He has just won three Grammys and is simply Alexander Delgado, the same as always, but in unfathomable ways, which are only known by the chosen ones, a wreath of that magnitude changes the life of any common man. “The biggest thing that can happen to an artist in his career is to win a Grammy, imagine winning three at once”.
I can not imagine him, though his eyes reflect emotions. Since, in this sense, nature did not give me the precise qualities, I try from his words to delve into the complicated paths a mere mortal walks before becoming one of the mandatory pronounced names when speaking of the urban music global scene.
AD: First I was an entertainer in Alamar, my hometown. When I was at pre-university school I started singing with my first group.
OC : Who were then your paradigms?
AD: I listened a lot to Van Van, also the Charanga Habanera, Manolin.
OC : … and as for foreign influences…?
AD: Internationally what I always heard was romantic music.
OC: How does the name Gente de Zona emerge?
AD: I sang with a friend who was younger than me in terms of size, and then I thought to put the group the name De menor a mayor, but it did not work. Then I thought in Gente de Zona.
OC: How much are of you regarding that Alexander of the beginning?
AD: I have been changing, inevitably, because life itself rotates. I’m still the same as before from the point of view of the effort I put in the things I do. Nor I have lost humility that has always characterized me.
OC: Do you think that urban music is experiencing an amazing moment?
AD: I think so, it is been developed quite well but perspective can not be lost and I mean it regarding the fans, because there is something that might be contradictory and when you become representative of urban music your ego inevitably boosts. Some singers are very good but do not know how to draw the line between work and personal problems they may have with each other, in that sense we must be very careful.
OC : Some say you’re very funny…
AD: They are right, I love to have fun. But always at night, I sleep during the day. I love parties, I think that whiskey and the nights have worked together to help me keep my tone of voice, so exclusive.
OC: Is it true that you hung up the phone when Enrique Iglesias called you to make Bailando?
AD: It is absolutely true. I was in Las Vegas on a work commitment. Imagine, he calls me and tells me he was Enrique Iglesias. I did not believe him and I hung up the phone, then I received another call from my agent telling me that indeed, Enique was trying to locate me. When he called again, the first thing I did was to apologize because I had hung up.
OC: What was your participation in the production of Bailando?
AD: I’m glad you to ask me that. I always clarify that the authority of this song is first Descemer and then Enrique. They had the track more or less finished; it was called Quimica (Chemistry). We help to finish it and recorded with Descemer, that’s when Enrique saw it and wanted to make the other version.
OC : What can you tell me about the Grammy Award, behind the scenes?
AD : It is the top of a musician, when you win that prize then everyone all over the world want to know you, all stations call you. Now we are also nominated to Lo Nuestro Awards. When you’re just in the list of nominees you realize that competition is strong, friendship ends where duty begins, at that level people do not play, people believe in you so that you are able to achieve. That is why our fans disagree with what happened here in Lucas Prizes. I do not say that Bailando had to win the prize of popularity because to tell the truth Los Angeles group is quite an event in the Cuban people, precisely for that matter, popularity. But they had to invent a recognition for Bailando that, in my opinion, was a major success in 2014.
