Artists Who Have Done Well Include Shakira, Botero, Gabriel Garcia Marquez...Colombians are creative and artistic, Fernando Botero, Shakira, Gabriel Garcia Marquez are among the most famous. Colombians are lovers of the arts, music and dance. Incredible and diversified nature fosters this in it's people, celebration sums up the Colombians joy for life. There are a few famous people from Colombia known to the world, if Colombia happened to be English speaking I am sure there would be many more on the list. The following short summary of Shakira are the observations of my wife who happened to attend the same modeling school although Shakira was some years younger at the time. SHAKIRA (Full of Grace) Her name was chosen by her mother. SHAKIRA ISABELL MEBARAK RIPOLL. Mother Nidia Ripoll Born in Barranquilla in the Clinic La Asuncion and spent a good part of her life in Curramba, the typical name used by residents of Barranquilla for their city for it’s happy spirit and great progress. She attended school at Nuestra Señora de la Enseñanza (Our Lady of the Teaching) in the north of the city. Her childhood and adolescence were lived in a closed middle class residential complex called Villa Paraiso in the north of Barranquilla. Shakira wrote her first song when she was 8 years old and at 14 recorded her first album. During her adolescent years she studied at the modeling school Passarela. It was during the final years that she found her direction and style. When people viewed her presentations like the graduation of the models people were left surprised at her grace and professionalism for her young age. As a child she liked to sing and dance and may have inherited her talent for Arabic dance from her father who was Lebanese (Christian). Her father helped her a lot to find the perfect fusion of rhythm, style, sound and dance, to help her find her own style for her future profession. She did try acting on Colombian television but found that it was not her strength. You can see her own unique style in her videos, the designs of the clothing, the movements and the songs that mark her own unique style. She liked the songs of the Mexican singer Yury when she was younger and could do an exceptional imitation. Her hero is Jesus and her personality is caring, honest and transparent and her serene smile and dark eyes present the nobility of her soul. Favorite food is seafood. Preferred singing style is Ballads and Pop, a dreamer of peace and happiness and the love of your neighbor and a special love for children. This is the reason that she works every day for her foundation PIES DESCALZOS meaning Bare Feet and through her songs and her force to bring happiness and hope. She now lives in Nassau Bahamas Carlos Vives Grammy winner, was born and spent his early years growing up in Santa Marta, where he now spends part of his time. Gabriel Garcia Marquez , Nobel Prize winning author for his novel 100 Years Of Solitude writes about Santa Marta in the novel The General in His Labrinth, although it was about Santa Marta during the time of the great liberator Simon Bolivar, the early 1800's. Born in the town of Aracataca about 44 miles due south of Santa Marta as the crow flies. Artist Fernando Botero, painter, sculpture was born in Medellin (City of Eternal Spring) April 19, 1932, known for his round and fat sculptures and paintings. Juanes , Grammy winner, born August 9, 1972 in Carolina del Príncipe, Antioquia, he does humanitarian work aiding Colombian victims of antipersonnel mines founding the Mi Sangria Foundation, he recently held a concert in Cuba for this cause. There was a concern as there were many Cuban Americans opposed to the concert living in Miami which is where he now resides. Pablo Montoya, race car driver, born September 20, 1975 in Bogota, he has won the Indianapolis 500, 24 hours at Daytona, and now competes in NASCAR. He is listed as one of the top 50 Formula 1 drivers of all time. Carlos Alberto Valderrama Palacio known as El Pibe was born September 2, 1961 in Santa Marta, Colombia and is Colombias most famous soccer player.
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