Cuba's Silvio Rodriguez set to play Carnegie Hall

Source: Associated Press

May 6, 12:59 PM EDT
Cuba's Silvio Rodriguez set to play Carnegie Hall
By ANNE-MARIE GARCIA
Associated Press Writer

HAVANA (AP) -- Cuban folk icon Silvio Rodriguez has been booked to play at Carnegie Hall during his first U.S. tour in 30 years, but his office said Thursday that Washington has yet to approve his visa.

The Cuban government Web site Cubadebate, where Fidel Castro posts his written essays, announced that the U.S. tour would also take Rodriguez to Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Puerto Rico. It said his last American concerts came in March 1980, during the administration of President Jimmy Carter, when U.S.-Cuba relations experienced a slight thaw in nearly a half century of frigid ties.

Rodriguez's office said his U.S. visa had not been approved, but the New York concert has already been scheduled for June 4.

The 63-year-old Rodriguez is a staunch defender of the Castro government and has for decades penned politically charged lyrics, though many fans are more moved by his poetic love songs.

In May 2009, Rodriguez wanted to travel to New York for a tribute to another folk legend, Pete Seeger, at Madison Square Garden, but couldn't because U.S. authorities didn't process his visa request fast enough.



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Havana Dream (Unicorno by Silvio Rodriguez)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dg6Ucj5d4HQ