RAUL MIDON

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RAUL MIDON

http://www.orato.com/entertainment/raul-midons-world-within-world
http://www.raulmidon.com/
http://www.myspace.com/raulmidon
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/factual/intouch_20070102.shtml
http://www.ted.com/talks/raul_midon_plays_all_the_answers_and_tembererana.html
http://www.ted.com/talks/raul_midon_plays_everybody_and_peace_on_earth.html

Raul Midón (born March 14, 1966) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist from New Mexico, based in New York City. He combines his distinct voice, strumming, beats, and vocal mouth trumpet sounds to create a one-man performance. His unique style shows influence of virtually every musical genre which came before him, including jazz, blues, R&B, and folk.

Biography Early life
Midón was born prematurely in a rural hospital in Embudo, New Mexico to parents of Argentine and African American descent. His father was a folkloric dancer from Argentina. Midón and his twin brother Marco (now a NASA engineer) were blinded as infants after spending time in an incubator without adequate eye protection. The sounds of music became integral to Midón's life around age 4, when his father introduced him to the drum. Midón became an avid music lover and learned how to play the guitar while performing in rigorous educational programs, first at a school for the blind and then at an elite Santa Fe academy while completing his last two years of high school. Midón then attended the University of Miami, which he selected for its prestigious jazz curriculum. He graduated from the University of Miami in 1990. Midón resides in Laurel, Maryland now.

Career
Midón began his career as a session singer for numerous Latin recording artists including Shakira, Alejandro Sanz, Julio Iglesias and Jose Feliciano. After touring with Shakira, he set aside this career to pursue a solo career and moved to New York City. In New York City he focused completely on his solo career with the exception of working with producer and renowned DJ Little Louie Vega. He wrote and recorded several songs including "Cerca De Mi" with Louie and his production team under the band name "Elements of Life." Elements of Life, led by Louie Vega toured Europe, Japan and Australia in 2003/2004.

During this time Midón was shopped to record labels in a unique manner. His management at the time arranged meetings where Midon would perform live in front of whichever music executive the meeting was with. This led to Midón being signed by Grammy Award-winning producer Arif Mardin (Norah Jones, Aretha Franklin) to Manhattan Records, a subsidiary of Capitol Records owned by EMI. In Mardin's long career, Midón was his first signing of an artist. Mardin, along with his son, Joe, produced the critically acclaimed debut album of Midón entitled State of Mind.[1]

Midón also did the song for the end credits Spike Lee's 2004 LGBT film, She Hate Me, titled "Adam n' Eve n' Eve". His song "Everybody" was featured in the soundtrack of the movie, "The Peaceful Warrior" starring Nick Nolte.

Midón's album State of Mind was released on May 10, 2005. The album features a guest performance with Stevie Wonder, one of his idols, another one with Jason Mraz, and a song written in tribute to Donny Hathaway entitled "Sittin' In The Middle." Midón is an avid amateur radio enthusiast, and in this song he also incorporates his call sign (KB5ZOT) by using Morse code. The title track was released on 12 September 2006 as the free single of the week on the UK version of the iTunes Store.

Midón's national television debut was on Late Show with David Letterman on June 28, 2005. He later went on to appear on other late night television shows in the U.S. and abroad. Herbie Hancock also featured Raul Midon on his compilation album "Possibilities", which was released in 2006, performing his rendition of Stevie Wonder's "I Just Called to Say I Love You". On July 24, 2007, a single named "Pick Somebody Up" was released on the iTunes Store in the new iTunes Plus format. Midón released the album "A World Within A World" on September 25, 2007.

In March 2009, Midón began working with Grammy Award Winning Producer, Larry Klein on his latest album "Synthesis" for the Universal Decca Label. He relocated to Santa Monica and worked closely with Klein on the overall tenor of the album. The album features Midón together with music industry veterans Vinnie Colaiuta, Dean Parks, Jamie Muhoberac, Larry Goldings, and Paulihno Da Costa with Larry Klein on bass. It is currently slated to be released in Europe in the fall of 2009 and in the spring of 2010 in the U.S.

Discography
Albums
"Blind To Reality" 2001 self-released album
"Raul Midon Live EP" 2003 self released album
State of Mind (2005), Manhattan Records
A World Within a World (2007), Manhattan Records EMI
Synthesis (2009) Universal Decca
Compilations
Suddenly appears on the compilation He Sings The Blues (2005)
State of Mind appears on the compilation Blue Note Trip 5: Mashed (Jazzanova) (2006)
Pick Somebody Up appears on the official album of 15th International Istanbul Jazz Festival (2008)


Why you should listen to him: .Raul Midon is into beating the odds, shattering stereotypes, and making category-defying music. "I was told as a child, 'You're blind; you can't do this,'" Midon told an interviewer in 2005. "I was told when I moved to New York, 'You can't do that, you're not going to make it.'" At 40, however, Midon has clearly made it.
After singing backup vocals for stars like Shakira, Julio Iglesias, Jennifer Lopez and Christina Aguilera, Midon released his major-label solo debut, State of Mind, with help from guest artist Jason Mraz. Midon's innovative songwriting incorporates his lyrics, guitar handiwork (jazz, classical, flamenco, R&B) and "vocal trumpet" improvisation. Though he draws comparisons to Stevie Wonder, Donny Hathaway and Richie Havens, Midon is the rare original in an industry of few.
His latest album is A World Within a World.
"There are times when you’re reminded of a sweet-voiced Ray Charles, or Nat 'King' Cole, but everything about Midon reveals a strong, individual and totally musical mind at work."
The Guardian UK

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Attention chers amis, c'est du lourd!
A découvrir pour ceux qui ne connaissent pas et à apprécier encore et encore pour ceux qui connaissent.
Avec le même talent que Stevie Wonder, tout comme lui non voyant, Raul Midon interprète avec sa guitare "State of Mind", premier extrait de son album STATE OF MIND sorti en 2005.
Ce live se déroule aux Etats-Unis dans l'émission de David Letterman.

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Sunshine when you’re with me I can fly
Sunshine when you’re with me I can fly

Every day I wonder why
Peace on earth’s so hard to find
Real peace begins inside
In our hearts and in our minds
Hearts and minds begin to see
That one and all means you and me
And what we know can set us free
Rearrange reality

Reality is what we know
We can change a river’s flow
Plant a seed, watch it grow
Build a shelter, build a home
Home is where my heart will stay
Even when I’m far away
Makes no difference what they say
As long as you will be my sunshine

Sunshine when you’re with me I can fly
Sunshine when you’re with me I can fly

When I’m feeling sad and low
And I’m not sure where to go
And all the good times that I’ve known
Have gone and left me all alone
All alone I’ll never be
Long as you are here with me
You’re in everything I see
And everything I’m doing
All I do I do for you
You’re my sun, you’re my moon
Every lazy afternoon
You’re my inspiration
Inspiration lights the way
Brings a sparkle to each day
Makes the dark clouds go away
Let us let the children play

Sunshine when you’re with me I can fly
Sunshine when you’re with me I can fly
Music is the reason why
People laugh people cry
Sing and dance and clap their hands
It’s how the whole world understands
Understands that we are one
Makes no difference what you’ve done
Or where you live under the sun

We are only human
Only human yes it’s true
Still the mystery is you
And the sky so clear and blue
Makes every day feel so brand new
Brand new day throughout the world
For all the little boys and girls
If everybody lends a hand
We can live together!

Sunshine when you’re with me I can fly
Sunshine when you’re with me I can fly

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