hispanic is commonly used in the eastern portion of the United States, whereas Latino is commonly used in the western portion."

U.S. official use of the term "Hispanic" has its origins in the 1970 census. The Census Bureau attempted to identify all Hispanics by use of the following criteria in sampled sets: :* Spanish speakers and persons belonging to a household where Spanish was spoken :* Persons with Spanish heritage by birth location :* Persons who self-identify with Latin America, excluding Brazil

Neither "Hispanic" nor "Latino" refers to a race, as a person of Latino/Hispanic ethnicity can be of any race. Like non-Latinos, a Latino can be of any race or combination of races: White/Caucasian, Black/African American, Asian, Native American, Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander American, or two or more races.

Although as officially defined in the United States, "Latino" does not include Brazilian Americans, and ''specifically'' refers to "Spanish culture or origin", some of the dictionary definitions may include Brazilian Americans and/or Brazilian people in general. Also, since Hispanic or Latino origin is, like race, a matter of self-identification, any Brazilian American wishing to do can presumably report as being Hispanic or Latino. However, the Brazilian American group is not included with Hispanics and Latinos in the government's population reports.

Some authorities of American English maintain a distinction between the terms "Hispanic" and "Latino":

"Though often used interchangeably in American English, ''Hispanic'' and ''Latino'' are not identical terms, and in certain contexts the choice between them can be significant. ''Hispanic'', from the Latin word for "Spain," has the broader reference, potentially encompassing all Spanish-speaking peoples in both hemispheres and emphasizing the common denominator of language among communities that sometimes have little else in common. ''Latino''—which in Spanish means "Latin" but which as an English word is probably a shortening of the Spanish word ''latinoamericano''—refers more exclusively to persons or communities of Latin American origin. Of the two, only ''Hispanic'' can be used in referring to Spain and its history and culture; a native of Spain residing in the United States is a ''Hispanic'', not a ''Latino'', and one cannot substitute ''Latino'' in the phrase ''the Hispanic influence on native Mexican cultures'' without garbling the meaning. In practice, however, this distinction is of little significance when referring to residents of the United States, most of whom are of Latin American origin and can theoretically be called by either word."

The AP Stylebook also distinguishes between the terms Hispanic and Latino. The Stylebook limits the term "Hispanic" to persons "from - or whose ancestors were from - a Spanish-speaking land or culture." It provides a more expansive definition, however, of the term "Latino." The Stylebook definition of Latino includes not only persons of Spanish-speaking ancestry, but also more generally includes persons "from -- or whose ancestors were from -- . . . Latin America." The Stylebook specifically lists "Brazilian" as an example of a group which can be considered Latino.

Listed below are the 28 categories tabulated in the 2000 United States Census: Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Dominican Republic; Central American: Costa Rican, Guatemalan, Honduran, Nicaraguan, Panamanian, Salvadoran, Other Central American; South American: Argentinian, Bolivian, Chilean, Colombian, Ecuadorian, Paraguayan, Peruvian, Uruguayan, Venezuelan, Other South American; Other Hispanic or Latino: Spaniard, Spanish, Spanish American, All other Hispanic or Latino.

Similar and related terms

Sometimes "Latino" is used interchangeably with "Latin", as Latino is also defined as a "Latin inhabitant of the United States"; and sometimes it is used interchangeably with "Latin American". As a demonym, though, "Latin" can have other meanings:

"a native or inhabitant of Latium; an ancient Roman."

"a member of any of the Latin peoples, or those speaking chiefly Romance languages, esp. a native of or émigré from Latin America."

"a member of the Latin Church; a Roman Catholic, as distinguished from a member of the Greek Church."

"A Latino or Latina."

"Latin American" may also mean the same as "Latino," depending on which definition of the latter is used. The term "Latino", was implemented in the US to refer to what is a group of people composed of immigrants and residents, Also, a Spaniard, for example, though a "Latino" by some definitions, is not a Latin American. The term "Latin American", in turn, though normally applied to inhabitants of Latin America, is nevertheless preferred by some individuals and organizations in the United States. "Latin American" is defined as: "A native or inhabitant of Latin America." "A person of Latin-American descent."

Criticism

The term Latino, despite its increasing popularity, is still highly debated among those who are called by the name. Since the adoption of the term by the US Census Bureau and its subsequent widespread use, there have been several controversies and disagreements, specially in the United States and, to a lesser extent, in Mexico and other Spanish-speaking countries. Regarding it as an arbitrary generic term, many Latin American scholars, journalists and indigenous rights organisations have objected against the mass media use of the word "Latino", pointing out that such ethnonyms are optional and should be used only to describe people involved in the practices, ideologies and identity politics of their supporters. Journalist Rodolfo Acuña writes:

"When and why the Latino identity came about is a more involved story. Essentially, politicians, the media, and marketers find it convenient to deal with the different U.S. Spanish-speaking people under one umbrella. However, many people with Spanish surnames contest the term ''Latino''. They claim it is misleading because no Latino or Hispanic nationality exists since no Latino state exists, so generalizing the term ''Latino'' slights the various national identities included under the umbrella.

Popular personalities like Andy García have also expressed concern. He has stated that, in spite of his love of his native Cuba, he dislikes being labeled as a 'Latino actor', preferring instead to be addressed as an actor without a tag attached to him.

Definitions in other languages

The term ''latino'' (feminine ''latina'') in the Romance languages, such as Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish, literally translates as "Latin". The cognate French term is ''Latin'', not ''Latino''. Portuguese dictionaries define the demonym ''latino'' to refer to natives of Romance-speaking nations influenced by Roman civilization, and to the natives or inhabitants of ancient Latium (modern Lazio). Italian dictionaries define the demonym ''latino'' as: the ancient Latins and Romans, and their language, Latin, as well as the neo-Latin nations. The dictionary of the Real Academia Española defines ten meanings for ''latino'', including the ancient peoples of Latium and the modern Romance-speaking European and American nations. In these languages, ''latino'', just like any other demonym, is by convention not capitalized.

See also

Latin American Australian

Latin American Canadian

Latino Studies

Hispanic/Latino naming dispute

Latin Union

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census

Racial and ethnic demographics of the United States

References

Further reading

''The Oxford Encyclopedia of Latinos and Latinas in the United States'', 4 vls, Oxford University Press 2006, ISBN 0-19-515600-5

Miguel A. De La Torre, "Encyclopedia on Hispanic American Religious Culture," Volume 1 & 2, ABC-CLIO Publishers, 2009.

External links

Latino Cultural Heritage Digital Archives

PBS 'A Cultural Identity' Examines the creation of the Hispanic label by Richard Nixon.

What's in a name?

Yale University – Understanding Ethnic Labels and Puerto Rican Identity

Chicano/Latino Studies University of California, Irvine

Category:Ethnic groups in the United States Category:Demonyms

da:Latino de:Latino fr:Latino lt:Latino pl:Latynos pt:Latino-americanos sq:Latinos fi:Latinot sv:Latino

Name	Daddy Yankee
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Ramón Ayala
Alias	Winchester 30-30El CangriEl JefeThe Big BossDYEl Máximo Lider
Birth date	February 03, 1977
Origin	San Juan, Puerto Rico
Genre	Reggaeton, Latin rap, hip-hop
Years active	1992–present
Label	El Cartel, Interscope, Sony Music Latin
Website	daddyyankee.com }}

Ramón Luis Ayala Rodríguez (born February 3, 1977), known artistically as Daddy Yankee, is a Latin Grammy Award-winning Puerto Rican reggaeton recording artist. Ayala was born in Río Piedras, the largest district of San Juan, where he became interested in music at a young age. In his youth he was interested in baseball, and aspired to become a Major League Baseball player. He was unable to continue this sport when he received an injury to one of his legs, leaving him unable to walk correctly. He then became involved in the underground rap movement that was in its early stages in Puerto Rico, later to be called reggaeton. After receiving lessons from several artists within the genre, he developed an independent career, first recording in a production titled ''Playero 37''. After this he began to produce independent albums. His first solo album was ''No Mercy''. He subsequently formed a duo with Nicky Jam, and then continued his solo career with the releases of ''El Cartel'' and ''El Cartel II''. This led him be one of many pioneers of the reggaeton genre earning him the nickname "El Cangri".

In 2002 ''El Cangri.com'' became Ayala's first album with international success, receiving coverage in the markets of New York and Miami. ''Barrio Fino'' was released in 2004, and the album received numerous awards, including Lo Nuestro Awards and a Latin Billboard, as well as receiving nominations for the Latin Grammy and MTV Video Music Awards. ''Barrio Fino'' performed well in the sales charts of the United States, Latin America, Europe, and Japan. On June 5, 2007, El Cartel Records released ''El Cartel: The Big Boss'', which was ranked as the top-selling album in Latin music genres in 2007. He promoted the album with an international tour which began in the United States and continued through Latin America, breaking attendance records in Ecuador and Bolivia.

His performances have appeared on more than 70 albums, including compilations such as ''Mas Flow 2'' and ''Blin Blin Vol. 1''. Outside of his work as a musician, Ayala has also worked as an actor and producer. Throughout his career, he has been generally reluctant to discuss his personal life, but has publicly expressed the importance of his wife and children to him.

Following the incident, he became interested in the underground movement, which at the time was in an early organizational stage. He also took more interest in the events that took place in the neighborhood in which he was raised, a public housing project named Villa Kennedy. Early in his career he attempted to imitate the style of Vico C. He went on to emulate other artists in the genre, including DJ Playero, DJ Nelson, and DJ Goldy, taking elements from their styles in order to develop an original style. In doing so, he eventually abandoned the traditional model of rap and became one of the first artists to perform reggaeton. Ayala first recorded with DJ Playero as a featured artist in a production titled ''Playero 37'', which was released in 1992.

Musical career

Independent productions

His first album, titled ''No Mercey, was produced in 1995 when Ayala was eighteen years old. The production did not sell well, and he continued his work within the genre for the rest of the decade, eventually forming a duo with Nicky Jam. One of the duo's songs, "Posición", was included in the soundtrack of ''One Tough Cop'', a movie directed by Bruno Barreto, that was released in 1998. Beginning in 2000, Ayala began concentrating more on his solo career, releasing albums produced outside studios. The first production he released was titled ''El Cartel'', featuring elements of the mixtape style. In 2001 ''El Cartel II'' was released, a direct sequel to the previous production, and influenced by similar genres.

In 2002 ''El Cangri.com'' was released, and became the first album in Ayala's career to sell well outside Puerto Rico, mostly in the United States. The album was produced by VI Music, an independent recording studio in Puerto Rico, and was not supported by a major label. The most successful single from the album was "Latigazo", which received significant play on radio stations in New York and Miami. The album reached #43 on Billboard's Top Latin Albums chart. Following the release of this disc, Ayala performed at the Roberto Clemente Coliseum before 12,000 fans. The following year VI Music produced ''Los Homerun-es''. The album became the leader in sales in Puerto Rico during a year in which several other reggaeton artists released significant productions, including Luny Tune's ''Mas Flow'', Don Omar's ''The Last Don'', and Tego Calderón's ''El Abayarde''. The album's success helped Ayala receive the publicity required for a crossover to the United States market, and marked the last album he released with VI music before signing a contract with Universal

2004–2005

Ayala's next album, ''Barrio Fino'', was produced by Luny Tunes and released in July 2004 by El Cartel Records and VI Music. It was the most highly anticipated album in the reggaeton community. Ayala had enjoyed Salsa music since he was young, and this led him to include music of genres besides reggaeton in the album. The most prominent of these cross-genre singles was "Melao", in which he performed with Andy Montañez. The album was described as his most complete, and with it he intended to introduce combinations of reggaeton and other genres to the English-speaking market. ''Barrio Fino'' was followed up by an international tour with performances in numerous countries including the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Honduras, Spain, Colombia, Argentina, Venezuela, and the United States. The album has sold over 500,000 copies in the United States alone and has sold well throughout Latin America and worldwide.

In 2005 Ayala won several international awards, making him one of the most recognized reggaeton artists within the music industry. The first award of the year was Lo Nuestro Awards within the "Latin music" category, which he received for ''Barrio Fino''. In this event he performed "Gasolina" in a performance that was described as "innovative". ''Barrio Fino'' also won the "Reggaeton Album of the Year" award in the Latin Billboard that took place on April 28, 2005, where he performed a mix of three of his songs in a duo with P. Diddy. The album was promoted throughout Latin America, the United States, and Europe, reaching certified gold in Japan. Due to the album's success, Ayala received promotional contracts with radio stations and soda companies, including Pepsi. His single "Gasolina" received the majority of votes cast for the second edition of ''Premios Juventud'', in which it received eight nominations and won seven awards. Ayala also made a live presentation during the award ceremony. "Gasolina" received nominations in the Latin Grammy and MTV Video Music Awards.

The successful single, "Gasolina", was covered by artists from different music genres. This led to a controversy when Los Lagos, a Mexican banda group, did a cover with the original beat but changed the song's lyrics. The group's label had solicited the copyright permission to perform the single and translate it to a different music style, but did not receive consent to change the lyrics; legal action followed. Speaking for the artist, Ayala's lawyer stated that having his songs covered was an "honor, but it must be done the right way."

2006–present

On April 30, 2006, Ayala was named one of the 100 most influential people by Time magazine, which cited the 2 million copies of ''Barrio Fino'' sold, Ayala's $20 million contract with Interscope Records, and his Pepsi endorsement. During this period, Ayala and William Omar Landrón (more commonly known by his artistic name Don Omar) were involved in a rivalry within the genre, dubbed "tiraera". The rivalry received significant press coverage despite being denied early on by both artists. It originated with a lyrical conflict between the artists begun by Ayala's comments in a remix single, where he criticized Landron's common usage of the nickname "King of Kings". Don Omar responded to this in a song titled "Ahora Son Mejor", part of his album ''Los Rompediscotecas''.

''El Cartel: The Big Boss'' was released by Interscope on June 5, 2007. Ayala stated that the album marked a return to his hip-hop roots as opposed to being considered a strictly reggaeton album. The album was produced in 2006, and included the participation of will.i.am, Scott Storch, Tainy Tunes, Neli, and personnel from Ayala's label. Singles were produced with Héctor Delgado, Fergie, Nicole Scherzinger and Akon. The first single from the album was titled "Impacto", and was released prior to the completion of the album. The album was promoted by a tour throughout the United States, which continued throughout Latin America.hadi be He performed in Mexico, first in Monterrey, where 10,000 attended the concert, and later at San Luis Potosí coliseum, where the concert sold out, leaving hundreds of fans outside the building. Ayala performed in Chile as well, and established a record for attendance in Ecuador. He also performed in Bolivia, setting another record when 50,000 fans attended his Santa Cruz de la Sierra concert. This show was later described as "the best show with the biggest attendance in history" and as "somehappy that his album had sold more than those of Juan Luis Guerra and Juanes, and that this was an "official proof that reggaeton's principal exponent defeated the rest of the genres". Ayala made a guest appearance in an album titled "Caribbean he loved the color reed|Inner Circle]], Bounty Killer, Elephant Man and Wayne Wonder. In July 2008, Ayala announced that as part of his work, he would produce a cover version of Thalía's song, Ten Paciencia. Prior to the album's release, Ayala scheduled several activities, including an in-store contract signing. On February 27, 2009, he performed at the Viña del Mar International Song Festival in Chile. In this event, the artists receive awards based on the public's reaction. After performing "Rompe", "Llamado de emergencia", "Tú me dejaste caer", "Gasolina", "Limpia parabrisas" and "Lo que pasó, pasó" over the course of two hours, Ayala received the "Silver Torch", "Gold Torch" and "Silver Seagull" recognitions. On April 24, 2009, he received the Spirit of Hope Award as part of the Latin Billboard Music Awards ceremony. The recognition is given to the artists that participate in community or social efforts throughout the year. The single "Grito Mundial" was released on October 8, 2009, in order to promote his ninth album, ''Mundial''. Despite releasing "El Ritmo No Perdona (Prende)" more than a month before, that single was not considered the first official promotional single.

Film and other career projects

Ayala has negotiated promotional deals with several companies outside of the music industry, releasing merchandise under his name. In 2005, he became the first Latin artist to sign a deal with Reebok, in order to produce accessories, including the licensed clothing line "DY", which was released in 2006. He also teamed up with the company to have his own shoes and sporting goods made, which were first distributed on May 23, 2006. Reebok continued the partnership with the introduction of the Travel Trainer collection in July 2007. In August 2007, Pepsi began an advertising campaign titled "Puertas", in which Ayala is depicted returning to his youth by opening a series of doors.

In 2008, Ayala participated in a campaign to promote voting in the 2008 general elections in Puerto Rico. This initiative included a concert titled "Vota o quédate callao". On August 25, 2008, Ayala endorsed John McCain's candidacy for President of the United States, stating that McCain "has been a fighter for the Hispanic community". As part of this campaign, Ayala moderated a debate titled “Vota o quédate callao: los candidatos responden a los jóvenes”, which was aired on October 9, 2008.

Ayala has worked in the film industry as both an actor and producer. His acting debut was the lead role of ''Vampiros'', a film directed by Eduardo Ortiz and filmed in Puerto Rico. The film premiered at the Festival of Latin American Cinema in New York, where it received a positive reaction. This led Image Entertainment to produce a DVD, internationally released in March 2005. Ayala played the main role "Edgar" in ''Talento de Barrio'', which was filmed in Puerto Rico and directed by José Iván Santiago. Ayala produced the film, which is based on his experience of growing up in a poor city neighborhood. While the film is not directly a biography, Ayala has stated that it mirrors his early life. ''Talento de Barrio's'' debut was scheduled for July 23, 2008, in New York's Latino Film Festival. After the premier, Ayala expressed satisfaction, saying that he had been invited to audition for other producers. On release, ''Talento de Barrio'' broke the record held by ''Maldeamores'' for the most tickets to a Puerto Rican movie sold in a single day in Caribbean Cinemas.

Ayala has been involved in the administration of three organizations, the first being El Cartel Records which he co-owns with Andres Hernandez. He also created the ''Fundación Corazón Guerrero'', a charitable organization in Puerto Rico which works with young incarcerated people. On April 26, 2008, he was presented with a "Latino of the Year Award" by the student organization ''Presencia Latina'' of Harvard College, receiving it for his work with Puerto Rican youth and creating ''Corazón Guerrero''. On February 6, 2008, Ayala announced in a Baloncesto Superior Nacional press conference that he had bought part of the Criollos de Caguas' ownership.

Personal life

Ayala has kept most of his personal life private, rarely speaking about it in interviews. He has said that he avoids doing so because such details are the only aspect of his life that are not public and that they are like a "little treasure". He made an exception in 2006 when he spoke about his relationship with his wife and children in an interview with María Celeste Arrarás in Al Rojo Vivo. He stated that his marriage is strong because he and his wife are "friends above anything", adding that he has tried to ignore other temptations because "weakness is the reason for the downfall of several artists." He also described his "very close" communication with his children, in which he tries to offer advice against drugs and negative influences. His first daughter was born when he was seventeen years old, which he has described as confusing at first, adding that raising a daughter at that age was a hard experience.

Studio albums

1995: ''No Mercy''

2002: ''El Cangri.com''

2004: ''Barrio Fino''

2007: ''El Cartel: The Big Boss''

2010: ''Daddy Yankee Mundial''

2012: ''Prestige''

Filmography

;Film

! Year	! Title	! Role	! Note
2005	''Vampiros''	Bimbo
2008	''Talento de Barrio''	Edgar Dinero

;Television

! Year	! Title	! Role	! Note
2007		Daddy Yankee - Himself
2010	''The Bold and the Beautiful''	Daddy Yankee - Himself	6 episodes

See also

Latin American music

List of Caribbean music genres

List of Puerto Ricans

List of Puerto Rican songwriters

Urban contemporary

References

External links

Official site

Category:1977 births Category:Living people Category:People from San Juan, Puerto Rico Category:American shooting survivors Category:Puerto Rican rappers Category:Puerto Rican reggaeton artists Category:Puerto Rican singers Category:Puerto Rican male singers Category:Latin Grammy Award winners Category:Reggaeton musicians Category:Spanish-language singers

ar:دادي يانكي br:Daddy Yankee ca:Daddy Yankee cs:Daddy Yankee da:Daddy Yankee de:Daddy Yankee es:Daddy Yankee eo:Daddy Yankee fa:ددی یانکی fr:Daddy Yankee ko:대디 양키 hy:Դադդի Յանկի id:Daddy Yankee it:Daddy Yankee ku:Daddy Yankee mk:Деди Јенки nl:Daddy Yankee ja:ダディー・ヤンキー no:Daddy Yankee pl:Daddy Yankee pt:Daddy Yankee qu:Daddy Yankee ru:Daddy Yankee simple:Daddy Yankee fi:Daddy Yankee sv:Daddy Yankee th:แดดดี้ แยงกี้ tr:Daddy Yankee

name	Alacranes Musical
background	group_or_band
origin	Aurora, Illinois
genre	Duranguense, Ranchero, Norteño
years active	1996-Present
label	Univision Music
current members	NC La Revolution /Oscar Urbina Jr.Rudy AvitaRene UrbinaChris UrbinaErik UrbinaHector RosalesGabriel DiazSergio''Hershsys''Federico
past members	Alonzo "Andy" Andez }}

Alacranes Musical (English: "Musical Scorpions") is a Mexican-American band produced by Oscar Urbina that plays duranguense music. They are from the Aurora suburb of Chicago, Illinois.

Recordings

The band has released several albums since its formation in November 1996, and in 2007 was nominated for a Latin Grammy for their album, ''Ahora Y Siempre''. Their hits "Si Yo Fuera Tu Amor" and "Por Tu Amor" reached #2 and #4, respectively, on Billboard's Latin Regional Mexican Airplay chart. Recently, their new single "Por Amarte Así," a cover of Cristian Castro's song, has topped the Billboard Charts at number one for several weeks in a row. According to Billboard, "Por Amarte Así" has also been the number one downloaded ringtone. "Por Amarte Asi" was featured in an episode of a Mexican telenovela, "Al Diablo Con Los Guapos." Alacranes Musical were nominated for the 51st American Grammys in the category Best Banda Album for their song, "Tu Inspiracion".

Split

There were two Alacranes Musical touring due to arguments between the members of the group, Memo Ibarra and Omar Sanchez, and the musicians of the group, the Urbina Family. They parted ways and the record company that claims to own rights to the name of the group sided with the singers. The Urbina Family hired former singer Sergio "Hersheys" Federico and former Banda Lamento Show singer Alonzo Andez to sing for their group. The singers hired all new musicians. Fans seemed to be 50-50 on the situation, many liking the originals—the Urbina Family—and many liking the singers. Both have recorded material under the name. In February 2011, the Urbinas posted a YouTube video declaring that the dispute was settled and that their group would be the official Alacranes Musical as of Easter weekend that year. A new album has also been announced for 2011.

Discography

! Year	! Album
2003	''Furia Alacranera''
2004	''A Cambio De Que''
2004	''Famoso Durango''
2005	''100% Originales''
2005	''Nuestra Historia Y Algo Mas''
2006	''Simplemente Lo Mejor''
2006	''A Paso Firme''
2006	''Puros Corridos Venenosos''
2006	''20 Alacranazos''
2007
2008	''Tu Inspiración''
2009	''Live - En Vivo Desde Mexico''
2010	''Por Siempre Alacranes''
2011	''Besos de Fuego''

alonzo andez is no longer with alacranes musical they have gotten a new singer named gabriel diaz.

References

http://www.chicagoiplitigation.com/tags/alacranes-musical/

Category:Duranguense Category:Mexican musical groups Category:Living people Category:People from Chicago, Illinois Category:Latin Grammy Award winners

es:Alacranes Musical

Name	Don Dinero
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Jose Manuel Guitian
Origin	CubaWashington Heights, New York, United States
Genre	Hip hop, Rap
Occupation	Rapper, songwriter
Years active	2000s–present
Associated acts	Celia Cruz }}

Jose Manuel Guitian, popularly known as Don Dinero, is an American-born Cuban Rapper.

Biography

Dinero was born in the Washington Heights section of Manhattan. Don Dinero is the son of Cuban exiles who arrived in the United States at the beginning of the 1960s.

In the late 1990s he and his older brother, Oscar Guitian, started their own label, Last Laugh Records. When this did not succeed he moved in 2002 to Miami, which has a large Latino population. In 2002 he released the album ''Que Bola!'' on Cuban Connection Records and the single "Pana Pana." In 2005 he released his next album ''Ahora Que Sí'' featuring the single "Arte de la Calle". He released his third album ''El Ultimo Guerrero'' on October 31, 2006. He asl has a son named after him jise guitan who plays professional basketball. He has won championship in the dominican republic and puerto rico

External links

Category:American entertainers of Cuban descent Category:Rappers from New York City Category:Reggaeton musicians Category:Living people

es:Don Dinero

Name	amberRose Marie
Background	solo_singer
Alias	Amber Rose
Born	Long Island, New York
Genre	DancePopHouse
Occupation	Musician, vocalist, songwriter
Label	Catz Entertainment (2007-present)
Website	http://amberrosemarie.com http://www.myspace.com/amberrosemariemusic http://www.facebook.com/amberRoseMarie }}

amberRose Marie (born in Long Island, New York) is a female American dance and pop singer-songwriter. She is known for her high energy stage shows, big vocals and always changing hair-color. She came on the club music scene with her 2008 debut single "Destiny" and her 2009 follow-up single "Wanna Be A DJ". In 2009, it was announced that she would be appearing in her own stage show.

Early career

amberRose Marie (spelled with a small "a", two "r" second "R" capital, then Marie) gained an interest in singing early, singing in the choir at church. She took to her passion seriously, studying under Annabelle Franklin Allesse, and getting a classical training in singing. She also studied dance, and is well versed in dance techniques.

In her early career, amberRose Marie started out performing from an early age, at plays, festivals and small clubs and venues. She has a theater background, having starred in such plays as Woodstock Mania: Woodstock In Concert, in Theatre Three in New York. She involved herself in a traveling band performing in Atlantic City, Westbury Music Fair and nightclubs from Montauk and throughout New York. She recorded a number of self-penned songs, and proceeded to be noticed by the music world, by being invited to perform in the Long Island Radio Station, Party 105's Mega Jam, opening for Rockell, City High, and Digital Allies. According to amberRose Marie, "I began recording a few of my songs and even sold a few hundred records in local indie record stores, Mothers Music and Record Stop. So when I was chosen to perform at various shows to include radio station, Party 105 Mega Jam ... it motivated me to continue on.".

She then proceeded to perform at the Balloon Festival on the main stage, hosted by a top Long Island Top 40 radio station, 106.1 BLI, opening for Mya and Dream Street. She also was invited to sing the National Anthem for the Long Island Ducks, The New York Mets, and at various festivals, political events and parades. In 2006, amberRose Marie formed her cover band S.W.A.K. that performed a blend of rock and dance. At the same time, amberRose Marie formed a tribute to Janis Joplin and her band Joplins Pearl was born.

All the while, in order to continue to write songs and record demo?s, amberRose Marie held various jobs as a sign-maker, licensed cosmetologist, administrative assistant, a travel agent and advertising sales, in her teens and beyond. She also tried out for American Idol. While she made it to the west coast, she was forced to leave due to a personal friend ending up in the hospital

In July 2007, 106.1 BLI's Hilary White who worked with amberRose Marie to promote one of her cover band gigs, suggested a meeting with an independent record label, Catz Entertainment. amberRose Marie wrote, "To my surprise, Catherine R. Laporte said, 'These demos are good, but let me hear what you sound like. Let me hear your voice.' You can imagine my surprise, when she said, 'We love your voice and your dance, pop, rock style!'". She was then signed with Catz Entertainment as a solo-artist under the name amberRose Marie.

Destiny

In 2008, amberRose Marie released her debut single, "Destiny". After being introduced to DJs at the Billboard Dance Music Summit in Las Vegas, the song went on to reached #30 on ''Billboard'''s Hot Dance Club Party music chart, and remained on the chart for over 14 weeks. The dance single was picked USA DJs reported About.Dance, a subsidiary of The New York Times, at # 127 on Top 150 Club Chart- 2008 Year End music chart. It also remained on DJ Times chart for over 6 months, Myspace Music chart in the #1 spot for 3 weeks and the Top Ten for 6 weeks, as well as The Friday Morning Quarterback for 4 months. “Destiny” was played on over 100 radio mix shows and dance/top 40 radio stations, such as Sirius Radio, AOL Radio, PNN and others.

The maxi-single CD, released in 2008, included mixes by Norty Cotto, John Rizzo & Barry Huffine, Klubjumpers, Giuseppe D. Other notable remixes include mixes by Georgie Porgie, and Corey D.

amberRose Marie continued to do over 60 performances, playing in such venues as Jacob Javits Center, Resorts Casino at Boogie Nights, PURE Nightclub in Philadelphia, Virgin Megastore NYC, Prince's hotspot- The Empire Ballroom in Las Vegas, Gypsy, and shows for LIFEbeat, Simon Malls and the ''Billboard'' Dance Music Summit. She has opened for artists such as, The Trammps featuring Earl Young, Martha Wash, France Joli, Brett Michaels, and Randy Jones.

Wanna Be A DJ

In June 2009, amberRose Marie came out with a follow-up single to "Destiny", "Wanna Be A DJ". After debuting "Wanna Be A DJ" at the Winter Music Conference, the annual gathering of international DJs in South Beach Miami, Wanna Be A DJ was picked up by record pools around the USA and Europe. The track became a Top 15 hit at #14 on the ''Billboard'' Hot Dance Club Party music chart and stayed on the chart for 13 weeks. It also ranked as a Top 10 at #7 on the DJ Times Crossover chart, #23 on the Dance Radio mix show chart, as well as making it onto the International Global Top 40 Chart on the Top 100, becoming an International dancefloor hit in over 15 countries.

In July 2009, the Wanna Be A DJ maxi-single entered full commercial release in stores, as part of a 23-track release with each mix bearing a different signature sound, from House to Jungle, Circuit, Rock, Trance, Euro and R&B. The CD features mixes by remixers/producers such as John Rizzo & Van Cronkhite, Klubjumpers, Maximus 3000, Davidson Ospina, Mike Cruz, Albert Castillo, Josh Harris, Giuseppe D., M-Deep (Mr. Mig and Sandeep Chatterjee), Majik Boys, Dave “Mix It Up” Fairman, and the R&B smooth lounge influenced M.I.S. featuring Atlanta rapper, Fresh.

Community involvement

amberRose Marie has been heavily involved with GBLT issues, AIDS awareness, women, teen, and cancer organizations. As a LIFEBEAT Hearts & Voices artist, amberRose Marie lends her talent by performing her show in hospitals and residential locations where residents enjoy MTV styled concerts. amberRose Marie supports various GLBT organizations through Pride events and performing at the Original GBLT Expo. amberRose Marie has performed in Queens Pride, Staten Island Pride and Long Island Pride, Heritage of Pride Parade, and others. She has been an active member in LIFEBeat (The Music Industry Fights Aids), performing for charitable organizations, and has been a part of such service organizations as Kids In Action, University Hospice Hospital of Staten Island, and Long Island Gay and Lesbian Youth (LIGALY).

Upcoming

In 2009, it was announced that amberRose Marie would be appearing in her own Casino stage show in Las Vegas in the Fall of 2009. The date, so far has not been released. amberRose Marie is also in the studio writing and recording songs for her first full length CD to be released in 2010. amberRose Marie has also been tapped as a featured artist in the 2009 DJ Times International DJ Expo, the annual gathering of over 5000 DJs in Atlantic City. The performance will take place at the Trump Taj Mahal in August 2009.

Discography

Singles

Year	Title	Chart Positions
Billboard Hot Dance Club Play
2008	"Destiny"
2009	"Wanna Be A DJ"

References

External links

amberRose Marie Website

Official Myspace

Official Facebook

CD Baby

Category:Living people Category:English-language singers Category:People from Long Island Category:Musicians from Long Island Category:American female singers Category:American singer-songwriters Category:Dance musicians