Edgardo Franco

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El General

Edgardo Franco (born September 27, 1969 in Panama City ), better known by his stage name El General , is a Panamanian musician and DJ . He is considered one of the pioneers of the reggaeton music genre .

Franco's stage name El General is based on the fact that at the beginning of his career a friend gave him a naval uniform after completing his military service. Franco wore this uniform from then on at his concerts.

biography

Franco, who grew up in a poor and multicultural neighborhood called Río Abajo , particularly influenced by the Caribbean, began to write his own songs at the age of 12, in which he addressed everyday life in his residential area. In 1985 he emigrated to his mother in the USA and completed his final years of school there.

In 1988 he resumed writing songs. In the same year, a Jamaican producer noticed him and offered him the production of a single. Tu Pun Pun , a dancehall title, soon became a hit in the US Spanish-speaking scene; the title is still very popular in discos in Latin America. In 1991 El General released his debut album Estas Buena , the title track Te ves Buena becoming one of his greatest hits.

In the same year he was inspired by a title of the Jamaican Shabba Ranks called Dem Bow for a cover version called Son Bow . This had far-reaching consequences for his musical career, as the straight drum computer rhythm of this title, which still characterizes reggaeton today, became the most important basis of his songs from now on. Also in 1991 he released his second album Muevelo , which included Son Bow and a remix by Te Ves Buena .

In the course of the 90s El General released numerous other albums and also developed musically, using elements from other styles, such as: B. Samba and Merengue , integrated into his music. In 1998 his first best-of album was released, called Grandes Exitos . He has also received numerous prizes, including a Grammy nomination as well as 17 platinum and 32 gold records . Latinos A Ganar was also the anthem of the Latin American football teams at the 1994 World Cup .

In 2004 Franco retired from the stage. In December 2016, he stated on JW Broadcasting online that his desire to return to Jehovah's Witnesses was a key factor in ending his music career. Today he works as a producer and businessman (he runs the label ARPA Music ) and is involved in his own social project Niños Pobres Sin Fronteras (Poor Children Without Borders) in his hometown, where he also works as a presenter on a radio show for children.

Discography (excerpt)

Albums
  • 1991: Estas Buena
  • 1991: Muevelo con El General
  • 1992: El Poder de El General
  • 1995: Es Mundial
  • 1995: Clubb 555
  • 1997: Rapa Pan Pan
  • 1997: Move it Up
  • 2001: Is Back
  • 2001: Back to the Original
  • 2002: Juntos
  • 2002: El General de Fiesta
  • 2003: To Rap-Eao
  • 2004: La Ficha Clave

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Edgardo Franco: Use Your Talent for Jehovah. In: JW BROADCASTING. Retrieved December 18, 2016 .
personal data
SURNAME Franco, Edgardo
ALTERNATIVE NAMES General, El (stage name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Panamanian musician and DJ
DATE OF BIRTH September 27, 1969
PLACE OF BIRTH Panama City