Miguel Rafael Martos Sánchez (born May 5, 1943), often simply referred to as Raphael, is a worldwide acclaimed Spanish singer and television, film and theatre actor. A pioneer of modern Spanish music, he is considered a major influence in having opened the door and paving the way to the flood of Spanish singers that follow. His wide-range voice, added to his quality as showman, has entertained and engaged people worldwide for more than five decades.

Childhood

Professional career

When he was nineteen, he won first, second and third awards at the famous Benidorm International Song Festival, Spain, 1962, with the songs: "Llevan", "Inmensidad" and "Tu Conciencia". After a brief relation with Barclay record label, who produced just an EP, he signed contract with Hispavox recording company, and began a long artistic relationship with the musical director of this label, the late, talented argentinian orchestrator Waldo de los Ríos and intensify the partnership with outstanding Spanish songwriter Manuel Alejandro.

In 1966 and 1967 he represented Spain at the XII and XIII Eurovision Song Contest in Luxembourg, singing "Yo soy aquél" and Vienna, "Hablemos del amor" and placing both 7º and 6º position, although he did not win. It was the first time that Spain obtained a high place in the competition,leaving the door ready for the next year victory which Spain got with "La, la, la", another song of modern style too,which for political reasons still in Spain then was sung instead by Massiel. This served as a turning point in Raphael's career, making him an international star. He traveled and performed worldwide in Europe, Latin America, the United States, Russia and Japan. Songs such as "Yo soy aquel" (his signature song), "Cuando tú no estás", "Mi gran noche", "Digan lo que digan", "Tema de amor", "Estuve enamorado" and "Desde aquel día" cemented his status as a major international singing star.

Latin American popularity

He appeared live on ''The Ed Sullivan Show'' with great success on October 25, 1970, singing (in Spanish, English and Italian) "Hallelujah" and "Hava Nagila." He appeared again on December 27, 1970, with the songs "Maybe"(Somos), "When my love is around" (Cuando llega mi amor) and "The sound of the trumpet" (Balada de la trompeta).

In 1975, Raphael began his own successful program on Spanish Television called "El Mundo de Raphael", where he sang with international stars. He also had a radio program, where he and his wife spoke with and interviewed outstanding personalities, and he starred in soap operas, starting with the Mexican production "Donde termina el camino", shown in the spring of 1978 and later in other countries like Peru and Chile.

Raphael succeeded in the early 1980s with songs such as "¿Qué tal te va sin mí?", "Como yo te amo", "En carne viva" and "Estar enamorado." In 1981, he was awarded with the Uranium Disk for exceeded sales over 50 million albums around the world on Hispavox record label. During 1984 and 1985 he recorded two albums with songs written by José Luis Perales like "Ámame", "Yo sigo siendo aquel", "Dile que vuelva", "Y... Cómo es él" and "Estoy llorando hoy por ti".

In 1984 a parody of ''"Yo soy aquél"'' was used in a radio spot in Puerto Rico's gubernatorial race. Then-governor Carlos Romero Barceló used the parody (complete with a Raphael sound-alike) namely as a jab against opponent, Raphael's namesake, (and noted Spanophile), former governor Rafael Hernández Colón. Raphael was surprised by the unauthorized use of the music, but was highly amused by the reference.

In 1987 he left Hispavox and signed a contract with Columbia (now Sony Music), where he again recorded songs written by Roberto Livi like "Toco madera", "Maravilloso corazón". In 1991 he had a hit with "Escándalo" in Spain, Latin America, and in Japan, where it reached number one. At the end of the 90s, after ending a contract with PolyGram, he went back to EMI. In 1998 the artist published the first part of his memories: "¿Y mañana qué?", from his childhood until his marriage in 1972.

Raphael took part in the 2000 Spanish version of the stage musical ''Jekyll & Hyde'' for seven months, with great success.

Personal life

Raphael's health faced a major setback in 2003, when his liver started failing due to a latent bout with Hepatitis B; he recovered successfully after a transplant. Since then he is an active organ donation promoter.

Awards and accomplishments

Raphael can be singled out as one of the most important singers in the Spanish language for the second half of the twentieth century, along with Joan Manuel Serrat, Camilo Sesto, Juan Gabriel, Julio Iglesias, Luis Miguel, Rocío Dúrcal, Rocío Jurado and José José.

Discography

Filmography

External links

Category:1945 births Category:Living people Category:People from Jaén (province) Category:Spanish Eurovision Song Contest entrants Category:Eurovision Song Contest entrants of 1966 Category:Eurovision Song Contest entrants of 1967 Category:Spanish male singers Category:Andalusian musicians Category:Spanish-language singers Category:People from Madrid

Early life

She is legally the daughter of Italian concert pianist Marisa Borini and industrialist and classical composer Alberto Bruni Tedeschi. However, in 2008 Bruni told ''Vanity Fair'' that her biological father is Italian-born, Brazilian grocery magnate Maurizio Remmert, a young classical guitarist who had a six-year affair with her mother. Her sister is actress and movie director Valeria Bruni Tedeschi. She had a brother, Virginio Bruni Tedeschi (1959–4 July 2006), who died from complications of HIV/AIDS.

From her biological father, she has a half-sister, Consuelo Remmert.

Career

1987–1996: early career and modeling

1997–2005: music career and debut album

In 2002, her debut album ''Quelqu'un m'a dit'', produced by Louis Bertignac, was released in Europe with success in Francophone countries. Three songs from the album appear in Hans Canosa's 2005 American film ''Conversations with Other Women'', the song ''Le Plus Beau du quartier'' was used in H&M;'s Christmas 2006 commercial, and the title track was featured in the 2003 movie ''Le Divorce'' and in the 2009 movie ''(500) Days of Summer''. In January 2010, her song "L'amoureuse" was featured in an episode of NBC's ''Chuck'', "Chuck vs. First Class".

In 2005, she wrote the lyrics for ten out of twelve songs for Louis Bertignac's new album ''Longtemps'', and performed two duets with him on the album, ''Les Frôleuses'' and ''Sans toi''. In 2006, Bruni recorded "Those Little Things", an English-language translation of the Serge Gainsbourg song "Ces petits riens" for the tribute album ''Monsieur Gainsbourg Revisited''. She took part in the opening ceremony of the 2006 Winter Olympics in a parade paying tribute to the Italian flag.

2006–2008: ''No Promises'' and ''Comme si de rien n'était''

She continued recording after her marriage. She released her third album ''Comme si de rien n'était'' on 11 July 2008. The songs are self-penned except for one rendition of "You Belong to Me" and another song featuring Michel Houellebecq's poem ''La Possibilité d'une île'' set to music. Royalties from the album will be donated to unidentified charitable and humanitarian cause.

2009–present: new studio album and other projects

In September 2009, she recorded a duet with Harry Connick, Jr. for the French edition of his album ''Your Songs''. They sang the Beatles song "And I Love Her". The album was released in France on 26 October 2009.

Following months of speculation, in a television interview broadcast on 23 November 2009, Bruni revealed that she had accepted a role in a forthcoming Woody Allen film. She admitted her reasoning for embarking on the Paris production; "I'm not an actress at all. Perhaps I'll be completely hopeless but I can't miss an opportunity like this one. When I'm a grandmother I'd like to be able to say I made a film with Woody Allen." The film, ''Midnight in Paris'', was released in 2011; Bruni appeared as a guide at the Musée Rodin, who discusses sculptor Auguste Rodin with the leading characters.

In September 2010, she contributed a cover of David Bowie's "Absolute Beginners" to the War Child charity record We Were So Turned On : a tribute to David Bowie (Manimal Vinyl). They also released the track as a split 7" vinyl split with UK legends, Duran Duran.

Italian singer/songwriter Simone Cristicchi’s entry in the 2010 San Remo Italian Song Festival was the song “Meno Male”, with the chorus lyrics of “Meno male che c’è Carla Bruni” (“Thank goodness for Carla Bruni”). The song supposedly mocks Bruni and her husband, but Cristicchi stated in an interview for Italian television weekly TV Sorrisi e Canzoni that the song is about “our way of being Italian, [we are] always ready to follow any type of gossip and are disinterested in real problems”. Bruni was to be a guest singer at the 2010 San Remo festival but withdrew from participating, purportedly because she was offended by Cristicchi’s song.

Personal life

Marriage to Nicolas Sarkozy

Following her marriage to Sarkozy, in February 2008, Bruni continued accompanying him on state visits, including to the United Kingdom in March 2008, which created a sensation in the international press and the public in the UK and France. She has an office and staff at her disposal in the East wing of the Élysée Palace.

There was controversy on the eve of the state visit to the UK, with the publication by Christie's auction house of a nude photograph of Bruni taken during her career as a model. The photograph sold for $91,000. There was also great interest in Bruni's wardrobe, which was Christian Dior, seen as a diplomatic choice, being a French design house designed by John Galliano, a British designer. Another controversy was the use of a popular photo of the French President and Bruni in the print advertising of Ryanair. The couple was awarded damages by a French court which they donated to ''Les Restos du Cœur'', an organisation which provides meals to the homeless.

In December 2008, Bruni sued the makers of a bag featuring a nude shot of the French first lady taken during her supermodelling youth. Clothes designer Pardon has produced 10,000 of the shopping bags emblazoned with the nude photo taken in 1993, showing Bruni staring at the camera with her crossed hands covering her crotch.

On 19 October 2011, Carla Bruni gave birth to a baby girl, Giulia, in the ''Clinique de la Muette'', in Paris.

Philanthropy and charity work

In a letter of support to the association People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), she took a position against fur in fashion.

Carla Bruni-Sarkozy is involved in various charitable activities. She gave her royalties for her album ''Comme si de rien n’était'' to the Fondation de France, and supports different events or causes, such as the Born HIV Free campaign, animal rights, the Nelson Mandela foundation, the French association Aides for AIDS research, the French association ''La Chaîne de l'Espoir'' or the association Warchild UK. She also participated in a concert with Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin for the 91st birthday of Nelson Mandela, and recorded a song for the album ''We Were So Turned On: A Tribute to David Bowie''. She is involved in the promotion of young artists, and did a duet with French singer Marc Lavoine for the Prix Constantin, an annual French music prize awarded to newer artists. Furthermore, she supported French guitarist Jean-Pierre Danel's charity album, and sold a self-portrait to the benefit of third-world children. Bruni met the Dalai Lama in August 2008 at Lerab Ling, a Buddhist temple on a hill in Languedoc, France. Bruni received Pope Benedict XVI during his visit to France in September 2008. Bruni visited New York City in September 2008 with her husband, where she attended a meeting on poverty and female mortality with Queen Rania and Wendi Murdoch, met for lunch with First Lady Laura Bush at the Metropolitan Museum of Art for the Symposium on Advancing Global Literacy and attended the General Assembly in the UN with her husband. She also attended state dinners with the Emir of Qatar and wife and with Iraq's president in Paris in 2009. She and Sheikha Mozah (wife of Emir of Qatar) will be working together on the topic of education promotion. Bruni visited Doha on invitation of Sheikha Mozah in November 2009. She also took cause for a woman in Iran, Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani, fighting a death penalty by stoning.

In April 2009, Carla was awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Charles III on the occasion of the couple's Spanish State Visit.

In October 2009 she launched CarlaBruniSarkozy.org, a website largely dealing with her philanthropic work.

In January 2010, Carla visited Benin, her second visit as ambassador for The Global Fund. She also received Haitian orphans who survived the Haiti 2010 earthquake and were adopted by French families.

She has been critical of Pope Benedict XVI on the controversial topic of religion and AIDS. According to Le Canard Enchainé, Bruni was asked by Vatican officials not to join her husband in an official visit for fear that the Italian newspapers would reprint racy pictures dating from her modelling career.

In late August 2010, Iran's state-run daily paper Kayhan called Bruni-Sarkozy a 'prostitute' after she had condemned the stoning sentence against Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani for adultery in an open letter, along with several French celebrities. The paper later also called for Bruni to be put to death for supporting Sakineh Ashtiani, and for what the paper described as Bruni's moral corruption and having had extra-marital affairs herself. Even though Kayhan is a state-sponsored paper and it continued its tirade against Bruni along with other state-run Iranian media, Iranian officials tried to distance themselves from that violent stance and openly condemned it, while a spokesman for the French Foreign Ministry criticized the comments as being 'unacceptable'. President Ahmedinejad also condemned the remark made by the paper.

Other relationships

The Enthovens

The affair and the end of her marriage inspired Justine's 2004 book ''Rien de Grave'' (published in English in 2005 as ''Nothing Serious'').

Bruni and Raphaël had a son, Aurélien, in 2001. Bruni told ''Vanity Fair'' that the couple broke up in May 2007 because Raphaël thought their relationship did not have a commitment.

Discography

Filmography

Further reading

References

External links

[[Category:1967 births Category:Living people Category:Audiogram artists Category:English-language singers Category:French female models Category:French female singers Category:French-language singers Category:French people of Italian descent Category:Italian emigrants to France Category:Naturalized citizens of France Category:Nicolas Sarkozy Category:People from Turin Category:Spouses of French presidents

Raphael Saadiq (born Charles Ray Wiggins in Oakland, California; May 14, 1966) is an American singer, songwriter and record producer. Saadiq has been a standard bearer for "old school" R&B; since his early days as a member of the multiplatinum group Tony! Toni! Toné! He also produced songs of such artists as TLC, Joss Stone, D'Angelo, Mary J. Blige, and John Legend. He and D'Angelo were occasional members of The Ummah, a music production collective, composed of members Q-Tip and Ali Shaheed Muhammad of A Tribe Called Quest, and the late Jay Dee (also known as J Dilla) of the Detroit-based group Slum Village.

Saadiq's critically acclaimed album, ''The Way I See It'', released on September 16, 2008, featuring artists Stevie Wonder, Joss Stone and Jay-Z, received three Grammy Award Nominations and was voted Best Album on iTunes of 2008. His fourth studio album, ''Stone Rollin''', was released on March 25, 2011. For the album, Saadiq worked with steel guitarist Robert Randolph; former Earth, Wind & Fire keyboardist Larry Dunn; Swedish/Japanese indie rock songstress Yukimi Nagano (of Little Dragon fame); plus hip hop newcomer Taura Stinson.

Early life

He has been playing the bass guitar since the age of six, and first began singing at age nine in a local gospel group. At the age of 12, he joined a group called "The Gospel Humminbirds". In 1984, shortly before his 18th birthday, Saadiq heard about tryouts in San Francisco for Sheila E.'s backing band on Prince's Parade Tour. At the audition, he chose the name "Raphael", and had difficulty remembering to respond to the name when he heard that he got the part to play bass in the band. He says of the experience, "Next thing I was in Tokyo, in a stadium, singin' Erotic City. We were in huge venues with the biggest sound systems in the world; all these roadies throwin' me basses, and a bunch of models hangin' round Prince to party. For almost two years. That was my university."

Career

Tony! Toni! Toné!

Tony! Toni! Toné! would become major R&B; superstars throughout the late-1980s and 1990s. However, after the 1996 album entitled ''House of Music'', which did produce several hits, nonetheless failed to duplicate previous success, Tony! Toni! Toné! went their separate ways.

Lucy Pearl

Solo work

"Ask of You"

''Instant Vintage''

''Ray Ray''

''All the Hits at the House of Blues''

''The Way I See It''

''The Way I See It'' was released in September 2008. Touring with a nine piece band, Saadiq hit the 2009 summer music festival circuit with performances at Bonnaroo, Hollywood Bowl, Outside Lands, Pori Jazz Festival, Stockholm Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz, Essence Music Festival, Summer Spirit Festival, and Nice Jazz Festival, Bumbershoot Music Festival and Austin City Limits. Saadiq has been touring Europe extensively, and held a five-night residency at the House of Blues in Tokyo, Japan in June 2009.

Music from ''The Way I See It'' is featured in the following motion pictures: ''Madea Goes To Jail'', ''Bride Wars'', ''Cadillac Records'', ''Secret Life of Bees'', ''In Fighting (Rogue)'', and ''It's Complicated''.

''Stone Rollin'''

Music producer

His 2000 song collaboration "Untitled (How Does It Feel)" won D'Angelo a Grammy Award for Best Male R&B; Vocal Performance; it was also nominated for Grammy Award for Best R&B; Song. The song was ranked #4 on ''Rolling Stone'''s "End of Year Critics & Readers Poll" of the top singles of 2000. D'Angelo's album ''Voodoo'' won a Grammy Award for Best R&B; Album at the 2001 Grammy Awards.

In 2004, Saadiq produced a remix of the song "Crooked Nigga Too" by the late Tupac Shakur which is featured on the album ''Loyal To The Game''.

In 2007, Saadiq produced ''Introducing Joss Stone'', the third album of British soul singer Joss Stone.

He produced songs for LeToya Luckett's forthcoming second album ''Lady Love'', released August 2009.

In 2009, Saadiq produced "Please Stay" and "Love Never Changes" for Ledisi's August 2009 release "Turn Me Loose". Saadiq also was the executive producer for an emerging group called Tha Boogie. Tha Boogie's first EP was released on iTunes and is titled ''Love Tha Boogie, Vol. 1 (Steal This Sh*t)''.

Other artists he has collaborated with include Whitney Houston, Mary J. Blige, The Isley Brothers, A Tribe Called Quest, Teedra Moses, The Roots, Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, Macy Gray, Angie Stone, Snoop Dogg, Devin the Dude, DJ Quik, Kelis, Q-Tip, Lil' Skeeter, Ludacris, The Bee Gees, Musiq Soulchild, Jaguar Wright, Chanté Moore, Lionel Richie, Marcus Miller, Noel Gourdin, Nappy Roots, Calvin Richardson, T-Boz from TLC, Floetry, Leela James, Amp Fiddler, John Legend, Joss Stone, Young Bellz, Anthony Hamilton, Babyface, Ledisi, Goapele, Ghostface Killah, Ginuwine, Stevie Wonder, Earth, Wind & Fire, Bilal, Chali 2na, Larry Graham, Luniz as well as many others.

Other

In 2008, Saadiq formed a new label called Velma Records, a place where Raphael promises "people can express themselves like I did with ''The Way I See It''... where they can dream something up and just go with it".

In 2009, Saadiq announced his video game development company called IllFonic. The first video game in development by IllFonic is titled ''Ghetto Golf'', with an expected release late in 2010.

In 2009, Saadiq teamed up Bentley Kyle Evans, Jeff Franklin, Martin Lawrence, and Trenten Gumbs to create a new sitcom called ''Love That Girl!'' starring Tatyana Ali. Raphael is an executive producer and composer for ''Love That Girl!''. The show is currently in development.

In 2010, Saadiq sang as part of the chorus in the 2010 remake of "We Are the World" for Haiti.

Saadiq recorded an unreleased remake of The Spinners' song "Its A Shame".

In 2011, Saadiq was the guitarist/bandleader for the group backing Mick Jagger for Jagger's tribute performance of the Solomon Burke R&B; classic, "Everybody Needs Somebody to Love" at the 53rd Grammy Awards in Los Angeles and on CBS. The band that accompanied the performance was Saadiq's touring band called Stone Rollin.

In 2011 he and his band performed as the ESPY's house band for the night, where he performed his latest compositions.

Awards/Nominations

Discography

Singles

References

External links

Category:1966 births Category:African American musicians Category:African American male singers Category:American male singer-songwriters Category:American rhythm and blues singers Category:American soul singers Category:Neo soul singers Category:Columbia Records artists Category:Grammy Award winners Category:Living people Category:People from Oakland, California

Raphael (Standard Hebrew רָפָאֵל, ''Rāfāʾēl'', "It is God who heals", "God Heals", "God, Please Heal", Arabic: إسرافيل‎, ''Isrāfāʾīl'') is an archangel of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, who in the Judeo-Christian tradition performs all manners of healing.

Raphael in Judaism

Raphael is named in several Jewish apocryphal books (see below).

Raphael in the Book of Enoch

:''"And again the Lord said to Raphael: 'Bind Azazel hand and foot, and cast him into the darkness: and make an opening in the desert, which is in Dudael, and cast him therein. And place upon him rough and jagged rocks, and cover him with darkness, and let him abide there for ever, and cover his face that he may not see light. And on the day of the great judgment he shall be cast into the fire."''

Of seven archangels in the angelology of post-Exilic Judaism, only Michael, mentioned as archangel (Daniel 12:1)(Jude verse 9) and Gabriel are mentioned by name in the scriptures that came to be accepted as canonical by all Christians. Raphael is mentioned by name in the Book of Tobit, which is accepted as canonical by Catholics, Anglicans and Orthodox. Four others, however, are named in the 2nd century BC ''Book of Enoch'' (chapter xxi): Uriel, Raguel, Sariel, and Jarahmeel.

The root of the name ''Raphael'' also appears in the modern Hebrew word ''Rophe'' meaning doctor of medicine, thus echoing the healing function traditionally attributed to this angel.

Raphael in Christianity

Regarding the healing powers attributed to Raphael, we have little more than his declaration to Tobit (''Tobit'', 12) that he was sent by the Lord to heal him of his blindness and to deliver Sarah, his future daughter-in-law, from the demon Asmodeus, who abducts and kills every man she marries on their wedding night before the marriage can be consummated. Among Catholics, he is considered the patron saint of medical workers, matchmakers, and travellers and may be petitioned by them or those needing their services.

The feast day of Raphael was included for the first time in the General Roman Calendar in the year 1921, for celebration on October 24. With the reform of the Roman Catholic Calendar of Saints in 1969, this feast was transferred to September 29 for celebration together with Saint Michael and Saint Gabriel. Within limits, the Roman Catholic Church still authorizes use of the 1962 calendar. The Church of England also celebrates "Michael and All Angels" on September 29.

Raphael has made only a light impression on Catholic geography: Saint Raphaël, France and Saint Raphaël, Quebec, Canada; San Rafaels in Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, Peru, the Philippines and in Venezuela as San Rafael de Mohán and San Rafael de Orituco. In the United States, San Rafaels inherited from Mexico survive in California (where besides the city there are San Rafael Mountains), in New Mexico, and in Utah, where the San Rafael River flows seasonally in the San Rafael Desert. The Archangel also lends his name to St. Raphael's Cathedral, the seat of the Diocese of Madison, Wisconsin, to St. Raphael's Cathedral, the seat of the Archdiocese of Dubuque, and to Mission San Rafael Arcángel in San Rafael, California.

In the New Testament, only the archangels Gabriel and Michael are mentioned by name (Luke 1:9-26; Jude 1:9). Later manuscripts of John 5:1-4 refer to the pool at Bethesda, where the multitude of the infirm lay awaiting the moving of the water, for "an angel of the Lord descended at certain times into the pond; and the water was moved. And he that went down first into the pond after the motion of the water was made whole of whatsoever infirmity he lay under". Because of the healing role assigned to Raphael, this particular angel is generally associated with the archangel.

Raphael is sometimes shown (usually on medallions) as standing atop a large ''fish'' or holding a caught fish at the end of a line. This is a reference to ''Book of Tobit (Tobias)'', where he told Tobias to catch a fish, and then uses the gallbladder to heal Tobit's eyes, and to drive away Asmodeus by burning the heart and liver.

Raphael in Islam

Raphael in ''Paradise Lost''

See also

References

External links

Raffaele Gualazzi (born 11 November 1981 in Urbino), better known as Raphael Gualazzi, is an Italian singer and pianist.

Biography

''Love Outside the Window''

In 2008, Gualazzi recorded a cover of "Georgia on My Mind" for the compilation ''Piano Jazz'', released in France by Wagram Music.

Sanremo Festival

On 18 February 2011 he won the Sanremo Festival in the Newcomers section, the Critics' "Mia Martini" Award for Newcomers and the "Sala Radio-Tv" Award with the self-penned song "Follia d'amore". The song is included in Gualazzi's second studio album, ''Reality and Fantasy'', released on 16 February 2011 by Sugar Music.

Eurovision Song Contest 2011

Discography

Albums

EPs

Singles

Music videos

References

Category:Italian male singers Category:Italian-language singers Category:Pianists Category:1981 births Category:Living people Category:People from Urbino Category:Eurovision Song Contest entrants of 2011 Category:Italian Eurovision Song Contest entrants