El General facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
El General
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El General at the 1993 Viña del Mar Festival
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| Background information | |
| Born | 27 September 1969 Panama City, Panama |
| Genres |
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| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1990–2006 |
| Labels |
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Edgardo Armando Franco (born on September 27, 1969), known as El General, is a famous Panamanian singer. Many people see him as one of the pioneers of Reggae en Español, which is reggae music sung in Spanish.
In the early 1990s, El General helped start a new style of reggae called Spanish-language dancehall. His songs "Te Ves Buena" and "Tu Pum Pum" became very popular around the world. These songs were sung in a special Spanish deejaying style. After his success, many other Spanish dancehall artists also became famous. He has a unique and catchy style of dance music, and many of his songs are well-known across Latin America.
El General stopped making music in 2004. He then became one of Jehovah's Witnesses.
Contents
Early Life and Music
How El General Started Singing
El General began singing and writing songs when he was just 12 years old. He grew up in Río Abajo, Panama. His family has roots in Jamaica.
Many people from Jamaica, Barbados, and Trinidad moved to Panama. They came to work on building the Panama Canal. These workers faced tough conditions, including low pay. They also experienced unfair treatment and were kept separate from others.
The Rise of Spanish Reggae
While El General was growing up, Spanish Reggae became popular in Panama. In the 1980s, this music used popular Jamaican riddims (which are instrumental beats). Singers would then rap or sing Spanish words over these beats. Using Caribbean sounds in Spanish Reggae was a way for artists to express themselves. It was also a form of peaceful protest against unfairness.
El General described himself as a "restless child." He would use everyday objects like buckets and flutes as instruments. He loved reggae music and was inspired by artists like Bob Marley and Burro Banton. When he was younger, he was part of a group called Renato and the Four Stars. This is where he got his nickname, "El General."
Moving to the United States
Later, El General received a scholarship. He moved to the United States to study business administration. He became a professional accountant. While studying, he also worked as an MC (Master of Ceremonies) at parties. He even opened shows for dancehall and hip-hop artists. His connections to Black communities in New York helped spread his music. This led to his first big hit, "Tu Pum Pum," becoming very popular in the 1990s.
Career Highlights and Influence
Breaking Through in Music
El General's big break came when he was featured on the song "Robi-Rob's Boriqua Anthem." This song was from C+C Music Factory's album, Anything Goes. He started working with Chino Rodriguez, a music industry expert. Chino convinced El General to sing a salsa song before his main performance. This happened at Madison Square Garden in New York. Fans were surprised and loved it!
Awards and Popular Songs
El General started his music career at 19. Over 17 years, his albums earned gold status 32 times. They also achieved platinum status 17 times. In Panama, popular reggae in Spanish is often called plena. Some of his biggest hits include "Muévelo" (1991), "Tu Pum Pum" (1991), "Rica y Apretadita", and "Te Ves Buena."
In 1992, El General won an MTV award for Best Latin Video for "Muévelo." The video was produced by Pablo "Pabanor" Ortiz and Erick "More" Morillo. In 1993, he won the Rap Artist of the Year Award at the Lo Nuestro Awards.
Reggae's Roots and Message
El General often spoke about the true roots of reggae music. He explained how the building of the Panama Canal led to many Jamaican people moving to Panama. He shared that his music was influenced by artists like Burro Banton and Bob Marley. He hoped his music would be accepted in Jamaica, as a sign of respect for reggae's home.
He also explained that reggae became a powerful way to protest. It was used to share information about daily life, news, or problems in the government. The Panama Canal connects trade routes between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Descendants of the Black workers brought a newer version of Jamaican reggae, called dancehall, to Panama. This made Panama a "multicultural melting pot."
Many reggaeton songs use a rhythm called dembow as their base. Reggae music was used by Black, low-income people in Panama City as a form of protest. Artists like Renato, who was in El General's former band, used their music to speak out.
El General's Lasting Impact
El General's success has been huge and very important for the Reggaeton genre today. After becoming famous worldwide in the early 1990s, his style of Spanish Reggae influenced "Underground" music. This "Underground" style later became what we know as Reggaetón in Puerto Rico. His success helped make Spanish-language reggae rap popular across Latin America and the Caribbean. El General's influence also shows the strong connection between Black communities in Panama, the Caribbean, and Caribbean-American communities in New York.
Retirement
In 2004, El General went on a farewell tour. He announced he was retiring from music to focus on producing. After a few years, he seemed to disappear from the music scene. In 2008, a video appeared where El General explained his return to the Jehovah's Witness faith. He said his time making music was a "dark era." He referred to his platinum records and awards as "trophies from the devil." El General is one of several Latin artists who have left Reggaeton for religious reasons.
Discography
- Tu pum pum (1990)
- Te Ves Buena (1990)
- Muévelo Con el General (1991)
- "Son Bow" (1990)
- "No Más Guerra" (1991)
- El Poder del General (1992)
- Es Mundial (1994)
- Clubb 555 (1995)
- Rapa Pan Pan (1997)
- Move It Up (1998)
- Grandes Éxitos (1998)
- Colección Original (1998)
- Serie 2000 (2000)
- Back to the Original (2001)
- IS BACK (2001)
- General De Fiesta (2002)
- El General: The Hits (2003)
- To' Rap-Eao (2003)
- La Ficha Clave (2004)
See also
In Spanish: El General para niños
