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Latin rock superstars Mana got their start in the Mexican city of Guadalajara in 1986 when singer Fher Olvero, guitarist Ulises Calleros, brother and bassist Juan Diego Calleros, and Cuban-Colombian drummer Alex Gonzalez joined together, initially signing with Polygram. Unsatisfied with the direction in which the label wanted to take them, they switched to Warner Music by the time their debut, Falta Amor, was released in 1992. Shortly after, however, Ulises left and was replaced by keyboardist Ivan Gonzalez and guitarist Cesar Lopez, who remained with the group only for their seminal 1994 album, Donde Jugaran los Ninos?, the record that propelled them into the ranks of Latin rock stardom. En Vivo, which captured the energy of Mana's live show, was released in 1995, the same year that the new guitarist, Sergio Vallin, made his first appearance on Cuando Los Angeles Lloren. After Suenos Liquidos came out in 1997, the band began to receive heavy global attention, particularly in the U.S., which was solidified after the release of MTV Unplugged in 1999 and an appearance on Carlos Santana's record Supernatural with the song "Corazon Espinado." The guitarist returned the favor when he performed on Mana's 2002 Revolucion de Amor, the record that definitively showed them for the stars they were and gave them a Grammy for Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album. Four years later, the band's sixth studio album, Amar Es Combatir, recorded at Miami's The Hit Factory, was released. In it's first week, Amar Es Combatir became the highest charting and biggest debut for a Spanish-language album (by a group) on The Billboard 200. ~ Marisa Brown, All Music Guide |
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