Maná

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Maná
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publicity shot (2002)
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Background information
Origin Mexican flag Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Genre(s) Hard rock, Latin pop
Years active 1985–present
Label(s) WEA International
Website http://www.mana.com.mx/
Members
Fher Olvera
Alex González
Sergio Vallín
Juan Diego
Former members
Ulises Calleros
Iván González
César López
Gustavo Orozco
Sheila Ríos
Juan Carlos Toribio

Maná is a three-time Grammy Award and five-time Latin Grammy Award-winning Mexican rock band from Guadalajara whose career has spanned almost three decades. Their sound ranges from hard rock to mellow Latin pop with additional influences from calypso and reggae.

Contents

[edit] Early history

The band was first organized in 1980 under the name of Sombrero Verde (Green Hat). The band began by singing covers in English, but then added Spanish numbers to their repertoire. In 1981, they recorded their first album, Sombrero Verde. Their second album, A Ritmo de Rock appeared in 1983.

The group reorganized under the name of Maná ("supernatural force" (mana) in Polynesia) with Fher Olvera as lead vocalist, brothers Juan Diego and Ulises Calleros on bass and lead guitar, respectively, and Alex "El Animal" González, a young American-born Cuban-Colombian on drums. They released their first eponymous album for Polygram in 1986.

[edit] Commercial Success

Unhappy with the direction Polygram was taking them, they switched labels to Warner Music. The group's first album under Warner was Falta Amor, which was released in 1990, but did not become a hit until the following year. The third track from that album "Rayando el Sol" became their first hit single. They began to tour, performing more than 250 times in Mexico, and abroad in Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia.

In 1991, they added two new members to the group, Iván González on keyboards and César "Vampiro" López on guitar. Ulises Calleros no longer performed with the group, but became one of their managers. The following year they released ¿Dónde Jugarán los Niños? which cemented their status as forerunners of the rock movement in Mexico. The band undertook an international tour with 268 concerts in 17 countries, including an appearance at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland.

In 1994, Iván González and César López "Vampiro" left the group. Fher, Alex, and Juan continued to perform as a trio and released a live album entitled Maná en Vivo with the collaboration of Gustavo Orozco on guitar, Sheila Ríos on vocals, and Juan Carlos Toribio on keyboards.

In 1994, Sergio Vallín was brought in to replace César on guitar. The group released Cuando los Ángeles Lloran. The group also started a foundation that year, Selva Negra, to advocate for ecological causes.

In 1997, the group released Sueños Líquidos, recorded in Puerto Vallarta, which hit the markets in 36 countries simultaneously. They also released a retrospective album for distribution in Spain called Todo Maná.

In 2002, the group released their fifth album, Revolución de Amor, which garnered Maná their fourth Grammy.

In 2006, after a four-year hiatus, they released their sixth album, Amar Es Combatir. It reached #4 on the Billboard Top 200 in its first week, selling over 60,000 copies in the first week (according to Billboard.com). Their first single off the album, Labios Compartidos, has been at the top of the music charts since its debut in July when they played the song live at the Premios Juventud.

[edit] Collaborations

In December 1998, they were invited by Carlos Santana to collaborate on his album Supernatural. One of the tracks "Corazón Espinado" was composed by Fher. This gave them exposure in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. They also appeared on the Grammy Award presentations, the Tonight Show, and in an MTV live concert. The live performance was released in the Americas and Spain on CD and DVD as MTV Unplugged. They released a greatest hits album for distribution in Italy called Grandes Maná.

In 2003, Maná teamed up with Italian singer Zucchero, which resulted in two duets: a new version of Maná's "Eres mi Religión" and one of Zucchero's "Baila (sexy thing)", both of which were released as singles and the latter of which reached the number one position in the French single charts in 2005. Also in 2004, Maná appeared in the annual Pavarotti and Friends concert. At the end of the year, they released a three-disc retrospective called Maná Esenciales.

Their sixth album, "Amar Es Combatir", features a Bachata song entitled "Bendita Tu Luz", a duet along with Dominican Singer Juan Luis Guerra, who is widely regarded throughout Latin-America for his significant contribution to merengue and bachata styles of music.

[edit] Critical Review

In 1997, Modern Drummer named Alex González the best drummer in Latin America.

All Music Guide reviewer Sandra Brennan has said "Mexican pop-rockers Maná are considered the kings of Latino rock and have a huge following in the United States."

[edit] Political Sphere of Maná

On March 29, 2007, Puerto Rico's Channel 4, WAPA's News program, reported that Maná publicly supported Puerto Rico's prospective independence. In an interview that followed the aforementioned news announcement, the members of Maná were interviewed by Channel 4 (WAPA) journalist, Rafael Lenín López, who asked them what they thought about Puerto Rico. Maná members confirmed that they support the Puerto Rican Independence Movement and favor greater sovereignty for said Latin American and Caribbean island-nation.

[edit] Awards

[edit] Grammy Awards

[edit] Latin Grammy Awards

  • 2000: Record of the Year for "Corazón Espinado" (with Santana)
  • 2000: Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for "Se Me Olvidó Otra Vez"
  • 2000: Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group for "Corazón Espinado" (with Santana)
  • 2003: Best Rock Album by a Duo or Group for Revolución De Amor
  • 2006: Special Award for musical accomplishments

[edit] MTV Video Music Awards Latin America

  • 2006: Best Music Video for "Labios Compartidos"
  • 2006: Best Rock Artist
  • 2006: Lifetime Achievement Award

[edit] Discography

Sueños Líquidos (1997)
Sueños Líquidos (1997)
Revolución De Amor (2002)
Revolución De Amor (2002)

[edit] Albums

[edit] Singles

Year Single Album Chart position[1]
U.S. Latin
1995 "No Ha Parado De Llover" 8
"Hundido En Un Rincon" 12
1996 "El Reloj Cucu" 34
1997 "Hechicera" Sueños Líquidos 36
"Clavado En Un Bar" Sueños Líquidos 12
1998 "En El Muelle De San Blas" Sueños Líquidos 18
"Como Te Extraño Corazón" Sueños Líquidos 31
"Como Dueles En Los Labios" Sueños Líquidos 2
1999 "Te Solte La Rienda" Maná MTV Unplugged 21
"Se Me Olvidó Otra Vez" Maná MTV Unplugged 5
2000 "Cachito" 24
2002 "Ángel de Amor" Revolución De Amor 6
2003 "Te Llevare Al Cielo" Revolución De Amor 7
"Mariposa Traicionera" Revolución De Amor 1
"Eres Mi Religión" Revolución De Amor 17
2006 "Labios Compartidos" Amar es Combatir 1
"Bendita Tu Luz" Amar es Combatir 1
2007 "Manda Una Señal" Amar es Combatir 1

[edit] See Also

[edit] Music DVD

  • Mana: Exitos en Video (1990)
  • Maná MTV Unplugged (1999)
  • Total Access (Acceso total) (2004)

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../m/a/n/Man%C3%A1.html"