Outspoken musician Silvio Rodriguez returns to New York

[Judi Lynn]

Outspoken musician Silvio Rodriguez returns to New York
By Ed Morales/For The Star-Ledger
June 03, 2010, 6:05AM

NEW YORK — For more than 40 years, Cuban singer-songwriter Silvio Rodríguez has been a polarizing figure. To many starry-eyed idealists in Latin America and Latinos in the United States, he is a romantic poet, a troubadour for political change. But for opponents of the 1959 revolution, especially the exile community in South Florida and beyond, he is one of the most visible supporters of a regime they will never accept.

Wearing his *preferred drab proletarian dress, he took questions Tuesday from a swarm of journalists at the nightclub S.O.B.’s in advance of the concerts he will present tomorrow and June 10 at Carnegie Hall. He pleaded that we all get beyond the ideological divide that makes him something of an enigma.

“I still believe in the revolution, but in some aspects it has grown old,” said the 63-year-old performer, turning remorseful. “I sincerely believe that this situation between the U.S. and Cuba should end. There’s been too much time, too much anguish, too much pain.”

It has been 30 years since Rodríguez was last scheduled to play in New York, a legacy of the difficult relationship between the U.S. and his native Caribbean island. Rodríguez said he requested several visas, only to be denied. But the advent of the Obama administration’s new policy toward cultural exchange with Cuba gave him a fresh opportunity.

“The mood was much more open in this administration,” said Bill Martinez, Rodríguez’s San Francisco-based visa attorney. “They were cordial and kept their commitment.”

“I’m very happy to have been able to return to the U.S.,” said Rodríguez. “Although many won’t believe it, I admire it in many ways.”

More:
http://www.nj.com/entertainment/music/index.ssf/2010/06/outspoken_musician_silvio_rodr.html

*He should have had the decency to dress like a New Jersey Cuban!

http://blog.nj.com.nyud.net:8090/hudsoncountynow_impact/2009/05/large_cuban-day-parade-union-city-west-new-york.JPG http://www.descarga.com.nyud.net:8090/db/images/andy_harlow12.jpg http://blog.nj.com.nyud.net:8090/ledgerupdates_impact/2009/04/large_cuba%20airport.JPG http://www.cannabisculture.com.nyud.net:8090/v2/files/images/1865-EdForchian.img_assist_custom-400x281.jpg http://im.in.com.nyud.net:8090/connect/images/profile/nov2009/Joey_Diaz_300.jpg

[flamingdem]

1. preferred drab proletarian dress! Now I have to look for a picture

That style is out in Havana, people dress more like the parade guys, especially los salseros. Lots of fake gold and some real gold too.