Ruben Rada

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Ruben Rada (born 1943; moniker "El Negro Rada") is an Afro-Uruguayan percussionist and singer. He is closely associated with candombe, an Afro-Uruguayan group drumming style in which he regularly participates. Rada's music combines pop stylings with typically Uruguayan sounds like those of the candombe drums and of the murga choruses typical of the Uruguayan Carnival.

Rada joined his first band, El Kinto Conjunto, in 1966. His first album, "Las Manzanas", was released in 1969 as a solo album. In total he has recorded 21 albums, his latest being "Richie Silver" (2006). Many of his albums are considered Uruguayan classics. "Richie Silver" is a reference to the character he used to represent when he was a teenager singing in English for Uruguayan high society clubs.

Besides being well-known in Uruguay, Rada has also achieved some measure of renown outside the country (especially in Argentina) and in recent years has made a number of recordings under international labels including EMI Latin and Universal Records.

He voiced the part of Lucius Best/Frozone in the 2004 Argentinian version of The Incredibles. He has also directed radio an TV shows such as Radar (radio) and El Teléfono (TV).

British singer Paul McCartney and Brazilian singer Milton Nascimento are among Rada's admirers.

[edit] Discography

The recordings listed in the following discography in bold are Rada's solo albums. The unbolded listings represent collaborations with other bands or artists.