Stars that said yes to Formula Latina
 
(Bogota, July 27, 2009) Thanks to the efforts of Juan Pablo Montoya, Connie Freydell and IMR, important stars of Latin music have become aware of the cause and will make the effort to add another show to their busy schedule, in order to collaborate with the Formula Smiles Foundation and bring a spectacle to a public that will give a contribution and receive in exchange a unique event such as the one they will have the opportunity to attend next Wednesday, August 26, at the Intercontinental Playa Bonita Spa & Resort in City of Panama.

Formula Latina is a concert in benefit of the 4800 underprivileged Colombian children to whom new opportunities are being offered through sports and healthy recreation, in order to take them away from drugs and violence. “With sports we take the children away from the war”

As of right now, and 31 days away from the concert, the following artists have said yes:

• Luis Fonsi
• Gaitanes
• Zion y Lenox
• R.K.M & Ken Y
• Voz Veis
• Beto Cuevas
• Peter Manjarres
• Danny Marin
• Jerau
• Gabielle

FORMULA SMILES FOUNDATION: It is a non-profit organization with status 501(c)(3) created in the United States by the Colombian race car driver Juan Pablo Montoya and his wife Connie Freydell in the year 2003, with the purpose of improving the quality of life of Colombian children in vulnerable situations through sports.
“Education + Sports = The Best Formula” is an integral educational program that complements the academic formation of highly underprivileged children in Colombia through sports, physical education classes and recreation. The program strengthens their values and teaches them how to use their free time better, leading them to have a more promising future, away from drugs and violence. At the moment, this program benefits 4800 children of vulnerable neighborhoods in Cartagena, San Andres, Villavicencio and Ibague through the suitability of sport settings, the provision of the necessary implements to practice the different sport disciplines, and the support to the educational institutions adjacent to the sector by hiring Physical Education teachers that are also competent in the formation of values.

LUIS FONSI Puerto Rican singer, musician, producer and composer. At the age of 32, he has released his latest album, “Palabras del Silencio” (“Words of Silence“), which he has denominated his most important album to date. In his career he has received important recognitions, such as Male Pop Artist of the Year in the “Lo Nuestro” (“Ours”) Awards in two consecutive times and even the maximum award of the Gaviota de Oro (Gold Seagull) in the important musical festival of Viña del Mar (Vineyard of the Sea). He has also received multiple Gold and Platinum albums in markets such as Puerto Rico, The United States, Venezuela, Chile and Spain, among others; and number one in the prestigious Billboard publication for themes such as ‘Nada Es Para Siempre’, ‘Imagíname Sin Ti’, ‘Abrazar La Vida’ and ‘Tu Amor’. Those same songs are some of the responsible for the sales of millions of albums on an international level. The singer is a graduate of the prestigious Florida State University School of Music, where he culminated his professional music education. Important figures of the musical pentagram, such as Olga Tañon, Victor Manuelle and Ednita Nazario, rely on him as a composer, having selected his songs to be a part of their records. He has shared with each of them his gift for composition and production of themes that in mere weeks have become big hits capturing important positions in the Billboard list.

GAITANES Ricardo and Alberto, recognized internationally as singers, producers and compositors of the size of Marc Anthony, Ricky Martin, Paulina Rubio and Gloria Estefan, among others. Recipients of multiple awards, among them: ‘El Premio ASCAP” Awards, BMI, Billboard Music Awards and Latin Grammys. Performers of themes such as “Mi Amor No Es Un Favor,” “Hazme Sentir,” “No Juegues Conmigo,” “Quien” and their most recent hit “Tengo Tantas Cosas,” which they sing with Sammy and Sandra Sandoval.

ZION & LENNOX Zion (Felix Ortiz) and Lennox (Gabriel Pizzaro) were born in Carolina, Puerto Rico. They were neighbors and shared a common interest in Rap, Hip Hop, and Dance Hall. In May, 2004, they released their first album titled “Motivando a la Yal.” This has been a musical impact in the United States, Europe, and Latin America. The music of Zion and Lennox has been very different from that of other artists of the same genre, given that it deals with love (in the way of 70’s R&B), but without excess of sex or lyrics related to it. Zion decided to go solo in 2007, cultivating many hits. Afterwards he got back together with Lennox during a concert in their native Puerto Rico, and now they work in their third album titled "Past, Present & Future.”

R.K.M. & Ken Y Denominated as the most important romantic duo of reggaeton because of their important way of interpreting love and feeling in their songs. They became known in 2002 when they collaborated with Q-Mack. Afterward they had the opportunity to work with artists of the category of Nicky Jam, Lito & Polaco, and Zion & Lennox. Their shows captured the attention of the businessman Raphy Pina, president of Pina Records, who hired them to be a part of his group of artists. Their first album, “Masterpiece,” has sold more than 10 million copies worldwide; on December of the same year they released their first CD/DVD “Masterpiece: World Tour,” which sold 1.5 million copies worldwide (500,000 in the United States) and their penultimate album, “The Commemorative Edition,” has sold approximately 5 million copies worldwide. They have already sold more than 17 million copies of their albums worldwide. They released their new album “The Royalty” at the beginning of September, after one year without recording an album.

VOZ VEIS Six young men from Venezuela make up this vocal group that has achieved success, awards (2 Grammys) and the admiration of the Latin public. Voz Veis has four records (“Virao,” “Vas,” “Como Se Llega A Belen” and “Que Me Has Hecho Tu?”). With the first one (“Virao“), Voz Veis was able to have their songs for many months at the top of the music lists in Latin America; the sales also reached Platinum and Gold albums in different countries. With “Como Se Llega A Belen,” they won the first two Grammy Awards of any artist from Venezuela. Kike Santander is a part of the producing team for their latest album, and sees them as the most promising singers and compositors of the world of music in Spanish.

BETO CUEVAS Luis Alberto Cuevas Olmedo was born in Santiago de Chile and was the lead singer for the band La Ley for more than 15 years. With his bandmates Mauricio Claveria and Pedro Frugone, he traveled through Latin America, the United States, and part of Europe. He was submerged in the whirl of success of the band with unforgettable songs such as “El Duelo,” “Aquí,” “Fuera de Mí” and “Cielo Market,” among others. In 2008, Beto Cuevas released his first solo album, “Miedo Escenico,” in which he composed, produced and played his new songs, besides getting involved in the visual concept with his role as graphic designer. The auditory work of Beto presents creations such as “El Cínico,” “Hablame,” “Un Minuto de Silencio” and “Vuelvo.”

PETER MANJARRES This Colombian singer, born in Valledupar, is one of the most important expositors of the genre of music known as vallenato in Colombia. With a long trajectory in music and a great number of hits in music lists, Peter was one of the Colombian artists who received a Latin Grammy in the year 2008 with his album “Solo Clasicos,” as well as innumerable awards such as Gold Albums, “Premios Luna” Awards, and Congos de Oro.

DANNY MARIN From a very early age, this Colombian fed his passion for merengue. He became known with songs such as “Loco Amor” and “Barranquilla,” besides his catch phrase “Pero con Swing” (“But with Swing”). His particular style and charisma led him to be the most important Colombian artist in the merengue genre. After a break in his recording career, due to his participation as singer in the orchestra of Wilfrido Vargas for many years, he decided to return to the music world, recording for 2008 the production titled “Mas”, from which he released the single “Como Me Duele” in 2007. The singles for 2009 are “Mi Historia Entre Tus Dedos” and “Mas Dulce Que Tu”. This record is the result of several months of recording in the Dominican republic under the direction of Danny Marin and various Dominican musicians from the staff of important artists such as Juan Luis Guerra and Wilfrido Vargas.

GABIELLE A young Colombian artist born in Barranquilla on March 26, 1992. A happy, passionate, committed and outgoing young woman, who showed musical talent from a very young age. She has had the privilege of being surrounded by excellent musicians that have contributed valuable experiences and lessons to her life. She participated in Factor X (The X Factor), where she reinforced her knowledge and learned from the talent and abilities of others. For many years she has interpreted a great variety of genres, which makes her an integral and versatile artist.

JERAU Gerardo Rodriguez de La Rosa, singer-songwriter born in Cartagena, that in less than three years has captivated young people with his happy music and simple lyrics. Thanks to the hits from his first album, “Estas Conmigo”, “Enamorándome de ti”, “Conquista”, “Amor Imposible” and “Feeling”, from his new production “Facil de Amar”, he has obtained the following recognitions:
2 SHOCK Awards, after 6 nominations in less than a year, “Best Male Artist - 2006” and “Best Voice of the Year - 2007”; nominated by the chain 40 Principales from Spain as Best Colombian Artist in 2007; “Best Tropical Pop Solo Artist or Group of the Year” 2008 in the Nuestra Tierra Awards after 4 nominations; and 2 Luna Awards as “Best Tropical Pop Artist” 2007 - 2008. He has started the year 2009 on the right foot, with 3 nominations to the “Nuestra Tierra” Awards as “Best Tropical Pop Artist of the Year”, “Best Song of the Public” and “Best Tropical Pop Interpretation of the Year” for “Feeling,” from his most recent album “Facil de Amar.” Jerau already has a Golden album in Colombia thanks to the sales of his first album “Estas Conmigo,” and is currently promoting his most recent single “Volver a Sonreir” from his second album “Facil de Amar.” This album features “Feeling” as the first single and “El Viajero” as a bonus track, song which he recorded as a tribute to Joe Arroyo, Latin music icon.