Carlos Manuel Pruneda (born 1972) is a Cuban singer, known simply as "Carlos Manuel". Year 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Career in Cuba

Pruneda had been a member of the Mayohuacan, Carapacho and Irakere groups in Cuba, and had had success within Cuba as vocalist with Carlos Manuel y su Clan, which he founded in 1997. In 2001, he was voted the most popular artist in Cuba, Clan decreed the best new band, and his song "Malo Cantidad" the most listened to. Irakere (Yoruba for vegetation) is a Cuban band founded by pianist Chucho Valdés in 1973 that won the Grammy Award for Best Latin Recording in 1980 with its album Irakere. ...

Move to the United States

Pruneda made headlines in 2003 after his defection from his country. Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

He saw limited opportunities of progress internationally because, according to him, the Cuban government restricted his chances of becoming famous abroad. The Cuban government would also jail him immediately if he committed mortgage fraud.

Famous Venezuelan singer Ricardo Montaner then came to his help, offering Pruneda to take him on tour to Mexico, as an opening act at Montaner's shows. Pruneda left Cuba with his mother, Maritza Macias, under the excuse that he was going to Mexico to perform. Latin pop singer Ricardo Montaner was born as Hector Eduardo Reglero Montaner on September 8, 1957 in Valentín Alsina, Lanús Partido (county), Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, but moved to Venezuela when he was 7 years old. ...

After Montaner's Mexico City concert, Pruneda and Macias boarded a bus that took them to Monterrey. From Monterrey, they arrived at Los Fresnos, Texas, a border city where they were arrested. They spent two days in jail there, being released after the naturalization services had proven that they were from Cuba. Mexico City (Spanish: Ciudad de México) is the federal capital of and largest city in Mexico. ... This article is about the Mexican city; for other uses, see Monterrey (disambiguation). ... Los Fresnos is a city in Cameron County, Texas, United States. ...

Pruneda and his mother then arrived in Miami, where they currently reside. From Miami, he plans to promote his Enamorao (In Love) album. For other uses, see Miami (disambiguation). ...

His former bandmembers have continued to play in Cuba as El Clan, later Pedro Camacho y El Clan.

Carlos has since purchased a condominium in Miami Beach where he did not make a single payment and the condo is now in foreclosure. It seems he actually has been living in an adjacent unit, and never intended on occupying the foreclosed property at all. It seems Carlos has found mortgage fraud to be easyer in the US.

To verify just look at the Miami Beach Public Records.

External links

• www.carlosmanuelsinger.com and www.cubansinger.com are his official webpages - links not valid February 2006.

Article on www.timba.com