Rubén Rada

Rubén 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, [http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Kinto 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 and TV shows such as "Radar" (radio) and "El Teléfono" (TV).

Since October 2007 he also stars in a sitcom called "La oveja negra" ("The black sheep").

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

Discography

Solo albums

*Las Manzanas (1969)
*Rada (1972)
*Radeces (1975)
*La Rada (1981)
*En familia (1982)
*Botija de mi país (1987)
*Pa' los uruguayos (1989)
*Físico de Rock (1991)
*Montevideo (1996)
*Miscelánea negra (1997)
*Black (1998)
*Rada para niños (1999)
*Quien va a cantar (2000)
*Alegre caballero (2002)
*Candombe jazz tour (2004)
*Richie Silver (2006)
*Bailongo (2008)

Compilations

*Lo mejor de Rada Vol. I (Comp.) (1993)
*Lo mejor de Rada Vol. II (Comp.) (1997)
*Tengo un candombe para Gardel (Comp.) (1998)

Collaborations

*Circa 1968 (1968)
*Musicasión 4½ (1970)
*Tótem (1971)
*Descarga (1972)
*Camerata Punta del Este (1974)
*La banda (1980)
*Las aventuras de Rada y Lito Nebbia (1990)
*Concierto Por la Vida (1992)
*Botijas Band con Rubén Rada (1996)
*Rada en colores (1998)
*Montevideo II (1999)

ee also

*Uruguayan rock
*Candombe
*Tótem

External links

* [http://www.rada.com.uy Rubén Rada's official Web site]
* [http://www.emimusica.com.ar/comunicacion/rada-richie-silver/index-flash.html Official Web site for Richie Silver album]