Alia Agency News

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
Belizean musician Andy Palacio designated UNESCO Artist for Peace

The Director-General of UNESCO, Koïchiro Matsuura, has designated the celebrated Belizean musician and singer Andy Palacio a UNESCO Artist for Peace.

OCTOBER 1, 2007 - UNESCO Artists for Peace are internationally-renowned personalities who use their influence, charisma and prestige to help promote UNESCO's message and programs. UNESCO works with these distinguished personalities in order to heighten public awareness regarding key development issues and to inform the public what our Organization's action is in these fields. Andy Palacio's designation makes him the 40th UNESCO Artist for Peace alongside prestigious international figures such as Manu Dibango, Celine Dion and Gilberto Gil.

Born in 1960 in the coastal village of Barranco, in Belize, Andy Palacio started to gain popularity in Belize and abroad in the late 1980s. He has since become his country's most popular musician and one of the most prominent defenders of the regional Garifuna culture and traditions.

With his band The Garifuna Collective, Andy Palacio has created a unique musical style known as Punta rock, an upbeat, popular dance form based on Garifuna rhythms. Palacio also sings in the Garifuna language, which blends many linguistic influences and which UNESCO declared in 2001 a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

Andy Palacio is Cultural Ambassador for his country and holds the position of Deputy Administrator of the National Institute of Culture and History.

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Cumbancha/Stonetree artist Andy Palacio received the prestigious WOMEX Award, which he shared with producer and Stonetree founder Ivan Duran. The award is presented every year at WOMEX to an individual or organization that represents the best the world music community has to offer. After a heartwarming introduction by legendary world music producer Ben Mandelson, Andy and Ivan delivered moving and emotional acceptance speeches that brought tears to the eyes of many in the audience at the Al-Andalus Theater at the Palacio de Congresos. The presentation of the award was followed by a rousing performance by Andy Palacio and the Garifuna Collective who were joined by two singers from Umalali, the Garifuna Women's Project that will be released by Cumbancha/Stonetree next year.

The awards ceremony culminated with ample amounts of Belizean rum. While everyone in attendance was marveling at the tremendous success of Cumbancha and its artists after less then two years in business, no one was more surprised and awed by the positive reception then Cumbancha founder Jacob Edgar. "It is a tremendous honor to receive such recognition for the label and the wonderful artists I am blessed to be working with," stated Edgar as he downed yet another glass of Belizean rum. "Hopefully, the best is yet to come!"

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Congratulations to Susan McKeown and the Klezmatics for the Grammy-award-winning album WONDER WHEEL. Susan performed with The Klezmatics throughout the US in the fall of 2006 in support of 'Wonder Wheel", a CD which features lyrics by Woody Guthrie set to music by The Klezmatics. Susan is featured on many of the songs including the powerful 'Gonna Get Through this World'. The Grammy was awarded in the World Music category for Best Contemporary World Music album.

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Congratulations to Andy Palacio & Garifuna Collective for their stunning new release "Watina". The CD is already garnering critical acclaim from major press, and we are very much looking forward to their spring/summer international tour. The project encompasses special guests Aurelio Martinez (another ALIA Agency artist), and the classic parrandero, Paul Nabors. The 10-member band will showcase traditional Garifuna music in a line-up that includes guitar, African drums, percussion and back-up vocals. The brainchild of Stonetree Records' founder Ivan Duran, the CD was released Feb 27, 2007 by Cumbancha, Jacob Edgars' (of Putumayo fame) recording company. Stay tuned for more about this exceptional ensemble.

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In other news Niyaz starts a 3 week tour on April 10th at the Kohler Performing Arts Center in Sheboygan, WI. This tour will take them to NM, MD, and PA in addition to WI. See their tour list for details.

We welcome Aurelio Martinez back to these shores on April 22 with a 4 week tour with his band Garifuna Soul. The tour begins with residency activities at the University of Texas - Austin, and winds up 4 weeks later in Salt Lake City, Utah, passing through Seattle, Chicago, NY, & SF along the way.


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ALIA Agency is pleased to announce the addition of Sally Nyolo, and A Moving Sound to this roster.

Please check back soon for updated information about these artists on this site.