The New York Times rightly mentioned Juanes as one of the 100 most influential persons in the world. With over 15 million records sold and more than 20 Grammys in his pocket, he is not only Colombia’s biggest pop idol, but also a passionate peace activist. Juanes (1972) was raised in Medellín, in the heyday of the gang wars. Growing up there strengthened his resolve to be an activist for world peace. He is the co-founder of the organization Peace Without Borders that tries to bring together groups with music. At the end of the eighties, Juanes established the metal band Ekhymosis that became well known mostly in his home country. In 2000 he released his first solo album filled with melodious Latin pop, Fíjate Bien, for which he received three Latin Grammys. Its successor Un Día Normal made him into a super star in Latin America and with the album Mi Sangre from 2004, that includes his greatest hit La Camisa Negra, he gained world fame.
