Maná

Maná () is a Mexican pop rock band. The band is considered one of the best-selling Latin music artists and the most successful Latin American band of all time with over 40 million records sold worldwide. The group's current lineup consists of vocalist/guitarist Fher Olvera, drummer Alex González, guitarist Sergio Vallín and bassist Juan Calleros. Maná has earned four Grammy Awards, eight Latin Grammy Awards, five MTV Video Music Awards Latin America, six Premios Juventud awards, 19 Billboard Latin Music Awards, and 15 Premios Lo Nuestro awards.

Maná has topped the all-time lists in much of Latin America and in their native Mexico, where they set records for album sales and concert attendance. The band formed in 1986 and released its first album, '' Falta Amor'', in 1990. In 1992, the group released '' ¿Dónde Jugarán Los Niños?'', which sold more than 10 million copies worldwide, (over 700,000 copies in the US alone) becoming the best selling Spanish-language rock album of all time. After several lineup changes, the group released ''Cuando los Ángeles Lloran'' (1995), which is noted for its stylistic departure from the band's previous work. Maná followed with ''Sueños Líquidos'' (1997), ''Revolución de Amor'' (2002), and ''Amar es Combatir'' (2006), which continued the group's success. The band followed up with ''Drama y Luz'' in April 2011. Their most recent album is ''Cama Incendiada'', which was released in early 2015.

The band's sound draws from pop rock, progressive rock, Latin pop, calypso, reggae, and ska music genres. They initially received international commercial success in Latin America and Spain and have since gained popularity and exposure in the US and around the world.

History

1986–89: Formation and early releases

Maná was formed in 1986 by José Fernando "Fher" Olvera (vocals), Ulises Calleros (guitar), and Juan Calleros (bass guitar), who had been performing together in a band called Sombrero Verde since the mid-1970s and disbanded in 1983. The three placed an advertisement in the local Guadalajara newspaper looking for a drummer to complete a new band, to which 15-year-old American Alex González applied and soon joined the group. Maná's first album was titled "Maná released on 12 May 1987 on A& M Records. Maná signed to PolyGram, but became unhappy with the direction the label was taking the band and switched to Warner Music shortly before the release of the group's second album, '' Falta Amor''.

A year passed before the album garnered its first hit single, "Rayando el Sol". The group toured heavily in support of the album, performing more than 250 times throughout Latin America, including shows in Mexico, Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia.

1990–96: Commercial success

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. On 27 October 1992, the band released '' ¿Dónde Jugarán Los Niños?'', an album that spawned several hits (including "Vivir Sin Aire", "Oye Mi Amor", and "De Pies a Cabeza"). The record sold over 3 million copies worldwide and became the best selling Spanish-language rock album of all time. The band undertook an international tour with 268 concerts in 17 countries.

In 1994, López and Iván González left the group due to musical and personal disputes. Fher Olvera and Alex González felt that their departure offered an opportunity to reinvent the group's sound, and searched throughout Mexico, Spain and Argentina to find a new guitarist.

In the meantime, Maná released the live album '' Maná en Vivo'' before choosing Mexican guitarist Sergio Vallín to replace Calleros and López. In 1995, the band recorded a Spanish version of Led Zeppelin's " Fool in the Rain" for the tribute album ''Encomium''.

On 25 April 1995, the group released ''Cuando los Ángeles Lloran''. The album was noted for its stylistic departure from the band's previous work, which saw the group experimenting with funk and soul music genres. Olvera explained shortly after the release of the album, "Basically, we're still the same Maná, but we're going through a funky, soulish stage. We want to have some fun and be a little louder." The initial reaction to ''Cuando los Ángeles Lloran'' was mixed and the first single, the funk-influenced "Déjame Entrar", failed to reach the top ten on the Mexican Singles Chart. However, the album later caught on and sold 500,000 copies in the United States alone within five months of release.

1997–2007: ''Sueños Líquidos'', ''Revolución de Amor'', and ''Amar es Combatir''

In 1997, the group released ''Sueños Líquidos'', an album about the highs and lows of love, with songs like "Clavado en un bar" and "En el Muelle de San Blás", recorded in Puerto Vallarta and released simultaneously in 36 countries. The recording received a Grammy Award as Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album. The group performed acoustically in Miami for Latin America's '' MTV Unplugged'' program. A final version of the performance was mixed at Conway Recording Studios in Hollywood, and the band released '' Maná MTV Unplugged'' on 14 May 1999.

In 2002, in an effort to blend their sound with that of rock and roll from the sixties and seventies, the band recorded ''Revolución de Amor''. They won their fourth Grammy for the album. The band released a new version of "Eres mi Religión" for the Italian market in 2003, as a duet with Italian musician Zucchero, and also performed with Zucchero in a new recording of his " Baila Morena". This same year they participated in the annual Pavarotti & Friends concert, along with Queen, Deep Purple, Ricky Martin, Andrea Bocelli, Zucchero and Bono.

In 2006, after a four-year hiatus, they released their seventh studio 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. Their first single off the album, "Labios Compartidos", rose to the top of the music charts upon its debut in July, when the group played the song live at the Premios Juventud. ''Amar es Combatir'' has sold over 644,000 copies, and the Amar es Combatir Tour in promotion of the album grossed more than $35 million.

In 2008, Maná released a live album entitled '' Arde El Cielo'', in both a CD and CD/DVD package. This release shows the band performing during the Amar es Combatir Tour in support of ''Amar es Combatir''.

2008–2012: ''Drama y Luz''

On 12 April 2011, the band released its eighth studio album, ''Drama y Luz''. The record's release was delayed several times, initially scheduled for a Fall 2010 release, which was later changed to December 2010, and finally changed to April 2011. The band explained that ''Drama y Luz'' was not ready for fans and spent time during the delays putting the finishing touches on the record. Themes addressed on the album include love, hope, addiction, and racism. The first single from the album, " Lluvia al Corazón", became the band's sixth song to reach number one on the ''Billboard'' Latin Songs chart, as well as its eighth song to top the magazine's Latin Pop Songs chart.

2013–present: ''Cama Incendiada / Rayando el sol Tour''

In 2016, Maná was inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

In 2018, Mana received the Billboard Latin Music Lifetime Achievement Award and performed live on Telemundo from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. Mana was honored as the Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year on 14 November 2018.

In 2019, Mana announced in February 2019 their new tour "Rayando el sol tour" that will start in the USA in September 2019. On 12 April Maná released a new version of their classic hit Rayando el sol featuring Spanish singer Pablo Alborán as the first song from their upcoming project.

In August 2021, Billboard and Telemundo announced that Maná would be honored with the icon award at the 2021 Billboard Latin Music Awards on 23 September 2021. The announcement included that the band would also perform a remake of the classic "El Reloj Cucú" ft. 12-year-old artist Mabel at the awards show.

Selva Negra Foundation

Selva Negra Foundation ("Black Jungle Foundation") is a foundation formed by Maná in 1995. Under the direction of Mari González and Augusto Benavides, they finance and support important projects aimed at protecting the environment. With the support of Mexico's government, they also have efforts to save the sea turtle by raising 140,000 turtle eggs for release on the country's Pacific coast.

On 7 April 2008, Maná and the Selva Negra Foundation were named "Champions of Health" by the Pan American Health Organization during an observance of World Health Day 2008 at PAHO headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Politics

Maná supported U.S. President Barack Obama's 2012 reelection bid.

On 29 March 2007, Puerto Rico's Channel 4, WAPA's News program, reported that Maná publicly supported Puerto Rico's prospective independence from the United States. 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 the Latin American and Caribbean island-nation.

Various of their songs have political inspirations. The liner notes for "Me Voy a Convertir en Un Ave," on the album ''Sueños Líquidos'', for example, notes that the song is "inspired by the book ''Pedro y el capitán'' by Mario Benedetti and dedicated to all those who, for defending an ideal of justice, are persecuted or find themselves imprisoned. To the Zapatista Army of National Liberation communities for peace and dignity."Liner notes, ''Sueños Líquidos'', 1997.

FAO Ambassador

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. FAO was founded on 16 October 1945 in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. The FAO Goodwill Ambassadors Programme was initiated in 1999. Maná was nominated and appointed FAO Ambassadors on 16 October 2003. Maná emphasized that their song "Justicia, Tierra y Libertad" (in English: Justice, Land, and Liberty reedom from the ''Revolución de Amor'' album, is a message of hope and inspiration in the search of a world without hunger.

Members

Official members:
* Fher Olvera — lead vocals, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, rhythm guitar — 1978–present
* Alex González — drums, backup vocals — 1984–present
* Juan Calleros — bass guitar, acoustic bass guitar — 1978–present
* Sergio Vallín — electric guitar, acoustic guitar, 12-string guitar, classical guitar — 1994–present
Live band members:
* Juan Carlos Toribio — keyboards, piano, flute — 1994–present
* Fernando "Psycho" Vallin — rhythm guitar, 2nd bass guitar, backup vocals — 1997–present
* Luis Conte — percussion — MTV Unplugged 1999
* Hector Quintana — percussion, backup vocals — 2006–present

Former members:
* Abraham Calleros — drums — 1978–1985
* Gustavo Orozco — electric guitar — 1978–1985
* Ulises Calleros — electric guitar — 1978–1991
* César "Vampiro" López — electric guitar — 1991–1994
* Ivan Gonzalez — keyboards — 1991–1994
* Sheila Rios — backup vocals — 1992–2003

Discography

Sombrero Verde

(before Maná)
* 1981 '' Sombrero Verde''
* 1983 '' A Tiempo de Rock''

Maná

* 1987 '' Maná''
* 1990 '' Falta Amor''
* 1992 '' ¿Dónde Jugarán los Niños?''
* 1995 ''Cuando los Ángeles Lloran''
* 1997 ''Sueños Líquidos''
* 1999 '' MTV Unplugged''
* 2002 ''Revolución de Amor''
* 2006 ''Amar es Combatir''
* 2011 ''Drama y Luz''
* 2015 ''Cama Incendiada''

Tours

* 1993–1995: ¿Dónde Jugarán Los Niños? Tour
* 1998: Liquido Tour
* 1999: Unplugged U.S. Tour
* 2002–2003: Revolución de Amor Tour
* 2007–2008: Amar es Combatir Tour
* 2011–2014: Drama y Luz World Tour
* 2015: Cama Incendiada Tour
* 2016: Latino Power Tour
*2019: Rayando el Sol Tour

Awards

See also

* Chico Mendes
* '' Yo amo a Juan Querendón'' (Mexican telenovela)

References

External links

Maná official website

*

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mana

Latin Grammy Award winners
Grammy Award winners
Musical groups from Guadalajara, Jalisco
Mexican rock music groups
Rock en Español music groups
World Music Awards winners
Musical groups established in 1986
1986 establishments in Mexico
Warner Music Latina artists
Latin pop music groups
Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year honorees